The True Cost of Digital Signage Software
Digital signage software can be an integral part of any business, especially if it’s one that relies on advertising to bring in new customers. As with many things, however, there’s more to digital signage software than meets the eye – or, in this case, the computer screen. Depending on your needs and business type, there are several types of software you might want to choose from, along with numerous ways to purchase and install it.
Why digital signage software costs more than simple hardware
You may not have noticed, but digital signage software does cost more than simple hardware like TVs and video players. It’s actually a bit puzzling, because you might think that all that extra stuff would make it cheaper! However, it’s true – we’ve done some careful calculations based on what we hear from our customers as well as research and found that digital signage software is consistently at least twice as expensive.
So why? Let us tell you about: Extra Functions: The most obvious way digital signage software costs more is that there are always extra features for you to use! Our customers frequently ask us if they really need some advanced feature or another. And truthfully, many times they don’t. But in general, these extra functions can be extremely useful.
They let you do things like update content remotely or run polls to gather customer feedback. Without them, your business will miss out on opportunities to improve your marketing campaigns and increase revenue. Specialized Hardware: Another reason digital signage software costs more is that it often requires specialized hardware in order to work properly.
For example, if you want HD quality playback, then you’ll probably need an HD player (which can be quite pricey). This means spending money upfront for something that will eventually pay off with higher-quality images and videos later on down the line.
Why you should still invest in digital signage software
Though you may not immediately recognize it, digital signage software has become a dominant force in business. Companies are using it as a marketing tool that can be used to advertise services and products at prime locations. Such as airports and shopping malls.
That’s why companies like Samsung have started developing its own digital signage solutions to provide an added boost to their sales strategies. The simple truth is that technology isn’t going anywhere anytime soon; some things, like digital signage . Will become more advanced over time, but they’ll always be around in one form or another.
You might as well prepare yourself now so you’re ready for when changes do come around. With that said, let’s look at three reasons why investing in digital signage software is still worth your while.
Advantages of digital signage software
The main advantage to digital signage software is its flexibility. Most packages support any kind of content from standard video streams and documents to links. Social media feeds, surveys and interactive games. Many support third-party plugins for extra functionality. Or have templates for common types of software that are easily editable without programming knowledge (for example, e-commerce sites and project management). Others can output data to a device in real time.
For example, you could create a playlist with upcoming customer birthdays that automatically play when they come in to your store. As long as you choose a package with intuitive editing tools and regular updates (most offer both). You shouldn’t need much technical experience yourself.
Working examples of popular brands
Google (GOOG) YouTube, Microsoft’s (MSFT) and Apple’s (AAPL) iTunes, Amazon (AMZN) Video On Demand, Cisco Systems’ WebEx and Adobe/Macromedia Flash. All these sites have free media players that can be downloaded to any PC or Mac.
For example, a salon could use Google or Apple’s media player to host promotional videos featuring local talent like hairstylists and makeup artists. Because they’re provided at no cost. Paying digital signage is one of advertising’s best bargain buys: A simple file-sharing network called RTSP can send your salon’s video content to your signage for next to nothing.
4 Important Factors to Consider When Selecting Digital Signage Software
Digital signage software can be a powerful tool for increasing your brand awareness and customer engagement, especially when you’re advertising on something like digital signs in the lobbies of your business buildings or on screens inside your retail store windows.
However, it’s important to understand that there are several factors to consider when selecting the digital signage that’s right for you and how you plan to use it. Whether it’s at home or in the office. Let’s take a look at these four important factors so you can better understand what makes one digital signage system different from another.
1) How Many Signs Will You Have?
Once you’ve decided that digital signage software is right for your business, it’s time to think about how many signs you’ll need. There are various factors to consider when making that decision, including your budget and target market. Signs can cost anywhere from $400 all the way up to $8,000 or more.
Start by deciding how much space you need on average per person in your target audience. A local small business looking to attract office workers might want two or three large screens; a restaurant trying to lure passersby might have five medium-sized displays set up in a row outside its doors; an airport might choose dozens of smaller screens placed strategically throughout its terminals.