A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL SIGNAGE
While everyone is familiar with poster boards and other traditional communication displays, digital signage is still a relatively new form of communication for most businesses. Hence, before we start detailing how to pick the best digital signage software for your needs, it’s better to have an understanding of what you’ll be getting into.
To give a general summary, REACH Media Network believes digital signage is both the hardware, software, and content that come together to produce digital messages on a dynamic display. While many viewers will only see the final product of your signage efforts (I.e. content playing on a screen,) it’s important as a potential user of a signage platform that you understand what’s going on under the hood.
“Software” relates to the content management system you will use to create assets and produce digital messages. These software platforms are usually cloud-based, meaning all your data and content are saved to a “cloud network.” This allows you to publish content remotely from any location so long as you have an internet connection. Cloud technology also guarantees the safety of your created assets, preventing them from being lost or locked to certain hardware. Digital signage software is also usually compatible with third-party software through integrations. By integrating certain software with your signage platform, you can expand your content possibilities or even automate certain processes such as calendars. Even if some integrations do not seem immediately possible, it is worth mentioning to your account manager, as there may be ways to set up a custom integration to get it up and running. Most software platforms also come with a bevy of apps for you to utilize that can also perform certain functions through your displays, such as adding RSS feeds or weather radars. Regardless of what you are looking to achieve through your displays, it is generally recommended to browse a company’s website and see what apps they offer.
The hardware surrounding a signage network is more straightforward to understand, but equally as important. The most popular option we see people display their content on is through large TV screens. However, there are some important guidelines to follow. You will want to ensure you have a full HD (1920 x 1080p) or higher resolution display to make your content clean and appealing. Generally, we recommend screens about 42 inches or larger. LCD, LED, or OLED models are the most popular screens in the industry. Screens should be easily accessible to your audience, placed 7 – 10 feet away from your audience at a vertical viewing angle of about 75 degrees below eye level and 60 degrees above eye level. Realistically, unless you are placing screens in a waiting area, lobby, or breakroom, you will only have a few seconds to make an impression as people walk by. These guidelines ensure your screens provide the most accessible, comfortable viewing experience that encourages engagement.
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Of course, you need hardware that will run the content on your screens. That’s where digital signage media players come into play. Media players are mini PCs or streaming devices that connect to your CMS and stream the content to each display. This can come in the form of more traditional media players, to simpler options such as Amazon Fire Sticks. As a reseller and Bright Alliance Premier Partner, REACH Media Network often recommends BrightSign players to its clients. BrightSign players are known as some of the most powerful and reliable on the market, making them an excellent option for any business. REACH Media Network also provides its own DS3 player at an affordable price, making it a great option for entry-level signage users. If you already have hardware that can stream content, you can use that as well, since REACH Media Network’s software is hardware agnostic. Regardless of the route you choose, having a reliable media player will act as the backbone of your entire signage network.
Finally, there’s the content you must create. Most software platforms will provide an in-house announcement editor that will allow you to create fresh content directly from your CMS. REACH Media Network even offers a Canva integration, allowing users to pull from their Canva libraries and use the platform’s suite of features to create content within the REACH Media Network system. Other integrations such as OneDrive can further expand your content organization, while Microsoft and Google Integrations can pull content in from other sources. Calendars, data lists, news headlines, and more can fill out supplemental content pieces to your main announcements. Each content piece should be strategically employed to fit your overall brand message and aesthetic while drawing eyes toward your screens. However, you must avoid cluttering your layouts with too much content. Doing so can overwhelm your audience, which will turn them away from your true message.
By learning these 3 key tenants, you now understand everything that must come together to make digital signage work effectively. The only thing left missing is the people! Selecting a competent and trustworthy team to create content and manage your displays is the most important factor for ensuring the long-term success of a digital signage strategy. Once everything is set up, it is you and your team who are in control. But do not worry. If you ever need assistance, REACH Media Network’s 24/7 support means there’s always someone willing to help. Now, let’s dive into the aspects you should look into when deciding on a digital signage platform.
SCALABILITY
One of the first things to evaluate when choosing the right digital signage software for your company is its scalability. Whether you plan to employ an enterprise-level communication network or only need one digital menu board for your restaurant, having the right digital signage that can scale to your projects is essential for long-term success. You may even want to plan for the future. For example, maybe now you only need a few screens and players for one facility, but if you plan to expand to other offices or open up new chains, you’ll need a cloud-based digital signage that allows you to effortlessly manage each campus with ease. Cloud-based scalable signage will let you manage each display from a central, remote location. Even if you only plan to employ a couple of displays, you will want to ensure the platform you choose is user-friendly enough for small-scale projects so you can update content promptly.
FLEXIBILITY
Flexibility in digital signage kind of goes hand-in-hand with scalability. Not only will you want a platform that scales to your communication ambitions, but you will also need one that has all the tools you’ll need to succeed. Does your chosen software have live-streaming capabilities? Are there interactive/touchscreen options? Can you integrate social media and other third-party software into your layouts? These questions and more will help you take stock of the digital display software capabilities of each platform you take a look at.
AFFORDABILITY
Finally, all the previous tenants tie together into affordability. Regardless of your scale or planned integrations, finding a platform that offers what you need at an affordable price is crucial to getting your network off the ground. Digital signage software for business will often do a cost analysis to determine what avenue is best for sustained success.
Fortunately, at REACH Media Network, you can get enterprise-level software at an affordable price. Doubling as a hardware provider, we also offer our very own DS3 player for clients looking for an affordable, plug-and-play option. Of course, our software integrates with 100s of apps and integrations, allowing you to completely tailor your experience.
READY TO START YOUR DIGITAL JOURNEY?
Discover how digital signage can transform your communication strategy. Reach out to REACH Media Network today to learn more about our solutions, explore custom integrations, and see how we can help you connect with your audience in meaningful ways.
