Digital Signage Done Right

The Best Event Signs Are Digital

The Best Event Signs Are Digital

EPISODE 75 | Ellyce Kelly, professional services consultant for Visix

The number one thing shown on digital signs outside of retail settings is events. But showing events doesn’t just mean listing event and meeting schedules. You can use your digital signs to show countdowns and promotions before an event, stream video and tweets during an event, and follow up with your audience afterwards and share those results on screens.

In this episode, Ellyce Kelly walks us through some content ideas you may not have thought of for your events, best practices for event signs and real-world scenarios that work.

- Get content ideas for before, during and after events

- Learn about countdowns and calls to action

- Explore how social media, video and photos can boost participation

- Discover how touchscreens and room signs fit into the events mix

- Understand how scheduling software can feed your screens

See the full transcript HERE

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

 

How Digital Signage Fits into Unified Communications

How Digital Signage Fits into Unified Communications

EPISODE 74 | Sean Matthews, president & CEO of Visix, Inc.

Technology is approaching a more seamless experience for both users and communicators. The term unified communications (UC) can mean different things to different people, depending on whether they approach it from a technology or engagement perspective. Digital signage is a bridge between those two viewpoints. 

New technologies and messaging techniques are emerging that will transform the way people interact with information and one another. By looking at what we use and how we got to where we are today, we can get a glimpse of the shape of things to come.

- Understand what unified communications means in different contexts 
- Learn how unified communications differs from multichannel and omnichannel approaches
- Explore how past technologies point the way towards the future
- Discover how digital signage is a key element in emerging UC ecosystems
- Hear how companies like Visix stay relevant to their clients in a constantly shifting market

See the transcript HERE

Learn more in our Masterclass Guide: Digital Signage Systems Overview Guide

EX, CX, VX & Why Experience Matters

EX, CX, VX & Why Experience Matters

EPISODE 72 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager, Visix, Inc.

The experience is everything. Whether it be the visitor experience, customer experience or employee experience, focusing on people, their needs and how they interact with your company and culture can make or break your brand.

In this episode, we’ll give you an overview and history of each of the EX, CX and VX disciplines, and talk about how a good experience can lead to higher productivity, improve employee retention, raise revenues and create brand advocates. We also distinguish between employee experience and employee engagement, and give you some tips for how to wrap all of this into your digital signage strategy.

- Understand the difference between EX, CX and VX

- Hear the history of how each of these mindsets developed

- Learn about the evolution from employee engagement to employee experience

- Discover why experience is so important for a brand’s success

- Get tips for how to wrap experience into your communications and content strategies

See the full transcript HERE

Get more tips in our Masterclass Guide 2: Digital Signage Communications Planning Guide

Design Tips for Interactive Screens

Design Tips for Interactive Screens

EPISODE 71 | Guest: Melissa Sartin, creative content artist for Visix

Interactivity is now the norm for screens in our daily lives. Making your digital signage interactive, either using touchscreen or voice interaction, can greatly improve the user experience, but not if what’s on screen is hard to read or hard to navigate.

In this episode, content artist Melissa Sartin walks us through design tips for interactive screens, what you can do using our AxisTV Signage Suite software and the common mistakes to avoid.

- Learn the benefits of offering interactivity

- Discover AxisTV Signage Suite’s interactive options and widgets

- Get tips for designing good interactive screen layouts

- Explore design themes, navigation systems, ADA controls, imagery and timeouts

- Understand the importance of testing & success measures

 

See the full transcript HERE

Get more screen design advice in our Masterclass Guide 4: Digital Signage Design

Digital Signs for Business

Digital Signs for Business

EPISODE 70 | Guest: Jason Cain, region sales manager – South Central for Visix

Businesses of all types and sizes are using digital signage to inform and motivate employees, as well as communicate and connect with visitors and the public. But how successful your signage is always depends on what you’re showing on screens and how often you’re refreshing that content.

In this episode, Jason Cain walks us through how companies are using digital signs for business to engage both their internal and external audiences, the most popular content for each, and some of his best and worst real-world examples.

- Learn how businesses handle internal vs. public-facing communications

- Hear the pros and cons of enterprise, cloud and on-premise solutions

- Understand the benefits of automated events, alerts, KPIs and dashboards on screens

- Discover how room signs, interactivity and remote publishing can extend the impact of digital signs

- Explore cool real-world digital signage applications and get tips on what not to do

 

See the full transcript HERE

Get content ideas for campus signage in our white paper: Increasing Employee Engagement with Digital Signs

 

 

7 Ways to Keep Remote Workers Engaged

7 Ways to Keep Remote Workers Engaged

EPISODE 68 | Guest: Sean Matthews, president & CEO, Visix, Inc.

