Digital Signage, Need to Know: Brand Enhancement Using LED Displays

It does not matter if your company is a multinational operation or you work alone in the backroom of a small shop, you already have a "brand" whether you like it or not. A brand is nothing more than the world’s perception of you and your business.

Some say that “perception is reality” and it is derived by those who use your products or services, travel by your storefront, hear what’s being said about you on the community “Coconut Telegraph” and know how your business behaves when the chips are down. Somehow, either by your deliberate efforts, or by lack of attention to the matter, your “brand” has already been created!   

Yes, you can still influence the world's perception of your business, of course. And, you may as well start today, right now, after reading the rest of this article.

Branding has been called your “identity” and it’s the accumulation of all that you are.  It’s the way you are defined internally and externally. If you have not worked to create and improve your brand, then you should consider some strategies which can help:    .

        1)   Identity and Definition: Who are you? Where does your business fit into the marketplace? Think of your brand as a person, or even yourself,  and define your values, appearance, dialogue and goals.    

        2)  Customer Communication: How do you speak consistently to your customers and what do you say? What can you do to influence the customer perception and improve the relationship and lock them in for longer term? How do you respect their intelligence in your message and also create excitement?

        3)  Values and Originality: Don’t be afraid to be original, and stand up for what your company believes in.  Don’t copy other brands- who wants a copy? Always consider what the company is about and what are the values that drive decisions and actions and promote that. Just putting your logo onto everything does not create a brand.

These items point to one key word- Communication. If you are in the Sign Industry then you already realize that it’s a proven fact that on-premise digital LED signs are highly effective in communicating with passersby. Studies done have  proven that digital LED signs can generate enough new business to actually pay for themselves.

But are digital LED signs really the complete answer to branding? Of course not! Branding is the sum total of how your business is perceived but a digital LED sign is a great start to establishing a strong well-known brand, or repairing the brand image you currently have in your community.  Here are 5 suggestions, or rules, of digital LED signs that must be followed for the branding  “magic" to happen and to "Wow" those who pass by your location:

        1)     Quality Content   

        2)     Consistent Messaging

        3)     Hardware Reliability

        4)     Warranty

        5)     Network Control

Quality Content- The fact that quality content is vital cannot be overstated. Professionally created custom slides and videos are mandatory to establish a credible brand. Ten years ago, it was okay to have ANY message on an LED sign as they were “new and cool” and simply owning one re-enforced your brand. That is not true today.  Unless your entire audience is the 9^th grade class at your local JFK High School, do not use content created by a student from that school, no matter how talented. Using professionally created content can make a $10,000 sign as effective as a $30,000 sign, and vice-versa.

Consistent Messaging-  Remember that customers are smart. They may not wish to think about the message you had on the LED sign last week, but part of their brain forces them to recall it when the new message is displayed. Don’t repeat the same thing over and over, but a certain consistency is important. It’s easy to spot the source of new TV commercials before it’s revealed to be Coke or  Geico. The sound is similar, the colors may be similar, the way the ad “feels” is consistent. So, as your team formulates an integrated advertising campaign remember to be consistent and build the brand.

Hardware Reliability- Not all LED signs are alike. If your LED sign fails with regularity, you probably are trying to build a brand using bricks made of marsh mellow.  Do your research before purchasing an LED sign. Use the Internet but also use the telephone- call some LED manufacturers and see which ones will speak with you. If you are perceived as that Taco Stand with the LED sign that flickers constantly and is blinding bright at night, your brand is in trouble.

Warranty- With a solid, long-duration warranty, one that is insured by a 3^rd party and is guaranteed to exist, even if the manufacturer does not, you can keep the LED sign looking “perfect”. If you have an LED sign and you have a small problem  that may cost several hundred out-off-pocket dollars to repair, are you less likely to have it repaired? It’s only a couple LED modules that are out! Can’t  you wait awhile? Sure you can wait but can your brand wait? Several thousand cars travel by your business daily and they see what you stand for- procrastination, if you delay repair. But with a great warranty it’s fixed for no charge or a token charge. Having a sign that partially works is like having a sales rep that wears torn blue jeans to call on customers. The warranty protects your brand.

Network Control- An LED sign is a tool- not a lifestyle. It should work for you, not you for the LED sign. Flexibility in changing the message is important. Do you have to do it from a computer at the office? Really? What happens if you need to change the message on the weekend?  iPad platforms exist these days, and for the on-the-go businessman of 2014, being an “office lizard” is non-revenue generating annoyance. Do research on what is available- it’s far more than a gimmick, it is a mandatory access method.

