Store Signage

To 4G and Beyond!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 by MediaServices

- By David Trounstine -

Our partnership with Alcatel/Lucent and 4G VideoPresence has been mentioned several times in our blog now, but I just wanted to give the design team perspective.

4G VideoPresence is two-way video conferencing software for your digital signage network that will allow customers to connect directly to a specialist at the point in time that they have a decision to make. There has already been a lot of buzz around it, and we have interest from a number of different vertical markets.

With 4G delivery of content is going to become much less restrictive. "Store and forward" will be an option, not a requirement, as full HD video and interactive content will be able to stream to any enabled consumer electronic device. We are talking real time user interaction with Internet based content, and instant feedback to content providers.

Real time interactions draw users in, they also provide extremely useful information because it can be contextual and relevant. Using 4G to drive these real time interactions means they can happen anywhere at anytime, without the need for complicated infrastructure.

Bi-directional video chat is only the beginning... we have much more to come, so stay tuned!

Back in the Saddle

Monday, August 16, 2010 by MediaServices

- By David Trounstine -

OK it has been almost a year since I have posted any entries to our design/development blog, and for that I apologize. So much has happened in the last year I don't quite know where to start, but you will be happy to know that I have regained my focus on providing information to the digital signage community about design and development.

The name of the game today is 4G. Being that MediaTile is a cellular digital signage company we have been feverishly working to develop new applications and uses for the high bandwidth of 4G, and some very interesting products are in store for the next 12 months.

In case you missed the announcements from earlier this year we are now doing public demonstrations of 4G VideoPresence, a point-to-point two way video chat client that enables digital signage audiences to connect with customer services representatives instantly and personally. We won a first place award for the concept at the CTIA show, and oh man has it generated some buzz for us.

We are very excited about what's to come, and I will do my best to keep up with the pace and provide insider details.

That's all for now, but I will be writing more... soon!

Scotts Valley Market improves community ties and promotions using digital signage

Monday, July 19, 2010 by Leah Kane

(Today's Guest entry comes from Mike Foster, CMO and Co-Founder of MediaTile)

It is always very satisfying when you can help local businesses do a better job of building community ties, while at the same time improving their product and service promotions. Our local supermarket chain, The Scotts Valley Market, has deployed a digital sign above their deli counter – in one of the highest traffic areas of the store with good dwell time.

Their goal is to augment existing promotions, while also informing shoppers of all the community activities that they are involved with, including Chamber of Commerce events, such as the upcoming art and wine festival. They also run local weather and a national news ticker to keep shoppers engaged and entertained while waiting for deli orders. It’s great to see that digital signage has become such a common and well understood medium. This is right in line with the recent Arbitron study, which estimated that 155 million adults in the US remember seeing a digital display each month.

I’d also like to point out that one of our resellers, Vivid Digital Concepts (www.vividdigitalconcepts.com) is in the business of setting up digital-signage network operator franchisees who deploy and operate their own community-based and owner-operated chain-wide networks. So...if you’re thinking of getting into the business, they are a terrific starting point. And because it’s a MediaTile cellular and web-based solution, the only infrastructure you need on-site is a power outlet (that’s my shameless plug!).

Heads, shoulders, knees and toes (of digital signage)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 by Chuck Gose

There's not a lot of readily available research being done in corporate communications so I take what I learn from the retail world and apply it.

At last week's Digital Signage Contest Strategies Summit in Las Vegas, I had the chance to hear Michael Twitty, Director of Shopper Insights for Unilever Americas, discuss the pros and cons of signage placement in retail stores. His focus, given that he works for Unilever, is primarily on consumer packaged goods (he called them CPGs - I had to look it up) but the advice he had is sound no matter what the installation is.

He said that in somewhat tight environments, you shouldn't put anything below somebody's waist or above their eyes if you want them to notice your message. This includes digital signage.

Now clearly there are times in the corporate communications world where you will want to put screens up high for "the world" to notice, but I do screens in break areas, elevator banks, lobbies, etc. that are put way up high and in the corner. I did it. It seems like a good place.

I fall victim to this at home. Whenever I hang a picture, I always put it up too high (I'm 6'4"). It's eye level for me. . . but not for many others.

