Digital Signage Review: All the blogs in one place for your convenience!

-Deacon Wardlow

The last two+ years have been busy for everyone here. It's been excellent meeting readers of the blog out at tradeshows and events and getting your (overall positive) feedback on the education/information we've been working hard at presenting every week. A lot of ground has been covered and we have even more coming up this year and next. Also check for Scott & my blogs at our Spectacular Media company site (www.spectacularmedia.com). It's possible a lot of this information will be formalized into a ebook/PDF (set for release in 2015), drop me a line if that's something you'd be interested in reading/receiving - deacon@spectacularmedia.com).

Thank you for reading and for all the supportive comments and feedback. If there's something we're missing or haven't covered, let us know and we'll be happy to write it up for you and everyone else to share and use. Below are the last two and 1/2 years of articles, broken down by category. 181 articles posted from 4/7/12 to today's posting (that's 1.5 blogs/week over the last 117 weeks since the first posting). Read, enjoy, share, and feedback is always appreciated!


Digital Signage Sign Tech & Spec:

1. What to Expect when you're expecting your LED Sign...
2. Providing Correct Power Voltage to LED Signs and Why 120 VAC and 240 VAC are Both Important
3. Power Supplies
4. Don't get screwed, modern module securing systems
5. Front Access Design Considerations for Digital Signage and Hinged Faces
6. Factors Affecting Image Quality on Outdoor Digital Signage
7. How Color Values are calculated
8. Viewing Size vs Cabinet size (big differences can add up to false $$ savings)
9. Controller options for LED Signage
10. Virtual Resolution (aka pixel sharing)
11. LED Sign Components
12. Service Access options for LED Signs
13. The truth behind "ultra bright" LEDs
14. Communication Methods for LED Signs
15. Myths and Misunderstanding about LED Signs
16. The good and bad of LED Signs and how to tell the difference
17. Powder Coating
18. New Coating materials (Dragon Skin)

19. Make sure you have the right tools for DS!

20. Standards for Outdoor LED Digital Signage

21. Help! My sign isn't communicating! Steps to a solving communication problems.

Digital Signage Content:

1. The New Expectations for LED Sign Content
2. Professional Content is a Must!
3. Real World Effects of LEDs per Pixel on Outdoor Digital Signage
4. Time and Temperature on LED Signs...to Be or Not to Be
5. Quality LED Signs Managed Responsibly Improve the Community
6. Professional Quality Content on LED Signs Benefit Resellers Directly
7. How 'LinkedIn' is Digital Signage for you/your clients?
8. Why DS Fails
9. Keeping Content Current/interesting
10. Ensuring text comes through LOUD AND CLEAR
11. LED Signs & Free Speech
12. Create a call to action with Digital Signage
13. The benefits of PSAs (Public Service Announcement)
14. Get the most from your website (Digital Signage is online as well)
15. Being a good neighbor with LED Signage
16. Content scheduling/creation (planning ahead)

17. Use Content and Scheduling to Target Your Message On Outdoor and Indoor Digital

18. DisplaysCustom Content -vs- "Stock" or In-House Content

19. CMYK vs RGB and Other Design Factors for Digital Content on LED Signs.

Digital Signage Sales 101:

1. Without a defined desire, there is no sale.
2. ADAPT the sales technique
3. Be a "go-to" person; know your LED Sign and DS information!
4. What does Digital Signage Cost?
5. Sell your company first, product second...
6. Why Cheap LED Signs Sell Well But Fail
7. Door to Door is Dead
8. Sticker Shock Syndrome; dealing with cost objections
9. LED Sign Sales- Closing Technique Suggestions- 1 of 3
10. Closing Technique Suggestions- Installment 2 of 3
11. Closing Technique Suggestions- 3 of 3
12. Objection Handling Part 1 of 2
13. Objection Handling Part 2 of 2
14. Stop selling and start solving - Customer Centered Selling
15. Better is Better, Always!
16. Value Based Selling Is a Win for Local Sign Companies
17. The cost of a system - Good/Quick/Cheap... Speed, Quality, and Price with LED Signs/DS Solutions.
18. Wow Your Customer
19. Build bridges, don't burn them
20. Business Relationship Suggestions
21. What Is True Customer Service?
22. Digital Signage doesn't work! Here's why...

