Back to Blog
September 27, 2019

Going Digital: Why You Should Choose Digital Signs for Businesses Over Print Signage

Ever walked around town and entered a shop solely because of their sign?

It's no secret signages are important for any business. Too often, a business may fail to convert a visitor into a consumer because of the lack of signs.

A single signage can deliver a lot of information, but only if it does it right. It has to be clear and get the right message across. To make sure your message reaches the right people, consider getting digital signs for businesses instead.

They provide a lot more advantages. This begs the question, why don't all businesses have digital signs now?

Well, they might not know how it can help them. Read on to find out how a digital signage can lessen your expenses and even boost your sales.


Why Choose Digital Signs for Businesses

Digital signs are the future, but does that mean it's the right choice for your business? In many ways, it does, but let's delve further into its advantages over print signage.


1. It Can Have Different Contents

One of the best things about a digital signage is that it doesn't limit you to one content. In contrast, print signage can only display one content. Once printed, you can't change it anymore unless you get another sign printed.

By opting for digital signs, you have a choice to alternate between different ads. This is especially helpful if you have a lot of products and services to advertise.

You won't need to print several ads for each one, which will take too much space in your area. You get to roll all you need to show in one or two displays.


2. It Lets You Use Different Media

With a digital signage, you can take advantage of using videos. These are far more entertaining than stills.

These then allow you to captivate the audience's attention and hold it for some time. This will also let you get your message across when a print won't cut it.

You don't even have to create a video; you can add effects like zooms and other animations. These simple effects can add a whole other experience for the viewer that they won't be able to get from a printed ad.


3. Scheduling Allows Rotation of Content

Most digital displays come with a scheduling software that allows the sign to alternate between different ads at certain hours or days. You may choose to keep rotating your current ads, or you can have them respond to the hour of the day.

For example, you can show the breakfast menu in the mornings, then the normal menu thereafter. At night, you can have it show your special prices on drinks.

The best thing about this is that you don't even have to do anything. The signs will change by themselves as long as you set the schedule beforehand.


4. You Can Update the Content as You Please

You have complete control over digital signage. You can publish whatever ad you want whenever you please.

Do you have a new ad for the holiday season? Running it through the signage is easy to do, and you can even create a new ad for each day of the holidays. You don't have to go through a lengthy printing process after creating the ad.

You can provide different offers according to events, customer feedback, and changes. Think your customers could use a hot drink because of the sudden rain? Show your latest drink concoction to entice customers to come in for something to warm them.


5. It Grabs Attention

Print signage are quick to fade into the background when our eyes get used to seeing them. Digital signage, however, are not something you can dismiss with ease. After all, they aim to cut through the marketing noise surrounding your customers.

If you get an especially beautiful model with an HD display, you're bound to attract more attention. The colors will be more vibrant, making images and videos pop on the screen.

On the other hand, print signage have a limit to how they can display the graphics. No matter what type of printer and materials you use, it will never beat the graphics on a digital display.


6.  It Encourages Customer Engagement

Because you can be creative, you can also try different ways to keep the audience engaged with the sign. It may be because of cute animations or an interesting video. It can also be live updates from an event or your social media page.

If you incorporate a touchscreen display, the customers can even interact with it. People love toying with something, especially if it's out of the ordinary. Don't underestimate the people's fascination with modern technology, too, and making things come alive on the screen.

What's great about this is that you raise your brand awareness as customers enjoy your offering. They will soon associate positive feelings with your brand, leading to the next point.


7. It Can Boost Sales

To be able to sell something to a customer, you have to grab their attention first. Then you have to hold it and create a positive experience for them. After which, they're more likely to buy whatever it is you're trying to sell them.

The positive experience can come from the content you're providing. However, it can also be the digital signage itself. If you do it right, people will appreciate your modern advertising efforts.

It elevates your brand's image while creating a significant brand awareness. As a result, they're more vulnerable to impulse buys and repeat purchases.


8. It Can Reduce the Costs

We admit that digital signs have a higher initial cost than printed ads. Despite so, you can save more in the long run because you don't have to print again and again.

It's a lot less expensive to roll out new digital ads rather than printed ones. Once you have the ads ready, you only need to launch them on the digital sign. This step costs nothing compared to the cost of printing and distribution.

If you want to pay off your investment, you can also rent the advertising space to the brands in your business. This provides an additional revenue stream. Also, you also get to advertise the brands you're selling.


9. It Has Lesser Environmental Impact

Print ads have a shorter shelf life than digital signs. Plus, their relevance fades after a few uses. What do you do with them once they've fulfilled their purpose?

