Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about digital signage right here.
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What is digital signage?
Digital signage is a technology that uses screens to display dynamic or static visuals, typically for advertising or informational purposes. It can show content such as images, videos, and web pages, and it's commonly used in retail, hospitality, education and corporate settings.
This dynamic technology is revolutionizing the way businesses communicate, transforming static displays into interactive communication platforms. Whether it's a bustling café advertising today's specials, a high-end retail store showcasing its latest collection or an office relaying important announcements, digital signage is making its mark everywhere.
Read our complete digital signage guide here.
What are the benefits of digital signage?
Digital signage is not just about displaying content — it's about enhancing the customer experience, boosting brand visibility and driving engagement. With digital signage, you're not just telling your audience about your brand — you're showing them.
Digital signage allows for real-time updates, making it an effective tool for sharing important announcements, event updates or emergency alerts. Businesses using digital signage report increased customer/staff engagement, improved brand recall and even higher sales.
In schools, digital signage engages students in the learning process, making education more dynamic and enjoyable. It also showcases student achievements, promoting a sense of community.
Modern, dynamic displays enhance the image of any organization, demonstrating a commitment to technology and innovation.
Create an account to use Ditto digital signage on your screens.
What is a digital signage CMS and why do I need it?
A digital signage content management system (CMS) is a software platform that allows users to manage and control the content displayed on digital signage screens. This includes text, images, videos, live feeds, interactive content and much more.
You need a CMS to easily and effectively manage your digital signage deployment.
Key features of a digital signage CMS often include:
- Content creation and editing: A CMS typically provides tools to create and edit content, such as text editors, image editors and video-editing tools. Some even offer digital signage template libraries for quick content creation.
- Scheduling: This allows you to determine when and where specific content is displayed. For example, you could schedule certain ads or visuals to run during peak business hours, or display specific messages at different locations.
- Playlists: Much like a music playlist, a digital signage CMS lets you line up content in a specific order for playback. This is useful for rotating through various pieces of content throughout the day.
- Multi-screen management: If your digital signage network includes multiple screens, a CMS lets you manage them all from one place. You can send specific content to specific screens or broadcast the same content across all screens.
- User management: In larger organizations, you may want different people to have different levels of access to the CMS. User management features let you control who can do what within the system and simplify signage management.
- Remote access: Most modern digital signage CMS platforms are cloud-based, allowing you to update your signage from anywhere with an internet connection.
The Ditto digital signage CMS offers all of these management capabilities and more.
Create a Ditto account here.
What is a digital signage media player and why do I need it?
A digital signage media player is a device that stores, processes and pushes content to a digital display. It's essentially the engine that drives the content onto your screens. The media player is connected to your display screens and receives content from your digital signage software or content management system (CMS) to display it on the screen.
Here are a few reasons why you need a digital signage media player:
- Efficient content delivery: Media players ensure smooth and efficient delivery of multimedia content, such as videos, images and more to your digital signage displays.
- Content storage: These devices store the digital files for playback, which can be particularly useful for offline use or in areas with poor internet connectivity.
- High-quality display: Digital signage media players are designed to support high-definition (HD) or even 4K content, ensuring your digital signs look crisp and professional.
- Scheduling and management: With a media player, you can schedule content to play at specific times. Some advanced models allow for real-time updates and interactivity.
- Integration: Media players integrate with various content management systems, allowing for seamless content updates and management.
It's important to note that not all digital signage setups require a separate media player. Some modern displays come with built-in "system-on-chip" players, allowing digital signage software to run directly on smart TVs. These solutions are typically limited with less power and fewer capabilities than media players. For more robust setups, high-quality content, better reliability and a longer lifespan, a dedicated digital signage media player is often necessary.
Ditto digital signage software runs on Apple TVs and Windows devices. Ditto transforms these popular, reliable and easily accessible devices into robust media players for your digital signage.
Create a Ditto account here.
Can digital signage software be used across multiple locations?
Yes, digital signage software can be used across multiple locations. The best digital signage solutions have a content management system (CMS). A CMS enables you to manage your digital signage from anywhere, even if the signage is deployed across multiple locations.
Ditto digital signage is managed via the account portal. Simply log in to update signage, manage signage schedules, deploy on-screen alerts and more.
Create a Ditto account here.
How much does digital signage cost?
The cost of digital signage varies greatly depending on your specific needs, the quality of the software, the hardware required and any additional services needed.
Software: High-quality digital signage software typically starts around ~$7 to $30 per month for a single screen, with higher costs for additional screens or features.
Hardware: The cost of digital signage hardware, including media players, ranges drastically from ~$100 to $5,000. This cost can fluctuate based on the quality and size of the screens, as well as the type of media player used.
Installation and Maintenance: Costs related to installation and maintenance also vary depending on your existing equipment and deployment requirements.
It's important to note that these are just estimates and actual costs vary based on your specific needs and the service provider. Finding professional-quality software that works on existing hardware or cost-effective hardware dramatically reduces costs.
Ditto digital signage runs on popular, cost-effective hardware, such as Apple TV and Windows devices.