Building a brand is a long-term effort that requires everyone understanding that everything they say and do impacts the brand. Good is quickly forgotten and bad is always remembered. Be careful, go slow, and use a quality, USA manufactured, LED sign to help jump start your brand name and image.

if you are a sign company, it's not good enough to just plant an LED sign into your customer's parking lot and leave it at that. You should champion these rules and educate the customer to help them create a strong brand. 

This blog post represents my personal perspective and does not reflect the opinion of Vantage LED, Inc. or SignVine, Inc. or any other person or organization. The images for this post are mine and I retain all copyrights. Thank you to Vantage LED for allowing me to pen a guest blog every 3 weeks. If you have constructive feedback please email me at michael@signvine.org.  - Mike Prongue 

Digital Signage Sales 101: 10 Behaviors, Making LED Sign Manufacturers Great!

The LED Sign Industry is a comprised of many manufactures all with unique strengths, weaknesses, and product offerings.  There are many choices for sign companies to select from, depending on their individual company’s needs.

Not all companies are alike, not all product is alike, not all warranties are alike and it takes some work and trial and error to find the best relationship.  Just like a first date does not mean marriage is imminent, neither does the order of one LED sign project, or two or three. It takes time to determine the true nature of the supplier for your LED sign.

Also, over time, it’s possible to glean the truth about your current LED sign manufacturer. How do they behave when the pressure is on? What kind of choice do they make when someone will win and someone will lose- do they sometimes take the proverbial “hit”?

Regardless of who supplies your LED display projects, there are 10 awesome characteristics that a sign company should consider:

1.       They are open and available and you can call them up, visit their factory and meet their team.
2.       They support your sales plan and do not compete with you for retail sales in your area.
3.       They constantly “push the envelope” on new technology and innovations, sometimes challenging the industry status quo.
4.       They have great software engineering capabilities.
5.       They recognize “Content is King” and can provide customized solutions.
6.       They have a responsive sales team that answers your questions, usually immediately.
7.       They provide flexible solutions for your urgent production requests.
8.       They find a way to always say “yes”.
9.       They provide a “rock solid” warranty on their product minimizing loopholes.
10.   They are focused on educating you, your customer, and giving back to the community.

With all the great possibilities that exist why would you settle for any LED sign manufacturer who did not conform to these ideals?  LED manufacturers have you as “their” customer, they are not your customer. Consequently, it is okay to expect more from them. It is okay to ask more from them. It is okay to seek out and select the best possible choice for your sign company.

In the early days of LED sign technology with limited manufacturing choices, you were restricted and had to settle for a “less than perfect” fit. Now with some “due diligence” you can find exactly the best LED sign manufacturer "fit" for you.

Remember too, that there is a difference between a business "partner" and just a "vendor". Referring back to my earlier metaphor of "marriage", it applies here as well. Your spouse is your partner, your administrative assistant at work is more like your vendor. Your partner stands beside you and helps you as part of a deeper and more intense commitment. Your assistant supports you to a point. At your workplace that point may be when 5PM rolls around or you've fallen into organizational disfavor.

When you find a LED sign manufacturing "partner" that can boast many of the 10 aforementioned characteristics, then you will rest easier, live a less complicated business life and  make more money by way of happier customers.

Do it, you’ll be able to tell the difference immediately and your customers will support your choice.

This blog post and comments represents my personal perspective and do not reflect the opinion of Vantage LED, Inc. or SignVine, Inc. or any other person or organization. Thank you to Vantage LED for allowing me to pen a guest blog every 3 weeks. If you have constructive feedback please email me at michael@signvine.org.  - Mike Prongue

Digital Signage, Need to Know: Importing LED Signs From China, Re-visited

China sourcing is alive and well, and when properly designed, controlled and managed, products made in China can be very impressive. But,  any serious American company utilizing China as their manufacturing source will have an on-site quality engineer, or preferably an engineering and production support team because with China “you get what you inspect, not what you expect”.

Apple does not phone in a sales order to its Chinese factory for 1,000,000 new iPhones, whatever the next generation, then sit around and drink wine and play ping pong until the boat arrives. 

Let’s face it, for today, China still has a “cost of labor” advantage. But, it’s rising fast, and sometimes when you factor in shipping, communication costs, and hassle, many companies are starting to practice “on-shoring”- bringing production back to the US.  

Some companies utilize Chinese production facilities and actually “rent” time for their own proprietary production run. They may have discovered a well-engineered and manufacture sub-component and then applied strategic modifications to improve its performance. It’s not the typical “off the shelf” standard component but it may have started off as one. There are many ways for the “China Connection” to be successfully exploited and maximized.

So, it does not matter if you are a major US LED sign manufacturer, Apple, Boeing, GM or thousands of others, somehow China is in your operation’s life- for better or for worse!