23. The Tech Train is Leaving the Station

24. The importance of being "in" the know with Digital Signage

25. Your Customers Return The Investment You Make In Them

26. Keep it simple

27. No Free Lunch, Only Buy and Sell Quality LED Displays

Why LED Signage?:

1. Use Outdoor Digital Signage to Give Thanks, Spread the Holiday Cheer, and Grow Your Organization.
2. Outdoor Digital Signage Helps Focus and Sustain Advertising to Potential Patrons
3. A Road-Map to Success is Important With Digital Signage
4. Common Misconceptions About LED Signs
5. How an LED Sign can help business
6. LED Signage earning potential

7. Be different, Be Branded, Be Seen with Outdoor Digital Signage

8. Power of Communication for Non-Profit Organizations

9. Why Digital Signage is Important

Costs for Digital Signage:

1. How much can an LED Sign Cost?
2. Short term gain, long term costs (cost of a "cheap" LED Sign)
3. "Value Line" vs. Single Level of quality (i.e. why there aren't iPhone or Droid "lite" versions)
4. Is an LED Sign (or any Digital Signage) an investment or a purchase?
5. Selling the value of a Digital Signage Solution (LED Sign, LCD, or other)

Digital Signage 'How To':

1. Networking Basics
2. Securing Wireless ( WiFi ) Communications for LED Signs
3. System monitoring obstacles and options
4. Check The Power! Electrical Supply and Outdoor Digital Signage
5. Basic LED Sign Troubleshooting and Logic
6. LED Sign Permitting Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3
7. Finding a reputable installer for LED Signage
8. Sourcing the best LED Sign manufacturer for your business
9. Calculating Power Costs
10. Information on the National Electrical Code as applied to LED Signage
11. Electrical Safety Certification Marks explained
12. Different LED Sign Sales approaches
13. Project Management with LED Signage
14. Embracing new technology for business
15. CRM/ERP Options for your business
16. Simple LED Sign troubleshooting

Digital Signage 'Need To Know':

Quality vs Cost

1. What makes a good LED Sign?
2. How an LED Sign Manufacturer's Approach to Support Can Affect Your Reputation
3. What's the best solution for a Digital Signage system?
4. How an LED Sign Manufacturer's Approach to Design and Engineering Can Affect Installations
5. China Manufacturing Stumbles
6. When comparing LED Sign solutions (EMC/EDS/CMS/Etc), make sure you're getting what you expect
7. Is Anything Really ‘Made’ in the USA?
8. Domestic LED Sign manufacturers vs. off-shore
9. Importing from China
10. Low quality systems' affect on business
11. Supply Chain Logistics on components
12. Beware of a "bait-and-switch"
13. The cost of going cheap on component choices from a manufacturer

14. How an LED Sign Manufacturers Approach to Growth Can Affect Your Own

15. Digital Signage Learning Curve, how to tell a good manufacturer from a questionable one

16. China, Stack 'em Deep, Sell 'em Cheap

Warranty and After Service

1. Insurance and Warranty
2. Parts and Labor doesn't always equal warranted repairs...
3. US Based Support for LED Signs is More Than Phones and Technicians
4. Is after service an after-thought?
5. The Value of a warranty
6. On Site Service Warranties (underwritten vs. carried by the manufacturer)

System Build and Design Elements to be aware of

1. Boiling Down the 7 Key Elements of Digital Signage
2. Test drive an LED Sign (aka EMC) BEFORE buying...
3. Scrap Temperature Probes!
4. Border Versus Borderless LED Displays
5. Things To Consider During a Live LED Sign Demonstration
6. What is Pixel Pitch and How Does it Relate to LED Signs?
7. Educate yourself and your clients, before the competition does it for you!
8. Don't Be the Beta for a Manufacturer
9. Power Supplies
10. Proper Conformal Coating

11. Full Color LED Signs vs Single Color Red or Amber

12. Silicone Coating on the back of LED Modules

13. LED Display Evolution

14. Product Consistency and Long Term Success with LED Sign Manufacturers

Potential Issues to be aware of

1. Heat
2. How to protect against heat
3. Power (undervoltage)

4. Physical Factors for Effective LED Sign Use and Installation.

LED Sign System Controls & LED Sign Sales Success

1. Isn't "The Cloud" the Same as Wireless Connectivity?
2. Make your LED Sign Stand Out From the Pack
3. Why cloud control for your LED sign is better than using localized software
4. Notes on Successfully Implementing an LED Sign Program
5. Why simple software is better with DS.
6. FAQ about LED Signs for IT Professionals, End Users and the Industry
7. New technology making things simpler with LED Signage
8. Explaining LED Sign Technology Simply and Effectively to Your Audience Directly
9. The Cloud, Cloudware, and LED Signs
10. Statistical Analysis of the Relationship between On-Premise Digital Signage and Traffic Safety
11. Exponential Growth for the LED Sign Industry?
12. You Deserve to Make a Profit on LED Signs
13. What does Web App/Cloudware mean for Digital Signage/LED Signs?
14. Own It! Be The Trusted Authority on LED Signs and Educate Truth
15. The Ghost of LED Signs past (the cost of going with the cheapest option)
16. 
    

17. Digital Signage is more than a dynamic commercial - it's about communication.

18. The Gold Rush Continues

19. Financing & Leasing Options for DS

20. Creating Lifetime Fans

21. Demand Attention and Target Your Audience With Outdoor LED Signs

Vantage LED has white paper resources and more educational material on the website (http://www.vantageled.com), please check it out when you have a moment. Note all posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically noted.