How to Buy a LED Display

To boost sales and enhance the popularity of your business, installing a dynamic LED sign can be a great marketing medium in the digital age. However, given the investment required, it is not an easy decision. Selection of an LED sign should be driven by the nature of the organizational goals you are trying to achieve and the finances put aside for marketing. It’s indispensable to find a reputable retailer who can deliver an impeccable combination of image quality, durability, service and cost of ownership. An informed buyer is well equipped with the necessary questions to ask and concerns to mouth when purchasing an LED display. Here’s what you should know before making the big transaction:

LED Sign Authority

1) Survey Your Location

You may be in a quandary about the type of LED display you need. It is imperative to get a feel of your location and its advantages or challenges. Take a look at the signs in your neighborhood and decide how you want to stand out among existing competition. E.g. if monochrome displays are used by neighboring businesses, a full color display will set your business apart. 

Also take stock of the best lanes and streets of traffic in the vicinity, obstacles in the sign’s line of sight, best height, distance of signage from the street and viewing distance. Research the laws for electronic signs in your area. What, if any, are the restrictions? Many towns have specific regulations about the type or size of outdoor signs businesses may erect. If local rules forbid you from putting up a sign, you need to apply for a variance.

2) Determine Your Budget

Your LED sign is your foremost advertising tool. Check your advertising budget and determine you expected return on investment. It is wise to establish the amount you are willing to spend or the maximum monthly payment if you are financing. Leasing options can generally be obtained without having to indicate a specific make or model of sign ahead of time. Also incorporate the cost of taxes, permits, installation and training for your LED in your marketing expenses.

3) Know the Brand

Many companies claim to have the lowest prices and best in-stock LED signs but may end up supplying inferior product with no support. It is relevant to run a background check on the company and determine how long has it been involved in the business of digital signage. 

Another factor to consider is if the company manufactures its own signs or purchases cheap, imported ones and rebrands them as their own. You will often find faster turnaround, higher quality execution, and better pricing when working with a company specializing in LED signs for a commendable period. Always be open with your provider about the size, resolution and type of LED you have envisaged for your business.

4) Ease of Operation

Unless the owner is tech-savvy, operating the LED software for the first time can be daunting. The value of LED message centers lies in the flexibility of the medium and the ability to change messages quickly and frequently. So, it’s important that sign owners can easily create and update messages. Although the provider may claim their software is user-friendly, you won’t know till you use it yourself. Ask to take the software for a test run. Ask what’s included with the software, and take a look at the artwork they offer!

Research Study Reveals Digital Billboards are Attractive

Owing to the growing glamour of “digital billboards” around the United States and the world at large, the Outdoor Senior Research Architect- OAAA commissioned Diane Williams from Nielsen in 2015 to do an on location survey that would justify to media sellers or advertisers that digital billboards create a positive impact on consumers. Nielsen conducted exactly 1,256 online surveys with residents age 18 and over from five major cities in the US. The study outlined the straightforward benefits of using digital billboards to advertise businesses through benchmark research. The following were the findings of the research:

How Often Do Travelers Notice Digital Billboards?

Nielsen conducted the research in a busy market for a month where digital billboards are widely seen. The researchers mapped the signage in the test market and screened the survey respondents that noticed the billboards.

After the survey, three-quarters of the travelers reported that they recalled digital billboards that they saw in the past month and 6 in 10 respondents recalled seeing those digital billboards in the last week. This wasn’t all. Of the respondents who recalled the digital survey, 55% also also noticed the message displayed on the screen.

Can Viewers Recall Some Specific Ads On Digital Billboards?

According to the research, the answer is yes. For the benchmark study, Nielsen tested about 30 billboard campaigns, in which six brands with regular rotating ads on the billboards for each market were picked. The survey showed that 80%, 77%, and 89% of the local travelers of Atlanta, Phoenix, and Tampa respectively, noticed at least one of the six tested ads in the past months. The ads featured a sports television broadcast, a local casino, and a local lottery in their messages. Other markets were also targeted in the research.