What’s the difference between remote workers and in-office workers? Not much, it turns out. Every employee wants to feel motivated, connected and engaged, and every employee requires good communication from all levels of their organization. Remote workers need the same guidance and encouragement as in-office staff, and they can be just as productive (or more so) than the employee sitting in a cubicle if you evolve your mindset and your communication channels to deliver what they need.

In this episode, Sean Matthews talks about the realities of a growing hybrid workforce, specific challenges that Visix has faced and how we addressed them, along with some concrete advice for anyone struggling to engage their remote workers.

- Learn about the myths and mindsets that pose a barrier to remote engagement

- Hear how Visix adapted to an expanded remote workforce

- Understand the benefits of remote work for both employees and the bottom line

- Get seven practical tips on how to keep your remote workers engaged

- Explore technologies and techniques for hybrid office communications

 

Get the full transcript HERE

Get more advice in our free Guide to Engaging Remote Employees

 

Campus Signage - Why Digital Is Better

Campus Signage - Why Digital Is Better

EPISODE 67 | Guest: Dave Leo, region sales manager (North Central) for Visix, Inc.

Universities and colleges of all types and sizes are adopting digital campus signage. And they all have the same needs and the same mission, which is educate, inform and alert their students, staff and visitors. But it’s not enough to just put some screens up in hallways. You have to understand what types of messaging appeal to different viewers, and where and when to publish that content. You have to give your signage managers the tools they need to succeed and always think about the viewer experience.

 

In this episode, Dave Leo walks us through how higher education clients are using campus signage to engage their audiences, some of the dos and don’ts for a successful system, and some real-world examples of campus content.

- Learn about popular types of screen content for different audiences

- Understand the unique challenges for higher ed content managers

- Explore menu boards, donor boards, wayfinding and other interactive options

- Discover how digital signage ties into mass alerts

- Get advice and best practices for campus signage systems

 

Get the full transcript HERE

Get content ideas for campus signage in our white paper: Student-Centered Digital Signage for Colleges & Universities

 

Best Digital Signage Widgets for Different Users

Best Digital Signage Widgets for Different Users

EPISODE 66 | Guest: Ellyce Kelly, professional services consultant for Visix, Inc.

Choosing the best digital signage widgets starts with good user management. Different software users need access to the tools they feel most comfortable with, but they don’t necessarily need to see everything. Deciding what they should and shouldn’t interact with all stems from having a solid plan for your user hierarchy, content and workflows. This podcast can help get you started.

In this episode, we go through the main user types who create, schedule and manage content, and which widgets are best for them.

• Learn why and how to organize user profiles
• Explore three user personas – content submitter, content manager and content designer
• Hear about different widgets and how they’re used in screen layouts
• Discover interactive and HTML5 features
• Understand how to set up software users for success

Get the full transcript HERE 

Find out more about widgets on our webpage at: Easy Digital Signage Widgets

12 Tips for Better Employee Communications

12 Tips for Better Employee Communications

EPISODE 65 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix

**

IT’S OUR TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!! Thanks to everyone who tunes in to DSDR. We hope you’ve found our episodes fun and valuable. If you have any suggestions for topics, email us at comms@visix.com. And don't forget that you can subscribe to this podcast and also our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

**

Better employee communications take work. It’s not enough to create a PowerPoint slide or fill in a template with some text. You have to have a strategy behind your messages, or your employees will just tune out. That goes for every channel – email, digital signs, social networks, collaboration apps, etc. And the need for purposeful, well-thought-out messaging is never more important than for internal communications.

Today’s employees need transparency into your mission and the outcomes of their actions. They want a voice in your operations and how, when, where and what you communicate. If you want to drive and deliver better employee communications, we’re giving you 12 tips that you can put into action today:

- Hear how better employee communications affect engagement and experience

- Learn about best practices for design, content and frequency

- Understand context, clarity and brevity all work together

- Explore how to measure understanding and effectiveness

- Discover how surveys can do some of the work for you

 

Get the full transcript HERE

Use our infographic to take these tips with you.

 

A Modern Guide to Manufacturing Signage

A Modern Guide to Manufacturing Signage

EPISODE 64 | Guest: Chip Kepner, region sales manager - West Great Lakes for Visix, Inc.

Just as factories, warehouses and assembly lines have embraced technology to help them do their work, manufacturing signage has evolved to modernize communications with a fast-moving, far-flung workforce.

