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.

LED Displays and Their Economic Impact

Take a good look around and you can see that more and more businesses are turning to LED signs as their on-premise signage. It is enough to make you wonder what the point is and if these do indeed help communicate with potential customers better than traditional advertising methods to improved store performance. 

It has to be said that some business generally like high-traffic locations. These are the kinds of businesses that make use of message boards as a way to inform potential customers about where they are and what they have to offer. Take for instance businesses like gas stations that use signs to indicate petrol prices and advertise promos and products. Car dealers also make use of supplemental signs as a way to tell the public about their services and offers. The reason they do so is that informing the public of such information is integral to the success of their business as it helps increase traffic and sales.

Electronic Message Boards and Their Benefits

It is plain to see then that the true value of a highly-visible or corner location rests on the ability of a business to make use of signs to draw in potential customers. This is where electronic message boards come into play – they can be controlled to make sure that the most relevant messages are displayed to the public at a moments notice. The best part is they can be customized to provide messages with information that is vital to the target market of the business any time of day.

Traditional reader boards used to come with plastic letters that had to be changed manually by employees every time they change the message on the board. They worked out well enough though the letters did have a tendency to fly off when the wind and rains came down too hard; they would also be frequent victims of vandals. Repairing the damages and changing the message was time consuming plus maintaining consistency across chain retailers could be very messy and extremely tough to maintain. It is plain to see why most business breathed a sigh of relief when the electronic message boards came into existence and gained widespread use in business.

Benefits for Business and Communities

Back in 2011, Freeborg, Moeller, and Drury came out with a report entitled “EMC and Digital Sign Issues.” In the report, they pointed out a wide range of community and business impacts that would come with the use of electronic message boards. For businesses specifically, the major benefits include a more pronounced ease in the changing of the messages which means that businesses are more efficient when it comes to respond to the needs of their prospective customers. It also enhanced the ability of businesses to add images to their messages which also help to increase sales.

When it came to communities, they listed even more benefits, such as the increase of tax revenues that are brought about by increased business sales. These signs also work to improve business viability and this means the signs can bring about a reduction in blight and vacancies in community areas. There have been some concerns about digital message boards and accidents on the road but so far, the fear is misplaced, according to 5 major studies conducted between 2007 and 2010.

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

How to Buy an Outdoor LED Sign

You want to buy an Outdoor LED Sign?  For business owners, it's one of the most important transaction they'll make. That's why doing it right the first time is so important. Sometimes, buying a display can feel like a dizzying set of rules and regulations. Luckily, armed with the right knowledge and know-how, you can start realizing your businesses potential.  There are so many LED display options available, that sometimes it is best to take it step by step. Hope this helps!

1. Survey Your Site

In order to get an understanding for your signage needs it is critical to get the "lay of the land" and determine your locations specific advantages and/or challenges. Take stock of what you location offers. Some things to examine include but are not limited to

• Existing signage
• Distance of signage from the street and viewing distance
• Obstacles in the signs line of site
• Elevation of sign structure
• Lanes of traffic
• Steed of traffic
• Location of utilities

Visit a few signs in the neighborhood to gauge the competition and see firsthand what you want. Pay attention to overall layout, size, color and resolution. 

2. Permit/Zoning Consultation

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 the zoning laws in your area prevent you from installing the type of sign you desire, you may need to apply for a variance to the existing code. Sign companies should be familiar not only with local regulations, but also with the process for applying for a variance. Hiring an experienced sign professional can help you navigate the zoning process saving you time and money.

3. Determine your Budget

Buying an electronic sign need not be a horror. Today's consumer has so much information (at least, the information is available), as to make the experience of buying a sign less stressful. This transformation will occur, however, only if you obey a rule taught to every first-grade student: DO YOUR HOMEWORK. 

• What is you monthly advertising budget? Business owners sometime forget that your sign is first and foremost advertising. Including an electronic sign in your advertising budget may be less sexy than a TV commercial or radio ad, but its twice as smart. Just as all business owners know that advertising is not free. Often times, the budget does not allow us to do all of the advertising we would like so we must carefully consider the various advertising options that are available to us and invest in the advertisement media that makes the most financial sense. When compared to other advertising costs such as radio, newspaper, television and direct mail, an electronic sign is inexpensive. For example, the cost per 1,000 exposures with an electronic sign is only a few pennies a day. In addition, an electronic message center cultivates long term awareness of a business to a local demographic.

• If financing, think about the sort of down-payment you'll be able to afford. Have a general idea in mind. A down payment establishes equity, or ownership, in a sign. That's also money that you don't have to pay interest on. The more of a down payment you're able to make on your  sign, the less money you'll ultimately pay on your sign. Apply to several lenders within a two week period so that the inquiries do not damage your credit report.

• Check out lease options. These often have lower monthly payments that can easily fit into your business's advertising budget. Lease financing adds another source of credit, allowing you to preserve your cash and established borrowing capacity with banks for other needs. Even "soft costs" such as training, shipping, installation, and maintenance agreements can usually be included. In addition your monthly lease payment can be deducted as an operating expense lowering your tax burden.