In a nutshell, the findings revealed that the most of the respondents noticed particular messages as opposed to digital billboards that they saw in the last month.

Do Digital Billboards Engage Consumers?

Some of the subjects of the study showed results that weren’t even expected as much as they showed up, or more explicitly, ended up as “Breaking News”. Over 50% of the total respondents were asked about the effectiveness of digital billboards, and they responded with statements such as “cool way”, “good way to learn”, or “visually appealing”. Boom!

As far as consumer engagement is concerned, the study showed that about 36% of the people who noticed digital billboards in the past month either passed the information on to their acquaintances or recommended them after actually visiting the business, restaurant, or store that was advertised. It’s not only that people attended the event or visited the venue but they also followed the suggestion and made a purchase.

The study also showed that although digital billboards are an offline medium from the consumer’s point of view, they actually do prompt viewers to take online action, as around 16-18% of the digital billboard viewers in the last month actually visited the businesses’ websites. This shows that digital billboards are not only trending these days but also bring real-world benefits in the long run.

Sign Codes and Traffic Safety

It is common practice for city planners to use sign codes that are developed by other cities (and therefore do not have real bearing to their own cities) or they make use of extremely strict rules because they believe signs are “eyesores” and will cause injuries and accidents by distracted drivers.

This is really not the case especially when good signage is installed. After all, not all signs are created equal and some are just better than others. There are simply some signs that are built better and designed better so they still convey the right message but are easy on the eyes and never distracting. These signs were made with the city’s needs in mind and are made to direct and grab attention but never distract.

Static Signs of the Yester-year

For generation upon generation, signs have been static. They really only ever displayed one message and some of them would carry the same signs and messages for years. However, leaps and bounds made in technology used for information display in recent years have changed that and business owners and city planners can now opt for digital signs. These signs are particularly useful when used as on- and off-premise signs for businesses. These on-premise signs have the ability to display a wide variety of messages so they allow a business to really “talk” to old and potential customers alike.

These digital signs represent a massive shift and advancement in communication technology that have an impressive ability to deliver valuable marketing information to customers. After all, there is nothing quite like an attractive sign that you can use to convey to potential customers why they need to do business with you. You can use the signs to tell them about new deals and promos as well as advertise brand new products on display and for sale within the hour.

Traffic Concerns and LED Signage

There is no denying that such signs can bring a world of good to business but some groups have their concerns about such signs especially when it comes to traffic safety and business signs that change content in a regular basis. These groups state that drivers might get distracted seeing as they might feel the need to take their eyes off the road and read what new message these business signs have put up for them instead.

These safety concerns are usually addressed by way of local regulations concerning electronic LED sign boards; they might limit or prohibit the use of these on-premise signs. The fact of the matter is that these regulations mostly stem from the local level and there is no scientific research data or national based surveys and research that support the implementation of such regulations.

In fact, what these city planners and city managers fail to take into account is that their static signs might just be doing more harm than good. To put it plainly, signs do NOT distract drivers or cause accidents - it is small or hidden signs that are the real culprits for road accidents among other reasons.

For businesses that are having issues with sign codes in your respective cities, you may pay a visit to the United States Sign Council. They have lots of information that you can use to counter bad sign codes in your city.

How Fire Departments Can Finance a LED Sign

FEMA offers the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) each year to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations including equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources. Fire department personnel who have questions about the AFG Program can reach the Program staff by telephone at 1-866-274-0960, or by e-mail at firegrants@dhs.gov. Go to their site to sign up for grant email alerts. http://www.fema.gov/assistance-firefighters-grant-program-info/assistance-firefighters-grants-e-mail-alert-signup Also check with the US Forest Service, Rural Housing Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, as well as private groups like the First Responder Institute for other grants available.