When workers can’t get to a computer to check email, or there’s no good internet in the area of the plant, how do you keep them engaged, informed and safe? In this episode, Chip Kepner walks us through how modern facilities are using digital signs to unify communications across their facilities – both in the office and on the floor.

- Get lots of content ideas for manufacturing signage

- Learn how signage affects employee engagement and productivity

- Hear best practices for HR and safety messaging, KPIs and more

- Discover how to unite messaging across jobs, teams and locations

- Understand what not to do on screens

- Explore some best and worse real-world examples

 

Get the full transcript HERE

Get more content ideas in our white paper: Drive Change and Improve Safety with Digital Signage for Manufacturing

Experiential Design for Digital Signage

Experiential Design for Digital Signage

EPISODE 63 | Derek DeWitt, Communications Specialist for Visix, Inc.

Immersive experiences are being pioneered in a number of fields using experiential design concepts. Though digital signage is mainly a visual medium, there are ways to engage the other four senses as well. Yes – hearing, touch, smell and even taste.

The more ways you can get someone’s attention, the better chance you have of attracting them and giving them an experience that they’ll remember for a long time. And that means they’ll remember your message and your brand longer. This is more than thinking outside the box, it’s thinking outside the eye.

- Learn how much each sense influences how we process information

- Understand the importance of high-quality visuals and motion

- Explore ways to use audio and music effectively

- Consider using scent diffusers to add a smell element

- Don’t forget about haptics to engage the tactile sense

- Surprise people by offering a way to engage their taste buds

- Hear examples of how experiential design elements can work independently or together

 

See the full transcript HERE

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

Designing Good Digital Signage Templates

Designing Good Digital Signage Templates

EPISODE 62 | Guest: Melissa Sartin, creative content artist for Visix, Inc.

Using templates for digital signage messages and layouts helps you save time, streamline workflows for content creators, and keep control over what people put up on your screens. No matter who’s making and scheduling messages to your system, you can rest easy knowing that everything fits within your brand and design standards.

In this episode, we talk with the designer who created over 900 templates for Visix about why using templates is a wise choice for many organizations. We look at best practices for specific template elements like background, images (and where to source them), font types and styles, and the various options available in AxisTV Signage Suite for template creators.

- Find out how templates can improve your signage

- Learn what backgrounds to use, and when

- Understand how to use images and where you can get them

- Explore font options and the psychology behind them

- Hear some real-world examples and use cases for different template elements

- Discover the difference between message templates and layout templates

 

See the full transcript HERE

Get more design tips with our Masterclass Digital Signage Design Guide

Internal Communication Trends for 2021

Internal Communication Trends for 2021

EPISODE 60 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing & communications manager for Visix, Inc.

A new study by Gallagher on internal communication trends gives insights into the changing landscape of reaching employees and keeping them engaged. We take a look at a few of the findings – the good and the bad – and discuss possible reasons for why respondents said what they said. Along the way, we examine what organizations can do in the near future to improve their messaging, and how IC is changing in the coming years.

- Examine new priorities for internal communication (IC) and employee experience (EX)

- Hear how IC, HR and the C-suite are using new tools, tech and training

- Understand the growth of digital, interactive, multisensory and omnichannel comms

- Consider how new technologies, channels and content will impact IC strategies

- Learn how to expand measurement beyond reach to evaluate outcomes

 

See the full transcript HERE

For more IC stats from the study, see our infographic: 30 New IC Statistics

You can also read the entire Gallagher study here: State of the Sector 2021: The definitive global survey of the internal communication and employee engagement landscape.

Employee Engagement Trends in 2021

Employee Engagement Trends in 2021

EPISODE 59 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing & communications manager for Visix, Inc.

Employee engagement has been greatly affected by the upheavals of 2020. Internal Communications, Human Resources, the C-suite, managers and workers are all adjusting to the new work-from-home culture, the technology that makes it possible and the challenges of communicating remotely.

In this episode, we discuss employee engagement trends highlighted in a new Gallup report. We cover where organizations are doing better than before, and where there’s still work to be done, and take a look at some of the reasons why the numbers are what they are.

- Hear the latest stats for engaged and unengaged employees

- Discover how HR and IC are adapting to the new normal

- Understand the risks of disengagement and burnout

- Learn why meaningful feedback and wellbeing are top priorities

- Explore how the C-suite and managers fit into engagement

 

See the full transcript HERE

Want more tips on communications for employee engagement? Download our Masterclass Guide 2: Digital Signage Communications Planning

Hardware Considerations for Digital Signage

Hardware Considerations for Digital Signage

EPISODE 58 | Guest: Joe Murray, systems engineer & architect, Visix, Inc.

