Digital Signage Done Right

How to Make Internal Communications More Authentic

EPISODE 49 | Guest: Ray Walsh, independent internal localization consultant & author of Localizing Employee Communications

How do you engage people but still maintain consistency in branding and messaging? How can you express your corporate culture while being authentic, comprehensible and engaging at the same time?

As in all good communications, the key is to focus on the audience – who they are, what they’re interested in and what their context is. But that’s just the first step, after you get to know your audience, you still have to craft messaging that will appeal to them.

In this episode, localization and communications expert Ray Walsh gives advice on how we can get across what we need to and yet still sound human.

- Learn how to avoid jargon (write to your mother)

- Get tips to simplify and focus your message

- Explore how being authentic leads to more engagement

- Embrace revisions, review and more revisions

- Hear how localization can help frame corporate messaging

See the full transcript HERE

Check out Ray’s book Localizing Employee Communications at Amazon or direct from XML Press

Using Digital Signage for Activism & Inclusion

EPISODE 48 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix

Engaging your audience with digital signage means including them in the conversation. There’s a lot going on in the world that’s more than just the day-to-day grind of work or classes, and part of your communications strategy should take that into account.

In this episode, we cover five aspects of incorporating activism and inclusion into your messaging: culture, education, trust, respect and events. Learn how you can use your digital signs to include people in your organization at multiple levels, educate your audience on what’s important to you, and reinforce what’s important to them.

- Understand why you need to focus on people first

- Learn to define and reinforce your organizational culture on screens

- Explore how to encourage inclusion and respect in your facilities

- Consider causes and how to advertise them correctly

- Discover how to build trust and transparency by being accurate and timely

- Get tips on how to support events with more than just schedules

See the full transcript HERE

Get more content ideas in our Masterclass Guide 3: Digital Signage Content

Automated Digital Signage – Set It and Forget It

EPISODE 47 | Guest: Jill Perardi, director of professional services, Visix, Inc.

Digital signage doesn’t have to be a lot of work. Any good content management software will let you pull in feeds and data from other sources like calendar apps, websites, news sources and more. Even tools like Microsoft Excel can be used to manage information off screen, and that data will update all on its own once it’s embedded in your message or layout.

With automated digital signage content, you can set it up once and just let it run. You’ll not only guarantee that you’ll always have fresh, relevant content for your audience, you’ll free up your time to concentrate on more specific, time-sensitive campaigns.

In this episode, we’ll continue our tips on auto-updating content, and expand on some new sources and ideas that can save digital signage managers time while attracting and engaging more viewers.

- Learn how automation benefits both digital signage managers and viewers

- Understand how attractors can increase engagement with all of your content

- Explore data-fed solutions like event boards, menu boards and directories

- Get tips on how to set up social media, countdowns and countups

- Consider content subscriptions, news-in-pictures and signage kits

See the full transcript HERE

Learn more about this topic in our Masterclass Guide 3: Digital Signage Content

Digital Signage for Health and Safety

EPISODE 46 | Guest: Trey Hicks, chief sales officer, Visix, Inc.

Safety is important in all work environments, but it’s paramount in manufacturing and industrial settings. Accidents can cause serious injury, damage equipment and cost the organization a lot of money.

Digital signage can help safety managers train new employees and remind workers about current procedures and protocols, as well as engage and motivate people across the organization. And it’s not just health and safety – digital signs can increase engagement with motivational messages, calls to action and realtime metrics on screens.

Safety is never one and done – it requires constant and consistent education and motivation. Digital signs can help you keep all your employees safe and informed, comply with OSHA and ADA requirements, and have a more productive workforce.