You discard them, contributing to the alarming amounts of waste going into landfills. Some don't even get to go into circulation if a mistake is present, which is a serious waste of paper.

This is why digital signs can be more beneficial to the environment. Because you don't have to print ads anymore, your business generates less waste. As consumers are more mindful of the environment today, it would benefit you to appeal to this stance.


10. It Can Reduce the Perceived Waiting Time

Want to keep your customers entertained while they're waiting? A digital sign can do the job. As we've said above, engaging and interactive signages can hold a customer's attention for some time.

Interesting content can reduce the perceived wait time. That's because it gives customers something to focus on rather than the long line. It's less annoying to wait in line when you've got a smartphone to fiddle, right?

If your business deals with a lot of waiting time, investing in a digital sign will give you immediate ROI.


Use of Digital Displays in Different Industries

Whichever industry you're in, digital advertising displays are helpful for any purpose. Here are the ways you can use it depending on the industry.


1. Retail

We've mentioned this above, but digital signages are great at catching the attention of passers-by. This makes it a useful tool in retail spaces, where you're aiming to get as many customers inside as possible. Did you know that almost 8 out of 10 customers enter a store because a sign caught their attention?

You might also find it interesting that almost 7 out of 10 customers made a purchase all because of a sign. That's why digital signage serve an important purpose in retail businesses. You get the benefits of a sign plus the other advantages we outlined above.


2. Food and Beverage

Electronic signs for businesses also have a place in the food and beverage industry. The most common use of it is as a menu display. This is where the scheduling feature would work best.

As we've already mentioned, you can use this to feature your breakfast menu in the morning, your lunch specials during lunchtime, and your dinner menu in the evening.

If you have a new product, you don't need to set up a print ad to inform your customers of it. You only need to show it through your displays.

The food and beverage industry also deals with long lines a lot. This makes it more convincing to use digital signage to reduce the perceived wait time.


3. Education

If you're in the education business, there's no one saying you don't have a use for digital signs. Digital signs aren't only about advertising. They're also about getting important information across.

For this reason, they're also helpful in an academic setting. The administration office, for example, can use these signs to deliver important announcements.

Because they're easy to update, they can use it for emergencies. They can also display information relevant to student life, such as timetables, current events, and instructions.

They may choose to deliver the data to one building only or to the whole campus. With a few clicks, they can push the information to specific signage.


4. Finance

Are you managing a financial institution? Digital advertising displays can help you acquire more customers.

You can use them to showcase your latest offers while encouraging the viewers to ask you about them at that instant. You can also offer the latest news about the financial industry. Show the latest foreign exchange rates, or show the benefits of opening an account with you, if you're a bank.


5. Healthcare

In the healthcare industry, digital signage are everywhere. They use it as a queue management system, which allows you to keep the order when accepting patients. This reduces the stress on the staff when a digital sign can alert people when it's their turn and inform them where to go.

You may also take advantage of this by raising awareness for certain diseases. Is it the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Deliver important information about breast cancer, such as symptoms and diagnosis.


6. Corporate

In any corporate setting, a digital sign can also serve several important functions. You can use it to deliver important information to your employees. Keep them up-to-date with the latest news about your business or your industry.

You may also use it for corporate messaging or for important announcements. You may also use it to display the latest figures as a sort of a morale booster.

Remember that engagement with your employees is also important. You have to provide a working environment wherein they'll be more productive and inspired to work hard for the company.


Is a Digital Sign Right for You?

After outlining the advantages of digital signs, there's no more reason not to get some. It seems they only bring good things, and they work for any industry. Although the cost is higher at the start, you'll get your money's worth in no time.

Do note, however, that the quality of content you push through the displays will play a big factor. In fact, it's the most important factor. No matter how high-tech your display is, your customer's won't take notice of it if the content doesn't appeal to them.


Get a Digital Sign Now

Digital signs for businesses are becoming the norm because of the advantages they offer. Be a part of the leading pack by getting some for your business now.

If you have more questions about digital signs, don't hesitate to contact us now.

Ready to get started?

If you are not using OptiSigns yet, you can sign up now for a free 30 days trial, all features included.

3 min

Boosting Sales with QR Codes

QR codes, those little black-and-white squares, have become a powerful tool in the connection between the physical and online worlds. They're not just a trend; they're a strategy to boost sales and enhance customer interaction. With the rise of smartphone usage, QR codes are your ticket to a seamless omnichannel experience.