Maltese Cross LED Sign

Fiber Optic LED Sign Communication

Fiber Optics is a communication method using a fiber optic cable that utilizes light instead of electrical impulses to send information from the computer to the LED sign. A signal converter is required on the computer and also at the LED sign to change the signal to light and then back to an electrical pulse. This system is very robust for noise immunity, which means the speed can be very fast over long distances. In simple terms, a movie file can be transferred in under a minute versus 15 to 20 minutes using RS232. The Key difference between Fiber Optic and Ethernet is the distance is better with Fiber Optic.

When should I use it?

• High speed connection is desired for sending Movie files or large picture files to the LED sign quickly.
• Installation cost is not an issue.
• Need access to the sign from several computers or from a company wide network.
• Distance from the LED sign to the Computer or Network switch is less than 2.5 miles.
• When communication reliability is mandatory and installation costs are not a factor

Benefits:

• Long distance capability up to 2.5 miles between stations
• Files load quickly to sign.
• Ethernet networks are common
• Immune to electromagnetic interference

Considerations:

• Recommended method for sending movie, picture or large data files due to its fast speed.
• Can be expensive to run and repair if damaged.

Changeable Marquee Sign with Blow Away Letters

You want your business to grow. You have something to sell. Is your marquee business sign communicating this to the traffic driving past your location day after day? Is your message getting noticed? Or is your business being passed by because the old blow away letters are not presenting a professional image. Perhaps it’s time to make a change.

Why do we call them blow away letters? Because they blow away (or get stolen). Another terrible problem is....you never seem to have enough characters. Most changeable letter kits provide more vowels and primary consonants than the lesser used alphabet. But if they give you more of one character it is at the expense of another. Most sign writers resort to being creative and turning their P’s upside down for B’s, or add some black tape to an F to make an E.

What is the solution? 

Here are 2 strategies you can use to eliminate this problem...

1. buy a larger character kit
2. buy an Electronic Message Center and present a professional image.

What can a LED Sign do for your Church?

Do you ever sit down at night and ponder making the switch a LED signs for your church? Maybe you are head of your local parish and your followers have been put you in charge of selecting a  LED display. 

Where do you start? 

Well did you know that a study by the National Evangelistic Association found that "10% of the adults who join American congregations each year decide to visit for the first time after seeing the Church Sign"?  These where not family or friends of current church goers, but complete outsiders. People passing by that had no knowledge of the congregation, but saw the signs message and decided to attend a service. Mass media such as newspapers, flyers and TV ads only brought in a dismal 1.6%.

FACT: 10% of adults attended a congregations service for the first time after seeing a church sign with a clear message.

FACT: 1 in 10 people notice and read a traditional sign while 9 in 10 will notice and read a LED Sign.

We understand that a new church sign is a significant investment for your church. As the leading provider of LED Outdoor Signs in the USA, we have seen first hand how a new church sign can positively impact a church's finances. 

What could be your financial return on your investment in a new church sign?

What if you purchased a new LED sign and for our example spend $15000. In return, attendance increased and two new families joined the congregation each month. With exponential growth and each family contributing $100 each month to the collection plate. In less than one year your LED Sign would be paid for.

Want more information?

Let one of our knowledgeable experts in the industry guide you every step of the way to create a Church Sign that is tastefully made and will serve as community landmark for years to come. 

Selecting Content for Your Electronic Display

In this day and age age where competition among businesses and other institutions is fierce, an electronic display may be just what you need to help you stand out from the crowd. Electronic displays will make sure that people notice or even discover your business. The Small Business Association notes that a new LED sign can turn your location into a landmark. Wouldn't you want your business to be the focal point in town all the while letting people know what your company is about with eye catching messages? Besides, LED displays are so easy to program that you can pretty much get your message out at the drop of a hat. Communication is the key when it comes to good business and electronic displays are the most cost efficient way for you to do just that.

What do you say?