So when you look at what the retail world is doing and they have revenue and profits tied to proper placement, don't you think corporate communicators should take heed? Placement may not be as important as content but it's still very important to get it right.

Michael Twitty knows what he's talking about.

MediaTile technology on display at #Kioskcom in the Walsh Wireless booth (#314)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 by Chuck Gose

The exhibit hall doors opened just a few minutes ago for Kioskcom & Digital Signage Show. If you happen to be here today, stop by the Walsh Wireless booth (#314).

They have on display a very cool and practical application of our cellular digital signage for the retail space. The unit is a free-standing display that would allow a retailer to embed digital signage inside a portable display. Walsh and MediaTile partnered with In-Store Experience to create this product.

We provided the digital signage technology. Walsh Wireless provided the cellular broadband capabilities. And In-Store Experience contributed the physical structure. Great example of a partnership coming together to create a viable product for retailers.

But stand doesn't need to be confined to just retail and consumers. Thinkn about how this could enhance employee communications if you're looking to showcase information. Or for visitors to a venue. The opportunities are endless but the technology is here.

MediaTile, Walsh Wireless and In-Store Experience

Digital Signage Content Strategies Summit: Day 2 in Review #DSContent

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 by Chuck Gose

Wow. You know when you go to conferences and you may not get much out of them but you're still overly complimentary? This is not the case at all. Day 2 of the Strategy Institute's Digital Signage Content Strategies Summit was awesome. And those aren't just my words, but the feedback from other attendees.

Aside from being a consumer myself, I don't have any experience in the retail world and truly am not aware of the challenges they face in the digital world. After yesterday, color me enlightened. Just follow the hash tag #DSContent and you can see all of the messages I shared from the @MediaTile Twitter account.

The day was a good balance of what the possibilities are with digital technology along with many of the obstacles that still exist. Here are a few of my observations...

Kevin Flatt and Mark Renshaw, Leo Burnett and Arc Worldwide, showcased the future of what digital can be in the retail world, using a great analogy of who's driving the bus. Apparently agencies are the drivers who know where they want to go but often get lost and NEVER ask for directions.
Paul Flanigan, The Preset Group, led a panel of Michael Twitty, Unilever Americas, and Jim Lucas, Draftfcb. The information spewing out of Michael was amazing. I practically couldn't type fast enough about how brands are viewing digital in the consumer packaged goods world. This will lead to future blog posts.
And we finally had our first Foursquare mention with Stephen Randall, LocaModa. Stephen did a great job showcasing how digital signage and social media content can play quite nicely in the same sandbox. His point that "you must view that your digital signage message has a range of 20 miles, not 20 feet," really hit home with the audience.
And then there is Bob Stowe, Wendy's. Bob added an important element to the conference, highlighting the challenges faced when working with large corporations. Many wonder why quick service restaurants have been somewhat slow to adapt to digital signage. Bob outlined all of the players that get involved and the challenges with each. Though I don't think he'll be getting the key to the city of Detroit anytime soon. He mentioned that one of their stores stays open 24 hours solely due to security concerns. Yikes.
Rudy Dearborn, MGM Mirage, outlined the history that his casino has had with the technology along with some of the unique content challenges. What was peculiar is that they use Mac Minis to drive displays and had to have custom mounts built, along with a custom digital signage software application. BUT they do a great job of utilizing existing resources and data to keep content fresh and relevant.
And last but not least, our very own Simon Wilson and David Ozer, iPOWOW!, presented on the importance of getting instantaneous viewer feedback of what they are seeing on the screens. The audience didn't appear to be a big hunting crowd, so the example of how Hunter Specialities is using touch-screen technology in endcaps to promote their products. All kidding aside, the digital signage has given them a 30% sales uplift. That's no laughing matter.

So, all in all, a great show. But during the networking lunch, one of the attendees asked me how much of our business was in non-retail. Quite a bit in fact. He was curious why there was no attention paid to corporate communication networks.

I told him that's my challenge. That's why I do what I do. That's my crusade.

Who's watching me now?