2 min

Explore the Latest: New QR Overlay, Device Data Mapping, & Conditional Tagging Rules

Check out our new features to upgrade your digital sigange game and save your team time and effort. Either prebuilt content or user engagement tools, we got your back.

3 min

Design Principles for Digital Signage: Capturing Attention in a Digital World

Uncover the elements that transform your digital signage content into a magnet for user attention and elevate their engagement to new heights.

September 27, 2019

Going Digital: Why You Should Choose Digital Signs for Businesses Over Print Signage

Ever walked around town and entered a shop solely because of their sign?

It's no secret signages are important for any business. Too often, a business may fail to convert a visitor into a consumer because of the lack of signs.

A single signage can deliver a lot of information, but only if it does it right. It has to be clear and get the right message across. To make sure your message reaches the right people, consider getting digital signs for businesses instead.

They provide a lot more advantages. This begs the question, why don't all businesses have digital signs now?

Well, they might not know how it can help them. Read on to find out how a digital signage can lessen your expenses and even boost your sales.


Why Choose Digital Signs for Businesses

Digital signs are the future, but does that mean it's the right choice for your business? In many ways, it does, but let's delve further into its advantages over print signage.


1. It Can Have Different Contents

One of the best things about a digital signage is that it doesn't limit you to one content. In contrast, print signage can only display one content. Once printed, you can't change it anymore unless you get another sign printed.

By opting for digital signs, you have a choice to alternate between different ads. This is especially helpful if you have a lot of products and services to advertise.

You won't need to print several ads for each one, which will take too much space in your area. You get to roll all you need to show in one or two displays.


2. It Lets You Use Different Media

With a digital signage, you can take advantage of using videos. These are far more entertaining than stills.

These then allow you to captivate the audience's attention and hold it for some time. This will also let you get your message across when a print won't cut it.

You don't even have to create a video; you can add effects like zooms and other animations. These simple effects can add a whole other experience for the viewer that they won't be able to get from a printed ad.


3. Scheduling Allows Rotation of Content

Most digital displays come with a scheduling software that allows the sign to alternate between different ads at certain hours or days. You may choose to keep rotating your current ads, or you can have them respond to the hour of the day.

For example, you can show the breakfast menu in the mornings, then the normal menu thereafter. At night, you can have it show your special prices on drinks.

The best thing about this is that you don't even have to do anything. The signs will change by themselves as long as you set the schedule beforehand.


4. You Can Update the Content as You Please

You have complete control over digital signage. You can publish whatever ad you want whenever you please.

Do you have a new ad for the holiday season? Running it through the signage is easy to do, and you can even create a new ad for each day of the holidays. You don't have to go through a lengthy printing process after creating the ad.

You can provide different offers according to events, customer feedback, and changes. Think your customers could use a hot drink because of the sudden rain? Show your latest drink concoction to entice customers to come in for something to warm them.


5. It Grabs Attention

Print signage are quick to fade into the background when our eyes get used to seeing them. Digital signage, however, are not something you can dismiss with ease. After all, they aim to cut through the marketing noise surrounding your customers.

If you get an especially beautiful model with an HD display, you're bound to attract more attention. The colors will be more vibrant, making images and videos pop on the screen.

On the other hand, print signage have a limit to how they can display the graphics. No matter what type of printer and materials you use, it will never beat the graphics on a digital display.


6.  It Encourages Customer Engagement

Because you can be creative, you can also try different ways to keep the audience engaged with the sign. It may be because of cute animations or an interesting video. It can also be live updates from an event or your social media page.

If you incorporate a touchscreen display, the customers can even interact with it. People love toying with something, especially if it's out of the ordinary. Don't underestimate the people's fascination with modern technology, too, and making things come alive on the screen.

What's great about this is that you raise your brand awareness as customers enjoy your offering. They will soon associate positive feelings with your brand, leading to the next point.


7. It Can Boost Sales

To be able to sell something to a customer, you have to grab their attention first. Then you have to hold it and create a positive experience for them. After which, they're more likely to buy whatever it is you're trying to sell them.

The positive experience can come from the content you're providing. However, it can also be the digital signage itself. If you do it right, people will appreciate your modern advertising efforts.

It elevates your brand's image while creating a significant brand awareness. As a result, they're more vulnerable to impulse buys and repeat purchases.


8. It Can Reduce the Costs

We admit that digital signs have a higher initial cost than printed ads. Despite so, you can save more in the long run because you don't have to print again and again.

It's a lot less expensive to roll out new digital ads rather than printed ones. Once you have the ads ready, you only need to launch them on the digital sign. This step costs nothing compared to the cost of printing and distribution.