My concern centers on the LED sign product designed and engineered in China, built in China, Inspected and certified in China, and shipped from China without American talent involved in the process at all. Just like when ordering from the “Mail Order Bride” catalogs of the 1800’s, what you get may not be what you expected. And it’s probably harder to ship your double-sided 4x8’ LED screen back to Shenzhen than putting that person on the stagecoach and sending her back to Chicago.

My worry falls into 5 categories and while I will not identify Chinese manufacturers, these are personal experiences and first-hand accounts from industry professionals.

NRTL certification (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory certification- sometimes generically called UL certification), design issues, hardware quality, control software usability, and communication are the 5 Horsemen that ride roughshod  across the backs of LED sign importers. 

So let’s start:

NRTL Certification: It’s been a big deal in the LED Sign Industry and in the last 5 years more and more Chinese Manufacturers are paying attention and becoming ETL, MET or whatever “testing lab” certified. That is generally a good thing. No one wants unsafe or poorly constructed product on the streets, it‘s foolish and dangerous to pretend that certification is unimportant.  

The claim that Chinese product shipped, does not match the specifications of the product submitted for NRTL certification was alleged by 3 separate contacts, unrelated to each other.  In other words, it was alleged that they send the Lexus to the testing lab and ship the Yugo to the US.  Simply inspect (for example) the quality of the electrical wiring insulation and the way electrical supply lines are secured. If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, think it over.

Since most of the world does not require NRTL certification, some wonder if the Chinese effort to provide NRTL certification is to merely placate the US market rather than to improve the product.

Design Issues: Oh where to start? Let’s be simple- for years one US distributor of Chinese products had a high failure rate of the LED signs they sold- real high. Water intrusion, cabinet hinge issues, locking issues, odd mounting holes in the cabinets that had to be plugged up were just a few concerns. 

Then, during one ISA Trade Show a Chinese Marketing Director revealed the truth “In China, most LED signs are mounted within a water-resistant structure or shroud that protects them from the elements. In the US, many small LED signs are simply put on a pole without any surrounding protection- not designed for this.”

This is just one example that importers (and customers) face when assuming that an LED sign is “an LED sign”. They are not all alike, universally.

Hardware Quality:  If I had a dime for every time I found a re-manufactured LED module shipped on a new LED display… well, I’d have a big stack of dimes. Even when confronted with this assertion over and over the manufacturer claimed an “accident”. The truth is that when you push too hard for a deeply discounted price, unique ways are found to meet that demand! 

Power supplies, wiring, cabinet construction, controllers, electrical sockets, and more can fail on any manufacturer’s product. But if you believe that a well-made US LED display is not significantly more reliable than a Chinese designed, manufactured and shipped LED sign then there is some wet land in Florida you might be interested in. 

Sure, some Chinese sub-components are well designed and used on US produced LED displays. I have no argument here. But when that reasonably good product becomes part of an LED sign totally originated in China, the overall reliability is a lot less. 

It’s your hair, pull it out if you want to!

Control Software Usability:  I like Science Fiction. How many times in a movie have I seen the control panel of some captured alien spaceship? A well-meaning scientist accidently activates the control panel and suddenly it’s all aglow with strange shapes and symbols that meant something to some being from some world, but is gibberish to humans. 

Well, for me, trying to use Chinese control software is exactly the same experience. It is designed for an engineer or someone with a lot of patience and time. I am neither of those.

Communication: What do you expect? As Americans sometimes communication is difficult within our own borders- different accents, different manners, different customs, and different time zones.There are tremendous communication issues involved in a trade relationship with China- 8,000 miles, 10 hours difference on time zones (or more), language, meaning of words, and the frustrating time element required to resolve anything. And, oh... find a decision maker, I challenge you!

If you have a problem on Monday, it can literally take until Friday to get an answer that has been misunderstood and must be asked again. What you think you are saying, is not what they may be hearing. If you are impatient, check with your doctor for a prescription of tranquilizers because you will need them.

To the Chinese Manufacturer’s credit, they usually appoint a representative that is well-versed in English. That does not solve your problem. It merely gives you a shoulder to cry on and someone to share in your misery.

It’s a complex world. Just ask Boeing. They access 500 suppliers, many international, to obtain 3,000,000 parts to build their 777 Dreamliner Jet Airliner. And you thought you had problems!

Boeing had to make a lot of choices to assemble their supplier list. If every supplier is operating at 100% efficiency and without incident, it is still a monumental task to integrate the vast universe of variables together to create the end product- a safe, well engineered, state-of-the art machine.

LED signs do not, of course, require 3,000,000 parts, but smart choices still have to be made and all the facts have to be known when choosing a supplier. Quality, technology, reputation, and communication are the time-tested factors of success. 