Communications today are increasingly virtual, but still require physical hardware to work. Although we often remind people that digital signage is about the content, you can’t reach your audience without the infrastructure. And maintaining your digital signage hardware and software is essential to a reliable, scalable and user-friendly system.

Joe Murray talks about what digital signage hardware you need for a digital signage solution, and how to shop smart so you don’t end up with items you need to replace in the near future. He also walks us through why and how you can update your software and hardware to keep your system running smoothly and take advantage of new features.

- Walk through the basic hardware in a digital signage system

- Understand what a content management server is and what it does

- Explore on-premise versus cloud hosting for servers

- Learn how to choose the best media player for your communications

- Hear why updating both hardware and software is essential

- Discover the advantages of remote and scheduled updates

 

See the full transcript HERE

Want the nitty-gritty technical stuff? Download our AxisTV Signage Suite networking guide.

Work From Home: Tech, Trends & Benefits

Work From Home: Tech, Trends & Benefits

EPISODE 57 | Guest: Jonathan Blackwood, editorial director of Commercial Integrator and editor-in-chief of My TechDecisions

How we work is changing, partly because of circumstance and partly due to technology. The pandemic has forced us to conduct the largest workplace experiment in history, but work from home was already a strong movement in the labor market, and has shown positive results for both organizations and their employees. Now that we’ve been forced to adapt, things will never be the same again.

Jonathan Blackwood shares some insights into what will change, what won’t, and even more importantly, why. He also talks about how productivity, health and safety and education are all being affected.

Remote working and learning technology are certainly at the forefront of these changes, but it’s also affecting everything from how managers approach goal setting to talent attraction and retention, to scheduling and collaboration, to space configuration and management.

- Learn about business agility and why it’s key for today’s workplace

- Discover how work-life balance benefits both employer and employees

- Hear how flexibility and hybrid schedules are increasing productivity

- Explore how to leverage in-office and out-of-office technologies

- Consider how digital signage fits into the new, emerging workplace

- Understand why surveys are essential to successfully adopt WFH practices

See the full transcript HERE

Keep up to date with the industry, technologies and more at My TechDecisions and Commercial Integrator.

The Client Onboarding Process & Why It Matters

The Client Onboarding Process & Why It Matters

EPISODE 56 | Guest: Jill Perardi, director of professional services, Visix, Inc.

Software companies are using the HR term “onboarding” to describe the process of familiarizing clients with their products and services, and helping them become proficient enough to achieve their goals. Digital signage is a unique medium, so establishing a partnership between client and vendor is vital to a successful deployment.

Jill Perardi takes us through the client onboarding process at Visix. This gives clients an idea of what they should expect when buying AxisTV Signage Suite software. It also provides a roadmap that clients can use with other software vendors to ensure they get the most from their investment.

- Learn what onboarding is & why it’s important

- Walk through the steps of the Visix onboarding process

- Understand who needs to be involved at each stage

- Discover how success measures shape each step of the process

- Know what to expect and what to ask any company you deal with

See the full transcript HERE

For more help planning your digital signage success, download our Digital Signage Best Practices Guide.

How (Not) to Communicate Effectively

How (Not) to Communicate Effectively

EPISODE 55 | Guest: Dave Haynes, founding editor for Sixteen:Nine, host of the 16:9 Podcast & digital signage consultant

Dave Haynes began in newspapers but started focusing primarily on digital signage and marketing 15 years ago. His refreshing take on how to keep communications honest has made Sixteen:Nine one of the go-to sources in the industry. In this episode, he shares some tips on how to communicate effectively with an audience and how not to screw up your press releases. 

Clear, concise communication is essential in all mediums, so you can apply this advice not only to your press releases, but also your digital signage content, social media and other messaging. Get suggestions on how to communicate both efficiently and effectively: 

- Learn what not to do if you want your story published
- Discover the benefits of hyper-targeting
- Understand the Five Ws & how they can transform your text
- Consider how buzzwords & quotes can hurt you
- Get advice on how to submit images & video
- Hear about queue management & other trends

See the full transcript HERE

For more insights see Sixteen:Nine: All Digital Signage, Some Snark and the 16:9 Podcast

How Digital Signage Technologies Are Adapting to COVID-19

How Digital Signage Technologies Are Adapting to COVID-19

EPISODE 54 | Guest: Bradley Cooper, Editor for Digital Signage Today

2020 presented a number of challenges, but also a lot of opportunities. Organizations of all types are finding new and improved ways of getting their message out to audiences. New digital signage technologies are being adopted and adapted to meet post-COVID needs, and will point the way forward far into the future. Agility, versatility and integration are key to navigating the new communications landscape.

