Genre: Hospital and clinic

The digital signage industry has been growing quickly in the last few years. Big players in retail and large companies have both adopted this method of communication. It is regardless a fairly young industry that evolves rapidly and this creates misconceptions. We have therefore decided to dispel 5 of the most frequent myths about digital signage.

Myth #1: Digital signage is difficult to install

With the evolution of technology, it is now simpler and simpler to enjoy a digital signage network. The cost of equipment, including monitors, has significantly decreased in the last few years. Simply think back to old CRT monitors that had to be installed overhead. Nowadays, monitors are often very thin and relatively light, therefore much simpler to install. As for the signage system and external peripherals, they are also fairly simple and quick to install. Most companies will assign a specialist that can complete the installation in less than a day.

Myth #2: Creating graphical material is expensive

This is important for any company that wants to benefit from the advantages of signage by showing off the company’s colours and graphic standards. There are of course costs related to this service, but they are not necessarily expensive. In most cases, a graphic designer will take inspiration from existing graphical models on your website or sales documents in order to build unique signage templates for each client. Each project is different and prices are defined based on the work to be done, but, on average, the content strategy and the creation of personalized templates cost about $3000 per project.

Myth #3: The costs are exorbitant

For many years, the field has been growing exponentially. Most of us now have a cellphone, a laptop, many televisions, and a tablet. This strong demand in the field of technologies has driven fierce competition, which greatly benefits consumers. This competition between companies has of course brought a reduction in price and great technological advancements. The digital signage market is no exception. The costs of equipment have significantly decreased, as have the management fees since the software is simpler to use. Once more, to give an idea of average costs, a turnkey project with content planning, content strategy, and two monitors should cost you around $10 000. This includes equipment, installation, content strategy, graphics, and the content management system.

Myth #4: Modifying content on a screen is long and complicated

If you are using effective and user-friendly content management software, a change should only take you a few minutes. After training, which should be included in your project’s implementation, persons in charge at your company should be able to modify or add a message in less than 30 seconds. A good practice is to have your signage templates built by a specialist at the start of a project. This way, you have all you need and the modifications will be much simpler.

Myth #5: The impact on your audience is minimal

Without planning, your screens will probably just be a decorative fixture in your office. Good planning and a good knowledge of your target audience are crucial before undertaking such a project. First of all, determine what the goals of your monitors are. Then, in order to ensure that the monitors are watched and that they have an impact, there are many factors you need to consider. Their placement, the signage templates, the interests and needs of your target audience, the duration of your animations and messages, to name a few, are all aspects to analyze in order to ensure you reach your intended results.

In summary, digital signage is now a simple and relatively inexpensive way to reach your company’s communication goals. Of course, there are several pitfalls that should be avoided for a good return on investment. We encourage you to read our article: 5 Biggests Mistakes to Avoid in Digital Signage to improve your reflection.

Have you ever seen digital signage monitors that aren’t working, or are completely ineffective? With more than 11 years of experience in the installation of digital signage solutions, we have seen many situations that have often led to screens being turned off. We have therefore decided to show you, in this article, some of the mistakes to avoid if you plan on using this technological tool.

Mistake #1: Underestimating your audience

It is very important to keep your audience in mind during your content planning. An in-depth analysis of your target audience must be undertaken to ensure your screens will have the desired impact. Whether your audience is clients, suppliers, or employees, you must know their information needs and interests in order to grab their attention. For instance, for a company that is mostly made up of men, it would be a good idea to display some news about the Montreal Canadiens to encourage workers to look at the monitors.

Mistake #2: Not automating data

We live in an instant gratification world where everything needs to be known very quickly. Why not automate the data displayed on your screens? Every company nowadays has a many data systems that are often scattered over many programs. Why not centralize this data and broadcast it in real time on your screens? Maintaining your display system must require as little effort as possible from your communications team. Thus, with the technology now available, make sure the data displayed on your screens, such as performance indicators, is automated for better efficiency.

Mistake #3: Forgetting to assess the placement of monitors

At what height must the monitors be installed? Where? Is it a sunny room? All of those small details can make a big difference and must therefore be considered when analyzing the placement of screens. By placing monitors in an area that’s too bright, the screen’s visibility will inevitably suffer. Screens therefore need to be used accordingly. Moreover, the duration and quantity of content to be broadcast will be influenced by the time your audience spends in front of the screens. To reach your communication goals, the placement of your monitors is crucial.

Mistake #4: Not having a content strategy

During your planning, it is important to analyze the content and type of information that you want to broadcast. After putting down all the messages on paper, they need to be organized. First, they need to be grouped by category and then to be prioritized. You do not want to broadcast all your messages at once. It if preferably to show less messages in order for them to be better understood. At ITESMEDIA, we have developed 4 great categories that define the different broadcasting axes to help our clients with their content strategy: “ Health and safety at work (HSW) , productivity, training and internal communication“.

After categorizing content, it is easier to position messages properly in our display template.

Mistake #5: Neglecting training and customer service

Most digital display solutions require very few manipulations to ensure their proper functioning. Nevertheless, some operations are necessary depending on the type of content you publish. For instance, if you would like to wish an employee a happy birthday, you must know how to operate the display management software. This is why you need to make sure that your digital display provider offers a complete training program at the beginning of the contract. Moreover, good customer service is often important to help you use your equipment properly.

In conclusion, installing a digital signage system is more complicated than simply choosing the size and model of your monitors. It is therefore absolutely necessary to plan properly to ensure that your investment yields the expected benefits. Ensure that you are surrounded by experts in the field that will know how to help you develop a strategy that will fulfil your objectives.