Choose wisely, choose USA.

These comments are my personal perspective and do not reflect the opinion of Vantage LED, Inc. or SignVine, Inc. or any other person or organization. If you have constructive feedback please email me at michael@signvine.org.  - Mike Prongue

 

Digital Signage, Need to Know: Cheap is, as Cheap does.

One evening this past week, as I prepared to click over to Netflix to watch a movie, the old sitcom “Leave it to Beaver” was on.  Wally, played by Tony Dow, the older of the two kids who star in this American classic, was lamenting the fact that his sarcastic and hard-headed friend Eddie Haskell, played by Ken Osmond, could never change his behavior and he said something like this:

“You could slug him a thousand times and he’d never get the message- Eddie is Eddie!”

Well, that is exactly the attitude of some sign companies who still sell LED Signs on price alone, cheap price alone!

We’ve slugged them and slugged them with information. Heck, they “slug” themselves each day with unhappy customers, repeat service calls, and technical issues: LED signs that dim after a few months for example, but some never seem to “get the message”.

Many LED sign companies have gotten the message, but sometimes when their customer  screams “Price!” they run back to those importers who advertise their product on “price” alone- those importers who steadfastly deny all they know, hear and see to be true when they advertise that “All LED signs are alike!”

Really, there is never a reason to sell on price. I know, I know… you are thinking “that one guy across town said he’d only spend $8,000, so I had to import a ‘burner’ to make him happy!”

Let’s try to shift your LED sign paradigm a bit! Shall we?

When you buy a watermelon that is an expendable item, right? When you buy an X-Box or a TV set, for example, those are items that have value because they entertain you. These items are commodity items, or consumer items. Other items such as a refrigerator or a kitchen range have value because they help you live comfortably as we can store and process our foods effectively.  They have utility value.

Sometimes a person can save money by “going cheap” on commodities or consumer items. A cheap range may be all that is required if a person only cooks once a week. Or if a refrigerator is for occasional use in a vacation home, then you can argue that a basic model may suffice because it’s not relied upon daily. 

An LED sign is not a commodity no matter how determined the ad in the magazine declares that it is!

An LED display is called upon frequently to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is the “face” of the business that is projected to new customers and the community. It is the “pitchman” always promoting the business. 

Here is how you show the customer that they can afford a quality LED sign having it paid for from the increased sales the new LED sign provides.

You’ve heard it before but here again is the process:

• Determine what life-span you wish to assign your LED sign installation. For the sake of argument, be conservative and say “5 years.”

• What is a realistic interest rate for commercial financing,"8 percent”?

• Assume a percentage increase in the customer’s business from the new LED sign,“15 percent”.

• Assume a gross margin percentage for the business, “25 percent”.

• What is the current sales level of the business, “$600,000”?

Do the math:

The finance cost of $20,000 at 8% interest for 5 years is about $405 per month.

If sales increase at 15% from the current $600,000, at 25% margin, how much new income is there available to pay for the LED sign?  ($600,000*.15*.25) = $22,500 per year or $1875 per month.

So the sales increase from the LED sign should cover the cost of the financing and add an additional $17,640 to the business’ annual income ($22,500 – ($405*12 months)). It's a "free" sign!

Why go cheap? Why suffer with poor, cheap software? Why project the face of your business or non profit concern with an LED sign that operates intermittently?

Customers have a belief that “X” dollars is all they can spend or that's all the project's worth. It is your job to dispel that myth stuck in their head. Slug 'em with some information, or an example to keep them from buying an LED sign they'll regret for years.

Other considerations when selling LED signs:

What do you do when you have a non-profit? How do you make the return on investment point?

Each new member of the church’s congregation, or each new member of the Elk’s Club (for example) adds to the success of that non profit. Ask the question:

“How many new faces will the LED sign attract?” Or, if that question is too precarious, ask how much money the non profit spends on bill board or TV advertisement that will not longer be required.

A local church had suspended it’s billboard ads, and then suddenly a new LED sign popped up at the church! Someone was on their toes at that LED sign company!

Another suggestion is to challenge the customer and have them drive around the town and look at the LED signs that don't work! Who makes them? No-name Nellies... imports. Show them the LED sign carcasses that litter the sign poles in your town.

On premise advertising works. That is an undeniable fact. 

It works better for all parties concerned when the product is a high-quality,  and domestically engineered and manufactured. Say it… “USA, USA, USA!”

All I've needed to know in life was learned from Wally Cleaver, "Golly, that sure is neat!"

These comments are my personal perspective and do not reflect the opinion of Vantage LED, Inc. or SignVine, Inc. or any other person or organization. If you have constructive feedback please email me at michael@signvine.org.  - Mike Prongue

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.