Top Ten Outdoor Digital Signage Tips – part one

Using outdoor digital signage poses different challenges to indoor systems, from protecting the device from the elements to getting the content delivered but the benefits of using outdoor LCDs and plasma for digital advertising or information is that you can reach a lot larger audience. There are of course many pitfalls in implementing outdoor digital signage, here are ten ideas to avoid making costly mistakes:

10. Have a goal

You must have a clear purpose in mind. If you are to invest in digital outdoor signage systems you must have focus on what you want to achieve, more customers or strengthening your brand or perhaps you wish to entertain or inform. Define your expectations before you invest in any system.

9. Plan for costs

Digital signage is never cheap, always plan for everything. It never surprises me to hear of companies that have spent small fortunes on outdoor digital signage systems only to have run out of money for things like maintenance or even content.

8. Use the right people to manage your project

Often digital signage projects get farmed on to IT. Sure there are technical aspects to DooH (Digital out of Home) but it is far more suited to someone with marketing experience.  Also ensure you have a clear project leader, there are many aspects to outdoor digital signage and unless someone is in a position to keep all the facets together your project could soon falter as soon as you hit he first obstacle. Ensure you have somebody to manage and update the content – you’d surprised how often this is overlooked.

7. Position

People can spend huge sums of money on digital signage campaigns but if the LCD, plasmas or LED screens are in the wrong place it could all be money down the tube if nobody pays any attention to it.

6. Weather protection

Outdoors is a totally different environment than indoors and any signage device will need protecting from the elements. Always ensure good quality plasma or LCD enclosure houses the device. Often European IP 65 or USA NEMA 4 standards are applied for outdoor digital signage enclosures.

Read part two