In this episode, we talk to Bradley Cooper of DigitalSignageToday.com about how companies and retailers have already adapted, and what we might expect in the coming year.

- Learn about new touchless solutions for interactive screens & kiosks

- Gain insight into how communications are becoming more targeted & personalized

- Discover how digital signage is using AI, IoT &facial identification

- Understand the emerging omnichannel communications method

- Explore how organizations are using digital signs for safety & to control traffic flow

- Hear real-world examples of dos & don’ts

See the full transcript HERE

Get updates on news, events, trends and people in the digital signage and digital out-of-home industries at Digital Signage Today.

 

It's Time for a Digital Signage Content Refresh

It's Time for a Digital Signage Content Refresh

EPISODE 53 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communication manager for Visix, Inc.

With the start of a new year, this is the perfect time to give your screens a makeover: try a new layout, pep up your message designs and get your user accounts in order. Even a limited content refresh can increase engagement.

Remember that the goal is to cut through the noise, grab people’s attention and get them to take your call to action. Since your digital signs are competing with a lot of sensory input, changing things up from time to time is an easy way to entice more viewers. However, any successful content refresh strategy has be done in a methodical, measurable way, so you can tell what is and isn’t effective.

In this episode we’ll give you some quick tips on what to refresh, how often and how easy it can be:

- Hear about the cocktail party affect and how the brain filters information
- Explore how to update layouts – new designs, arrangements and themes
- Learn to reimagine and refresh evergreen message elements 
- Discover quick update ideas for time, date, weather and other feeds
- Get tips on refreshing playlists and calls to action 
- Understand the importance of software, hardware and user updates

 

See the full transcript HERE

Need some content inspiration? Grab our infographic with 100 Digital Signage Message Ideas.

AV & Digital Signage Trends for 2021

AV & Digital Signage Trends for 2021

EPISODE 52 | Guest: Brian Galante, president & owner of Dimension PR

 

At the end of 2020, we’re looking at future AV and digital signage trends in the new work-from-home and hybrid culture. As large corporations work to integrate with the home office, AV and IT technologies are adapting at an unprecedented rate.

In this episode, Brian Galante of Dimension PR gives us his predictions based on his work with top vendors in the broadcast and professional AV industries. We also explore how PR fits into a comprehensive marketing and digital signage strategy:

- Understand public safety messaging for 2021 & beyond

- Learn about the convergence of DS & security solutions

- Hear how AV & IT are bridging in-office & at-home meetings

- Explore infrastructure & equipment for effective collaboration

- Get tips on how to work PR into your onscreen messaging

 

See the full transcript HERE

Learn more about Brian Galante and Dimension PR at www.dimensionpronline.com

A/B Testing for Digital Signage Content

A/B Testing for Digital Signage Content

EPISODE 51 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix

Measuring success is critical for modern communicators, and experimenting with A/B testing gives you data that you can analyze for actionable results to improve your workflows and audience response. 

Implementing a well-executed and consistent A/B testing strategy can help you improve your digital signage messages, layouts, designs, imagery, headlines, and more. But there are a few things to consider before just jumping in. You want to make sure you’re testing the right things in the right way. And always keep the focus on the main goal of any communications, which is engagement.

- Learn about the different digital signage elements you can test
- Understand the basic methodology for successful A/B testing
- Get tips on how to focus the scope of your split tests
- Explore the ROI benefits of continuous improvement
- Hear how to parse the data you gather

 

See the full transcript HERE

Get more tips in our Masterclass Guide 2: Digital Signage Communications Planning Guide

ADA Guidelines for Digital Signage

ADA Guidelines for Digital Signage

EPISODE 50 | Host: Derek DeWitt, communications specialist for Visix, Inc.

Professional communication is about inclusion. The number and type of disabilities are more prevalent and varied than you might think, and include everything from physical to visual to hearing impairments and more. And with an aging population, it’s more important than ever before to ensure everyone can access and engage with your communications.

The Americans with Disabilities Act lays out steps for how you can ensure your facility, and your visual communications, are accessible to everyone. In this episode, we focus on tips for ADA guidelines for digital signage, specifically:

- Learn about how and where to mount screens

- Explore guidelines for keypads, kiosks and touchscreens

- Consider voice-responsive technology and EZ Access devices

- Discover how contrast, color, fonts and icons can help color blind viewers

- Get lots of links to helpful online resources

 

Get the full transcript HERE

Learn more about this topic in our Masterclass Guide 4: Digital Signage Design

How to Make Internal Communications More Authentic

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

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