|
 |
Frequently Asked Questions |
 |
- What is digital signage?
- What are some common components to most digital signage projects?
- How do I figure out if digital signage is a good solution for my company?
- How often do I need to change content?
- Should I conduct a pilot before I commit to a full deployment?
- What are the top 10 considerations when creating effective digital signage content?
- What network and content performance metrics should I be considering?
- Why should I buy a commercial grade screen when a local retailer has the same size for less money?
1. What is digital signage?
Digital signage is the use of electronic displays or screens (such as LCD, LED, plasma or projection) to deliver entertainment, information and/or advertisement in public or private spaces, outside of home.
2. What are some common components to most digital signage projects?
A typical signage project includes:
- Screen – LCD is most common, plasma is good for high quality video with fast moving action.
- Player device – Often a small form factor PC or appliance that runs content and displays to the screen.
- Mounting Bracket– Most often includes wall, pole, ceiling, or movable cart.
- Management Software– To manage media, playlists, schedules and manage each screen/player.
- Networking - Standard IP networking is most common, and management over the internet, cellular or even Satellite is available.
- The Content – Perhaps the most important element! A strategic messaging campaign with media such as video, flash, HTML, Jpeg/Gif graphics, live TV, RSS and more are common.
Return to Questions
3. How do I figure out if digital signage is a good solution for my company?
Consider your customer first. Do they often have questions about your company, product or service? Are they as informed as they could be to make educated purchasing decisions? Can you or your employees deliver a consistent strategic message to every one of them? Digital signage in your company can help to deliver consistent strategic messages to your audience to empower or influence their actions.
Return to Questions
4. How often do I need to change content?
The frequency of content change will depend on your strategy, your business and your budget. A small retailer may need to change content once every month as new products, promotions and other messaging changes. Whereas a internal corporate communication system may change daily or several times a day. Some digital signage is a combination of static art and dynamic text pulled from databases, social media or RSS feeds. But whatever the scope of your strategy, plan to refresh the content on a regular basis enough to where your customers are not becoming bored with the messaging, rendering it ineffective. Give them what they want or what they need and go beyond that to surprise and delight them. You may be able to create some simple content in house, but it's often best to work with a professional designer or digital content provider to create media that will put your product, company or services in the best light possible.
Return to Questions
5. Should I conduct a pilot before I commit to a full deployment?
A pilot project before a full deployment is essential for most projects of any size. Doing a single sign or single store before installing hundreds of screens to multiple stores will help you work through any unforeseen problems of various aspects of your project. From software, to hardware compatibility and even installation, you will learn and document many potential pit falls that will make your full deployment be much more successful.
Return to Questions
6. What are the top 10 considerations when creating effective digital signage content?
- Establish the type of network
- Strategically plan with all stakeholders
- Establish the objectives of the network
- Conduct audience research
- Analyze other potential media assets
- Understand the relationship among national, regional and local messages
- Map the visual audio and text messages onto the screen
- Create a network ID (brand)
- Create the content
- Program the Content according to refresh and dwell time
Return to Questions
7. What network and content performance metrics should we be considering?
There are seven areas to consider:
- Content
- Relevancy
- Interaction
- Scheduling
- Placement (display)
- Refresh
- Attraction
Return to Questions
8. Why should I buy a commercial grade screen when a local retailer has the same size for less money?
- Commercial screens used in digital signage are intended to run for many more hours than a consumer grade screen. They are often rated at 50,000 - 60,000 hours versus 20,000 hours of a consumer grade screen, so you will get much more life out of your initial investment.
- Consumer grade screens are also warrantied by the manufacturer for an average of one year and commercial screens average a 3 year warranty. Using a consumer grade screen in a business setting will often void the consumer warranty.
- Heat is the most common killer of LCD and Plasma screens and commercial grade screens have better heat dissipation with fans and other methods to prolong it's life, even when run 16 - 24 hours a day.
- Commercial screens often have the types of connectivity required for your project such as RS232 connections, BNC, and video looping.
- Security: Commercial displays have unique features to protect the unit, including IR lock out. Controls on the front of the display can be locked while additional buttons for other functions are usually hidden to prevent unauthorized access.
- Power Savings: Many screens can be programmed to turn on and off at the same time your location opens to the public, saving energy costs by turning off overnight.
- Purchasing the hardware from your professional integrator ensures you get the proper model, features and support you will need.
Return to Questions
 |
|
|
MEMBER TESTIMONIAL
|
|
|
| "DSA is the place to voice your opinion and to share ideas and vision with other leaders and deployers in formulating the direction and standards for this young and vibrant industry."
Jimmy Dun
VP Business Development
Dynasign |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
