Tag Archives: electronic signage

Advertising Using Wall or Free Standing Digital Signage Hardware.


Posted by Stella

Digital signage hardware to increase your businesses profit.

Advertising is vital for the success of a business; this is why using digital signage hardware is so successful.

Even the oldest profession in the world needed to advertise! But now, no matter where we look there are electronic signs everywhere. From shopping malls to places of worship, the simple fact is that digital signage works, so let us look at the digital signage hardware solutions available to the everyday business owner.

Wall mounted digital signage is there for everyone to see, it can display the specials on the menu in a Quick Serve Restaurant, it can provide automotive service promotions in an automotive garage, or just used to promote a small mom and pop stores inventory.

Essential parts of a profitable digital signage hardware deployment.

Let us look at what is needed for the digital signage hardware to function almost straight out the box.

Content creation, this is essential and can be simply created using free templates available online, or by using images you have taken of your service or product. Failing that, if you are reselling a product you could ask the manufacturer to provide high quality images. Then once the content is created how you want it to appear, you just add it to the media player using a flash drive.
Set up the ads using the onscreen menu, set the time you want the screen to power on and power off at the end of the business day and you are set, that is presuming you have powered the unit up.

Mounting the digital signage hardware.

digital signage

Wall mounted displays specifically designed for digital advertising can be placed in either portrait or landscape, the best position in our experience is portrait, otherwise it just looks like a television.

As the name suggests, these come in a floor standing housing that is designed for indoor use, content creation and updates are carried out just as before. Yes these have more impact; they tend to engage more with consumers.

The housing can even be wrapped in vinyl to brand the kiosk with the logo of the business, adding more impact to the advertising message.

example of digital signage hardware

Screen sizes.

Both solutions come with commercial grade screens, which is essential as the digital signage hardware is capable of running 24×7. These high tech displays are available in sizes 32”, 40”, 42”, 55” and 65”. Normally the most affordable solutions are the sizes up to 55”, the jump to 65” is usually too much.

Now when you compare printed advertising, there is no comparison, you are competing against other contractors and businesses offering similar products and what’s in tonight’s edition of the paper are thrown away tomorrow. This is one of the reasons why newspapers usually have an online presence.

Digital advertising has been around for a while, but now the costs are falling, enabling business owners to get in and use digital signage hardware to promote their business.


Is Cloud Based Digital Signage For You?


Posted by Stella

Would You Use Cloud Based Digital Signage?

With all the recent issues about private data stored on the cloud being made public, people are becoming cautious. But using cloud based digital signage does not have to be concerning, discover why.

We have all heard people say in meetings, I store my data on the Cloud, but if you quiz them, they will rarely know exactly where or what the Cloud is! The Cloud is a platform or software that stores data either off site on server farms or at third party service provider that specialize in secure data storage and not at your location – this is the cloud! Another reason it is called Cloud computing is that the information and data is sent over the internet and if you have watched any draw a computer network they show a cloud image as the internet.

cloud based digital signage schematic

Look at cloud based digital signage Pros and Cons.

Cons.

Like everything that is not under your control, you have to rethink everything including, connectivity, cost, actual content (is it time sensitive?) and security of the cloud based digital signage solution. Digital signage in its natural process allows users to update content on the move, using the cloud can restrict this valuable asset of digital signage. Imagine you had an over stock or rain coats and your city had the worst weather in years, with torrential rain, using digital signage you could change the ads and show you have a special on the rain coats. This then helps the company sell the over stocks and increase profit for a product that has just been sat in storage!

Using cloud based digital signage also creates other challenges; one that springs to mind immediately is a security issue. As soon as the data leaves the business, anyone can intercept it and if it had sensitive information on a new product range, this could be extremely valuable to your competitors, especially if you are in
a race to market with them.

Pros of cloud based digital signage.

Now imagine, rather than having your data on a large server farm, why not use a mini WAN, this would in reality act as your own mini cloud based solution and you would own it! You can then ensure the essential security is in place, you can keep the costs down by around 63%. Historically, large enterprises have been using the Cloud, but not any longer, any business can use the same cloud based electronic signage solution and display content just like the big boys!

3G Cloud based digital signage.

3G cloud based electronic signage hardware has one main difference when compared to other advertising hardware and that is there is no need for a media player, as all the content is stored on secure mini clouds under each business name, who have total control over them.

Before cloud based signage, the ads had to be stored on some device, usually attached to the display at each location, now using 3 and 4G this is no longer a restriction, in fact it is an advantage. One restraint on deploy electronic advertising is that it has to be well planned, this meant traditionally the location had to have several power outlets, 1 for the display and 1 for the ad player now a display can be deployed anywhere with the only restriction is that it has to be near 1 plug socket to power the system. As the admin of the cloud solution, you have total control that accesses what part, so you can block, limit or approve users, making 3 and 4G digital signage very flexible.

Hopefully, this article has given you a better understanding of cloud based digital signage.


Through the Digital Signage Lens


Posted by Stella

Digital Signage ideas.

Research and exhibition statistics are all about the deployment and innovation of digital signage and where better to review the outcome than after the InfoComm annual conference. Apparently it was inspiring, informative and full of thought provoking ideas and concepts and other spring boards on which to launch innovative dynamic-place-based digital signage. Pushing the boundaries in this segment of technology is already advanced for its age, but really it leads to infinity…

One sector considering digital signage screens was the US Department of Transport, after a study of roadside dynamic digital signage safety was carried out. The results were of interest, as it was stated that CEVMS (commercial electronic variable message signs) had no significant consequence on driver safety. So, will we be seeing screen-media billboards on our roadside verges?

digital signage

Terms used in the digital signage industry.

Many terms for the general phrase ‘digital signage’ is banded about, like ‘Screen media’, ‘dynamic-place-based’ and ‘enterprise media'; all have one thing in common – they display products for sale. It could be via a brand awareness campaign, particular sale or offer or a promotional campaign, but you can be sure other names will appear for this media term.

Unsurprisingly the number of new patents has been submitted for various devices, encompassing the digital signage stage, particularly including the Eco-systems of screen displays and mobile devices in a commercial or retail setting. Also, many of the authoritative names in the game are partnering up with others to provide a package – an all-in-one system of supplying the hardware, matched with the software and installation. Screen-media display boards has been utilized by almost every sector; from owner to shopper, to traveler and including staff and students within education.

The size of a screen caused much deliberation among various stands, as the smallest screen used is generally a 26”, which suits applications like elevators, counter tops, shelving or reception desks – particularly where wall space is not accessible. And one of the most popular sizes for other screens for other areas is a 52”, with a thin bezel frame, allowing greater visibility, especially when tiled to form a video wall. 4K HD displays are the fashionable screen of the moment, as the imagery is stunning coupled with the program content and software resolution. Although slow on the uptake, 4K is the screen choice of the future, after further development and is a popular screen for retail fashion displays, museums and attraction exhibitions. After initial teething problems, one of the next technological break throughs will be laser-based projectors. Its increasing popularity comes due to its projected life span, including the 20,000 hour bulb life, an increase from 600 hours on projector bulbs currently; just the installation and maintenance costs are to overcome.

Which ever term you wish to use, at the end of the day, these screens are digital signage advertising billboards!