When we think of digital signage, most of us think of those flashy details in retail stores. In other words, most people still associate digital signage exclusively with advertising.
Although digital signage is a great marketing tool, it’s far more versatile and flexible than what most people believe is true. Besides, if you’re investing a significant amount in technology like digital signage, you’d want it to be flexible and adaptable to various business needs, now and in the future.
That’s exactly what innovative digital signage does.
Besides sharing ads on displays, digital signage is a robust digital communication tool built for modern businesses across industries. If you’re looking for creative uses of digital signage, you’ve come to the right place!
1. Transform wait times into showtimes
Let’s face it — waiting in a queue is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Mindless waiting, anxious fidgeting, and clock ticking are enough to bore customers while they wait for their turn.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
With digital signage, you can play around with engaging digital signage content ideas. Share dynamic, educational, or entertaining content, to keep your customers occupied during their wait. This way, they’re not actively thinking about when their turn is.
Here’s why this is effective. Research shows that occupied time feels shorter than unoccupied time. By engaging customers with live streams, company broadcasts, and even trivia, they focus less on the wait and more on the screen.
Innovative digital signage solutions also alleviate one common fear among humans — the fear of the unknown. Most people get the waiting room jitters because they don’t know what to expect. This causes anxiety and restlessness, leading to a poor customer experience.
Let’s consider a hospital waiting room. Displaying live wait time eases patient anxiety from restlessly waiting for their turn. This information keeps them informed about when their turn is, patient status, and even doctor’s information.
2. Educate and upsell with infotainment
Learning does not have to be boring. In fact, it can be quite the opposite!
With innovative digital signage solutions, you can mix informative content with a dash of entertainment to create ‘infotainment.’ Unlike ordinary one-way interactions, you make learning fun and engaging by incorporating interactive quizzes, trivia, and infographics.
Imagine your digital screens showing how-to videos, guiding viewers through your products and services with real-life scenarios. You can also share DIY tips, infographics, and tutorials to ensure your content is as easy to understand and retain as possible. Remember, don’t be afraid to experiment with engaging digital signage content ideas!
For example, if you’re launching a new product, showcasing detailed launch information, how-to videos, and even first impression reactions are a good way to attract audience attention. Even better, incorporate interactive elements that showcase product ranges, capabilities, and customizations to impress customers and make additional sales possible.
3. Broadcast emergency alerts and messages
In times of need, your digital signage doubles as an emergency notification system. Efficiently broadcast critical information — weather alerts, safety protocols, or unexpected closures during natural calamities or security threats — ensuring your audience is not only informed but also safe.
With L Squared, you can override any content you’re playing with an emergency message. This alert will occupy your entire screen, ensuring your notification is visible to everyone in the area. Additionally, you can add audio to this emergency signage to make the sign accessible to an audience with varying abilities.
For instance, if someone is visually impaired or in an area where the screens aren’t visible, the audio will capture their attention, maximizing digital signage impact.
Since L Squared supports advanced device segmentation, you can share targeted messages only to affected areas. This ensures that only the right audience sees the emergency alert, avoiding chaos or confusion in other locations.
4. Simplify navigation with interactive kiosks
Gone are the days of wrestling with unwieldy, hard-to-refold maps. Innovative digital signage solutions are the new way of streamlining navigation for modern businesses.
With interactive kiosks, getting the right directions is a few clicks away. This makes it easier for employees, visitors, and customers to navigate around your business spaces without losing time or energy trying to find the right way.
Enter your destination, and step-by-step directions will appear in seconds. These kiosks are especially helpful when placed strategically at high-traffic locations like entrances, exits, restrooms, and common spaces.
To make your signage more accessible, you can also use a voice recognition feature to make navigation easier. Your users can simply ask your kiosk for directions to a building or conference room, and it’ll respond instantly!
Note: Integrating interactive digital signage solutions isn’t just an additional tool to your technology stack. It’s a strategic move towards customer-centric experiences, using effective digital signage applications.
5. Turn social proof into social influence
In an age where a tweet can make or break your brand image, social proof is your best friend. Hey, it’s not bragging if someone else says it, right?
The best part? You can get another creative use of digital signage.
Leverage your display network to share real-time social media feeds, testimonials, or user-generated content that highlights the love your customers have for your brand. This will not only build trust in your brand but also encourage others to join the conversation.
With L Squared, you can share updates from social media like Instagram, X, and Facebook right onto your digital signage for higher engagement and visibility. It’s a dynamic way to keep your content fresh and engaging, ensuring that your digital signage always has something new and interesting to display.
6. Wrapping up
These are five creative uses of digital signage for your business. Remember, capturing your audience’s attention in the bustling digital marketplace is like finding a needle in a haystack. Only the needle has a short attention span of less than 9 seconds!
With innovative digital signage solutions, you can use dynamic displays that go beyond enhancing the aesthetics of your business. This digital communication solution is versatile, reliable, and, occasionally, a lifesaver. As technology becomes more advanced, we anticipate AI and machine learning algorithms to finetune digital signage content with personalized messages that are dynamically changing based on the audience.
Ultimately, integrating digital signage into your business is about enhancing customer experience, streamlining operations, and making the digital world a little less daunting and a lot more engaging.