- Understand how digital signage can unite communications across shifts and specialties

- Learn the benefits of digital safety communications over OSHA posters

- Explore ways to promote training and increase engagement

- Discover how realtime data can increase productivity

- Get real-world examples of how Visix manufacturing clients are using digital signs

- Consider safety message subscriptions to take the burden off content creators

- Hear how safety messaging can help during the COVID-19 pandemic

See the full transcript HERE

Additional Resources:

• Download our infographic: Using Digital Signage for Better Safety Communication

Calls to Action - Examples & Advice for Digital Signage

EPISODE 45 | Guest: Ellyce Kelly, professional services consultant, Visix, Inc.

A call to action is a short, clear instruction that motivates your audience to do something, like “register now” or “learn more”. And in visual communications and digital signage, the call to action is the most important part of every message you publish. It not only prompts action; it gets people actively engaged and provides you with a way to measure whether or not your messaging is effective.

It might sound basic, but, as in all communications, there are some dos and don’ts. We’ll walk you through some best practices for how to create compelling calls to action, with 12 tips that have been proven to work on digital signs.

- Get easy call to action examples you can use today

- Learn how to leverage QR codes for higher response rates

- Understand how to craft concise, motivating messages

- Consider language register, verbs, triggers and symbols

- Explore gamification, cross-promotion and ROI measures

See the full transcript HERE

Get more advice in our infographic 12 Best Practices for Calls to Action on Digital Signs

Localization & Why It Matters

EPISODE 44 | Guest: Ray Walsh, independent localization expert, author of Localizing Employee Communications

We talk a lot about audience engagement with digital signage, and one way to ensure people pay attention and care about what you’re showing is to make it relevant to their environment. Localization means adapting communications to the specific location and audience you’re trying to reach, and is a vital element to any good communications plan.

Localization expert Ray Walsh talks about where this movement comes from, gives examples of companies that do a good job, and not such a good job, and gives tips for adapting both internal and public-facing messaging for the best possible customer experience.

- Learn what localization is

- Understand the differences between global branding and local messaging

- Consider how to adapt global brand standards

- Explore how to use photos correctly and effectively

- Examine communication within the content chain

- Get tips to avoid common pitfalls when localizing content

Get the full transcript HERE

Learn more about this topic with Ray’s book, Localizing Employee Communications from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or direct from XML Press.

Digital Wayfinding 101

EPISODE 43 | Guest: Jill Perardi, creative services manager for Visix

Wayfinding at its most basic level is simple – help people get from point A to point B. But there’s a lot more to effective wayshowing than just putting up a map, especially once you decide to go digital. Digital wayfinding needs to be well planned and well designed with the user experience always the priority.

The tradeoff for that extra work is that you also have more possibilities and options to engage your audience. In this episode, we’ll explore digital wayfinding options and best practices for static screens, interactive touchscreens and smartphones, and cover the basics of what you need to get started. 

- Start with a goal, a team and a plan

See the full transcript HERE

Download our white paper: 10 Steps to Successful Interactive Wayfinding

Why You Need Room Signs Instead of Tablets

EPISODE 42 | Guests: Sean Matthews, president & CEO of Visix and Joe Murray, system engineer and architect for Visix

For space management, nothing is as effective as digital room signs. They’re more efficient, more flexible and even more cost effective over time. And while it might be tempting to just use consumer-grade tablets, room signs are purpose-built for enterprise applications.

Sean and Joe talk about the different room sign solutions that Visix offers, which works best in what environment and what features are best for different user scenarios. They also cover the shortcomings of trying to use tablets to display event schedules 24/7.

And yes, this podcast episode is about specific Visix products. It’s our podcast, after all. And even if you’re shopping for room signs from several vendors, this podcast will give you some helpful tips.

- Learn why room signs are the essential modern space management solution

- Meet the most customizable room sign in the world – the Touch10

- Consider Connect room signs for turnkey room and resource management

- Manage collaboration and hoteling spaces with wireless electronic paper (EPS) E Ink room signs

- Understand what type of room signs work best in different environments

- Hear the disadvantages of using consumer tablets instead of purpose-built room signs

See the full transcript HERE

Download our white paper for Meeting & Space Management Tips