“How Many Digital Signage Displays Does My Business Need?”

Digital signage technology is an efficient tool at engaging customers and boosting business success. Some small businesses go in with full force, spending money on more displays than they can effectively manage, not considering just how many are needed for success. In truth, biting off more than you can chew in this case won’t just translate to a wasted investment, but may even begin eating away at managing time which could better be spent elsewhere. Before making this mistake, let’s examine how many displays you truly need, and prepare for the road ahead!

One size doesn’t fit all

When it comes to digital signage technology, many factors must be taken into account before deciding to invest in a large number of digital displays. First of many factors is your business type. You can do your own research and estimate just how much of an impact a display will have on your audience. Displays are used differently with a more context-specific impact in the automotive industry versus the beauty industry, for example.

Another big factor to consider is customer traffic flow. For fairly straightforward stores selling products, product promotions and offers will have a different impact than at businesses operating with fewer walk-in customers.

Single display setups

Always a good beginner choice, a single display will give you a peek into the world of digital signage and what it takes to manage it. To start off, focus on high-impact locations in order to assess if you need more tech. Consider storefront windows for foot traffic attraction as well as checkout points where you can push for impulse buys.

A single display is easy to manage. Utilizing digital signage software, you can learn the ropes simply by scheduling content and planning it out for the future. Even if it is a single display now, you can prepare for more upgrades down the road.

If you operate on a very low budget, set up DIY digital signage with screens you already own, or purchase one or two affordable options for a start. For a single display, digital signage software is not a must-have element, but even so, you don’t save large sums by avoiding it. Most software providers, OnSign included, operate on a license-based monthly/yearly subscription model, including a free trial with plenty of time to learn the ropes.

Adding more displays

Add one or a few more displays to cover larger grounds. Consider the aforementioned locations as well as spots for secondary information. Greeting displays, menu boards specific for special items, as well as any other display fitting the context. Think about how you can improve the customer experience in a notable way. Digital displays shine with repetitive tasks, such as self-registry, product instructions, or other ways of boosting self-service.

To give you ideas, here’s a quick run-through of some of the most common industries utilizing digital signage.

• Restaurants and coffee shops: Place your first display as a menu board above the counter. The second display can appear at the storefront, featuring best-selling items.

• Small boutique/store: The initial display can act as a promo by the entrance, listing sales and discounts. The second can be an interactive display by the dressing rooms, allowing users to browse the inventory.

• Automotive dealerships: The first display can enhance the showroom experience, listing the line-up and their features (interactive or on-demand). A second display in the storefront can showcase glossy and aspirational ads.

• Hotel lobbies: A welcome display at the reception desk can show local attractions or hotel amenities, while the second in the lobby area may promote private events or loyalty services at the hotel.

• Barber shops and hair salons: On-demand tablets or displays allow customers and staff to pull up high resolution snapshots of previous hairstyles. If space is limited, a secondary display might clutter the interior, but could still be used in the storefront.

• Gyms and fitness studios: Smaller interactive tablets provide workout timers, exercise tips and workout instructions. Larger displays inform members of upcoming group workout schedules, off days, or policy changes.

When is a large number of screens necessary?

After spending time learning the ropes and gathering data, you’ll likely consider deploying additional displays, perhaps in the dozens or even hundreds for larger chain stores. As mentioned before, this should not be your starting point, as you may lose out on a lot of time and planning without doing your homework first.

If your return-on-investment stats note that the few displays you have are making a splash, consider the upgrade. Then, create a well-thought-out plan for the locations of your displays, their reach, and a content strategy. If you have solid projections of what the impact of this upgrade will bring, you’re on the right track. Meanwhile, if you dabble with guesswork, take a few steps back.

Digital signage software is key!

At the beginning, handling one or two displays, digital signage software was optional. At a larger scale, however, it is a mandatory component to keep everything in check. Otherwise, you will invest colossal amounts of time in updating each one individually.

Digital signage software enables management of displays in groups, letting you label them in any way you choose. Assign location, type, or resolution tags of your own to each display. When publishing content, the system will respect these tags, ensuring content reaches the right display each time. Try out OnSign for free (no credit card required) and see for yourself!