Indeed, the ability of these electronic displays to convey messages to an audience is truly remarkable but it does give some a dilemma such as what to advertise on a display. It might seem rather daunting but it is far easier than you think. Check out some suggestions below:

• For banks and other financial institutions, you can use your electronic signage to display current interest rates or exchange rates. Remind customers that they offer vehicle financing, sell saving bonds or that the drive thru is open.
• Convenience stores can advertise specials, show fuel prices, or give a holiday greeting.
• Restaurants can use these signs to display their menu items in full color that will leave customers drooling. In the morning rush hour feature breakfast specials, in the evening feature dinner specials. Schedule your messages to suit the time of day.
• Cinemas can use their displays to show movie times and ticket prices or announce coming movies.
• Auto dealers may use these signs to display their new arrivals, promote their auto repair services or make a public service announcement.

That said, when you invest in an electronic display you improve communication and connect with people right on your doorstep. That can do a lot to drive business through your front door.  

The Importance of Electronic Display Signage

In business there are four vital P’s that should be kept in mind when starting up a new business or expanding an existing one, and these four P’s are product, price, place and promotion. The first step in achieving a good promotion is making your business known through creative and attractive signage. There is a reason the global fast food giant McDonald's spends on average $40,000 on signage in each store and has the signage installed even before the physical store is built. They know that promotion is an integral part of any business's success and the best method to do that is through signage. After all, who hasn't com,e to associate the stylized M know as the Golden Arches with this corporate giant? In today's era of technology, McDonald's joins savvy corporations the world over who are embracing the power of electronic display signage with visually rich content.

What is Electronic Display Signage?

Electronic Display signs are the latest buzz in the advertising world. They are electronic screens that keep consumers informed, entertained and educated about a business by displaying visually arresting and media rich content to its intended audience. These devices are usually found in front of retail stores, hotels, restaurants, corporate buildings. Famous locations that house hundreds of electronic display signs are Times Square in New York and the Tokyo Square in Shibuya, Japan.

Why use Electronic Display Signs?

Not all businesses have allotted huge portions of their capital for advertising. However, every businesses that sets aside money for marketing campaigns wants to ensure they receive maximum exposure and wide information dissemination. These can be accomplished by installing electronic display signs. These are the advantages:

• Reduced advertising cost. It may start out as an investment because of the higher initial costs required in the outlay of the sign, but in the long run it will pay for itself with increased profitability and financial health in comparison to traditional forms of advertising like print or radio.
• Flexibility. LED signs come in all shapes and sizes. From large billboards lining interstates to small single line message boards at your local convenience store. There is an LED display to fit any business budget.
• Attracts attention. With it's dancing lights and media rich content, electronic signs attract attention.
• Content can easily be updated, so when new campaigns rise, you can easily upload it via the world wide web with just a click of a mouse.

Electronic signs have definitely changed the way advertisements work and businesses are scrambling to get the latest electronic sign. Don’t you think it’s about time your business installed one? 

Why do I need an Outdoor LED Sign

You say "I already have a sign". An Outdoor LED sign or electronic message center offers a unique way to capture the attention of passers-by. A LED sign allows you to communicate more effectively with the typical person passing by at a particular time day by changing the message and graphic of your sign to match the profile on the street. Outdoor electronic LED moving message centers have proven to increase business 15%-150% (Small Business Administration) at 10% the cost of TV, Radio and Newspaper advertising.

You say "my customers already know where I am". Consider the public - your existing and potential customers - is on the move, both literally and figuratively, and sometimes catching their attention is like hitting a moving target. Approximately 85% of customers live within an 5 mile radius of most businesses and 18.6% of Americans move every year. Potentially that is a loss of 18.5% of your current customer base. Add to that the fact that 15-35% of the traffic on a given street is "just passing through" (vacation travelers and such), and you can see the great potential for stops by those unfamiliar with the area.

We no longer live in a 9-to-5 society, and people will drive past your business location 24 hours a day. With a lighted LED Electronic Message Center sign, you have an opportunity to communicate with your existing and potential customer, even when your business is closed and you are at home enjoying your family.