• As a business owner, you know that signs are not an expense -- they are an investment. Calculate your expected Return on Investment (ROI). How much increased traffic can you expect to gain form a good sign? The Small Business Association (SBA) statistics show that an LED sign increases business between 15 and 150 percent. Put those numbers into a ROI calculator and see how quickly a sign can pay for itself.  Do you expect your income to increase over the next couple years? If your income has increased by 3% for several years in a row and you hold a good share in a safe industry, you can probably rest assured that buying an expensive but still reasonable sign is possible. Many business owners buy relatively expensive and then grow into their lease with the increased traffic.

Before considering the purchase of a LED sign, it is wise to establish the amount you are willing to spend or, if taking a loan, calculate your maximum monthly payment.  You can work out a loan with your bank, but it is also possible to walk into a sign company with financing already secured through a lease company.  Leasing options can generally be obtained without having to indicate a specific make or model of sign ahead of time. 

Don't forget to consider the costs of tax, permits, installation and training for your new outdoor LED sign. As a very broad, general rule, and depending upon where you live, freight, tax, permits, assorted fees and installation costs will add roughly 10 to 20 percent to the purchase price. This makes the price of a $30,000 sign actually about $36,000 and, if you're financing the deal, you will be paying interest on that additional amount. You should be able to afford the sign as well as its installation costs. It always pays to shop around, so check rates with other lenders to compare. 

4. Use Helpful Internet Tools

There is a lot of information available on the internet but, many professionals will tell you, most buyers simply don't use that available information to their best advantage. To help, we've developed a Buyers Guides for refining your search. Contact us and we will be happy to email one to you.  Another useful area of information will be the various websites for other manufacturers. Often, you can learn specifics about the features of that manufacturer's signs. 

5. Research the Right Sign

Many professionals will tell you that this is where huge numbers of buyers make their biggest mistakes. They don't buy the sign that is best for their needs, but instead get side tracked on price by taking the position that you must have the best deal possible. That sign will be worth what you pay for it, on that day, at that time, and sales managers, particularly those at larger sign companies, tend to have very accurate reads on current market conditions and therefore sign valuations. If you deceive yourself into comparing apples and oranges and placing the same value on both, it will only lead to difficulties later.

Figuring out how much you want to spend was the easy part; now you have to find the sign that's right for you. Most buyers (yes, most), are not really sure what's out there or even what they need and want. Start to think about what you're really looking for in a sign. You probably already have a vague idea, but the angel's in the details. There are a couple things in particular that you should give good thought to:

• First, think about the distance the average viewer will be from the sign. In addition, factors such as as traffic speed, sign height, size and resolution can affect how easily the sign can be viewed.

• What will your business need in several years? Maybe you're just starting up right now, but are there are plans for expansion in the future?

• What tradeoffs are you willing to make? In other words, what are your priorities and what are you willing to compromise on? Do you need a workhorse more than a sign with state of the art technology? Do you care more about sign size over color? Full color LED signs can be more effective for some applications but not all. If you sell insurance there are probably no color pictures that will help you sell your product and text messages will work very effectively. But if you sell cars, color pictures can help you sell and may justify the added cost. What are you willing to sacrifice when it's crunch time?

6. Find a Good Sign Company. 

The sign representative should be: amiable, open, interested, relaxed, confident, and qualified. Learn the representatives experience, and training. A very good sign company will use their experience to sell the right sign to the right buyer — you.

• When you do find your company, go into detail when describing what you want in a sign — type, size and resolution. What you want to display and your locations needs. You site survey should help with this.
• Choose a sign company that specializes in the electronic signs. LED signs have special issues that require special expertise. You will often find faster turnaround, higher quality execution, and better pricing when working with such a company. Working with people who are particularly knowledgeable about the issues surrounding a given application and circumstances can save you time and money.
• Where are their signs made? Is it a USA made product sold through a network of factory trained dealers that can assist you before and after the sale with local support. Is it built by American workers familiar with the local codes and marketplace. Or is it an import where fabrication methods, software and support may be questionable.
• What communication method do you need? There are many different ways to communicate with your electronic message center. Understanding the requirements of the LED display in this regard will help in choosing the right technology for your application. Some installations may have specific requirements. Your sales representative should be able to help you select the method will work best for your application and experience.

Talking to an LED sign professional for help you find the the right sign for your company.

• Call Toll Free 1-800-282-0950
• Fill Out Our Easy Online Financing Form
• Free No Obligation Consultation

With that, good luck, good shopping and good business.

Special Tips

Allow for Updates if Needed - If you expect to upgrade in the future, look for a design that is easy to update or change. In many cases, updates can even be made by your staff instead of returning the sign to the manufacture.

Consider Stock Signs - Although most Electronic message centers are custom made, it is possible to find pre-made LED signs. Buying stock LED signs can be much cheaper than having a sign custom-made.

Be Prepared to Wait During the Summer - Sign companies are generally busiest during the summer. Expect longer turnaround times during this time of the year.

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?