If you want to pay off your investment, you can also rent the advertising space to the brands in your business. This provides an additional revenue stream. Also, you also get to advertise the brands you're selling.


9. It Has Lesser Environmental Impact

Print ads have a shorter shelf life than digital signs. Plus, their relevance fades after a few uses. What do you do with them once they've fulfilled their purpose?

You discard them, contributing to the alarming amounts of waste going into landfills. Some don't even get to go into circulation if a mistake is present, which is a serious waste of paper.

This is why digital signs can be more beneficial to the environment. Because you don't have to print ads anymore, your business generates less waste. As consumers are more mindful of the environment today, it would benefit you to appeal to this stance.


10. It Can Reduce the Perceived Waiting Time

Want to keep your customers entertained while they're waiting? A digital sign can do the job. As we've said above, engaging and interactive signages can hold a customer's attention for some time.

Interesting content can reduce the perceived wait time. That's because it gives customers something to focus on rather than the long line. It's less annoying to wait in line when you've got a smartphone to fiddle, right?

If your business deals with a lot of waiting time, investing in a digital sign will give you immediate ROI.


Use of Digital Displays in Different Industries

Whichever industry you're in, digital advertising displays are helpful for any purpose. Here are the ways you can use it depending on the industry.


1. Retail

We've mentioned this above, but digital signages are great at catching the attention of passers-by. This makes it a useful tool in retail spaces, where you're aiming to get as many customers inside as possible. Did you know that almost 8 out of 10 customers enter a store because a sign caught their attention?

You might also find it interesting that almost 7 out of 10 customers made a purchase all because of a sign. That's why digital signage serve an important purpose in retail businesses. You get the benefits of a sign plus the other advantages we outlined above.


2. Food and Beverage

Electronic signs for businesses also have a place in the food and beverage industry. The most common use of it is as a menu display. This is where the scheduling feature would work best.

As we've already mentioned, you can use this to feature your breakfast menu in the morning, your lunch specials during lunchtime, and your dinner menu in the evening.

If you have a new product, you don't need to set up a print ad to inform your customers of it. You only need to show it through your displays.

The food and beverage industry also deals with long lines a lot. This makes it more convincing to use digital signage to reduce the perceived wait time.


3. Education

If you're in the education business, there's no one saying you don't have a use for digital signs. Digital signs aren't only about advertising. They're also about getting important information across.

For this reason, they're also helpful in an academic setting. The administration office, for example, can use these signs to deliver important announcements.

Because they're easy to update, they can use it for emergencies. They can also display information relevant to student life, such as timetables, current events, and instructions.

They may choose to deliver the data to one building only or to the whole campus. With a few clicks, they can push the information to specific signage.


4. Finance

Are you managing a financial institution? Digital advertising displays can help you acquire more customers.

You can use them to showcase your latest offers while encouraging the viewers to ask you about them at that instant. You can also offer the latest news about the financial industry. Show the latest foreign exchange rates, or show the benefits of opening an account with you, if you're a bank.


5. Healthcare

In the healthcare industry, digital signage are everywhere. They use it as a queue management system, which allows you to keep the order when accepting patients. This reduces the stress on the staff when a digital sign can alert people when it's their turn and inform them where to go.

You may also take advantage of this by raising awareness for certain diseases. Is it the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Deliver important information about breast cancer, such as symptoms and diagnosis.


6. Corporate

In any corporate setting, a digital sign can also serve several important functions. You can use it to deliver important information to your employees. Keep them up-to-date with the latest news about your business or your industry.

You may also use it for corporate messaging or for important announcements. You may also use it to display the latest figures as a sort of a morale booster.

Remember that engagement with your employees is also important. You have to provide a working environment wherein they'll be more productive and inspired to work hard for the company.


Is a Digital Sign Right for You?

After outlining the advantages of digital signs, there's no more reason not to get some. It seems they only bring good things, and they work for any industry. Although the cost is higher at the start, you'll get your money's worth in no time.

Do note, however, that the quality of content you push through the displays will play a big factor. In fact, it's the most important factor. No matter how high-tech your display is, your customer's won't take notice of it if the content doesn't appeal to them.


Get a Digital Sign Now

Digital signs for businesses are becoming the norm because of the advantages they offer. Be a part of the leading pack by getting some for your business now.

If you have more questions about digital signs, don't hesitate to contact us now.

Ready to get started?

If you are not using OptiSigns yet, you can sign up now for a free 30 days trial, all features included.