Thursday, February 25, 2010 by Sean Michael Kelly

Here's an example of a digital signage promotional campaign gone awry at a local veterinary hospital:

Someone clearly spent some marketing budget on a digital sign that they intended to promote their product at the shelf for an up-sell opportunity in the waiting room. Naturally I am instinctively drawn to see what is being promoted by whom and how in a scene like this, but I was disappointed to find the unit powered off - you can see the rectangular supply laying atop the counter without a power cord.

While there are any number of plausible explanations for this scene, I was immediately stricken by some distinct possibilities that afflict other electronic sign options. The first (most obvious and common) was that the unit was unplugged by an employee of the facility or their cleaning service and it simply was not plugged back in. In truth it could be any reason, but regardless, it boils down to two questions: why was it unplugged, and why hasn't anyone noticed?

To the former, sometimes it's simply that the additional power outlet was needed for something else. But sometimes it's more sinister: employees are annoyed by the audio, or "feel bad" about leaving it running when they close up shop for the night. Through its native remote management and scheduling automation, the Mediacast System addresses these issues by permitting the display network operator to make adjustments to volume levels as well as to schedule operational hours so that the display visibly turns itself off, thus lessening the temptation for employees to pull the plug on the unit.

(As a side note, while the appropriateness of audio in content is always a consideration for effective business communication in any given deployment, if audio is necessary, it is best to follow-up with the employees at the establishment to ensure that it is not irritating which could leave a lasting, negative impression of your brand!)

Another possibility is that the content became out-dated - perhaps there was a recall on something being promoted, or the product was discontinued, or there was some other rights issue with the media... any of a dozen reasons that the media has to stop playing, and now. For other electronic sign platforms, there is no way to remotely manage the content at all; they require an operator to physically come to the site and change out a memory stick or disc, etc. So until they can come out to the site to change out the media, when it comes to issues like those mentioned, their only recourse is to pull the power.

From day one the Mediacast System has provided a purely remotely managed store-and-forward content distribution method with the assumption that our customers have better things to do than constantly visit their display locations to change media. Using the web-based Mediacast Digital Signage SaaS, you upload your content to the portal, then remotely distribute it to the Internet-connected display network - take control without stepping foot into the remote sites.

The other nagging question is why, after several months (and missed opportunities) of sitting like this, has nobody noticed that the display is offline? The answer in many cases is: because nobody is watching. The Mediacast system provides a flexible alert notification system that dispatches emails to selected individuals if a display goes offline. The idea is to dispatch a technician or other field representative to the site so as not to prolong a simple problem.

The automated monitoring also keeps an active status on the displays so that even if the email is missed initially, operators logging into the portal system on a regular basis as able to see displays that have a problem.

(As an annecdotal side bar, we once had a display go offline for a customer running a network in a major consumer electronics retailer at the end-cap of one of the aisles. The assigned technician phoned up the appropriate department and inquired about the unit; when the store employee checked on it, they found that another employee had disassembled the end-cap display and was preparing to install a different vendor's display in the same location. This turned out to be miscommunication internally on the part of the retailer and the end-cap was properly restored, but it shows the value of expedient response; had the materials been boxed up and sent off to the back of a warehouse in a busy environment like that, they might never have been located and recovered.)

As you can see, it is only a matter of time before this vendor's counter top becomes general purpose storage because the dead screen doesn't look like it needs to be visible. The only thing I'm left wondering is how much time is needed for the sorry thing to finally decompose and disappear like so much dust in this otherwise quiet and solemn environment.

Digital Pricing Marquee

Monday, February 22, 2010 by Sean Michael Kelly

It doesn't require a miracle or a fortune to produce a great, professional looking marquee like this for your establishment:

If you break it down to its basic components, it's really quite simple. There are three screens operating independently. Each screen plays one set of pre-canned content. In the scene above, the left and right screens may be rotating through concession promotions as well as video snippets of coming attractions. A little bit of motion is all it takes to draw the eye up here. The center screen is displaying current offerings and pricing information.

By linking the pricing information and the promotions together into, effectively, a single electronic sign, the viewer can't help but notice your promotions - focused messaging will improve communication for consumers by centralizing viewers' attention to a single place where you know you've got it.

At this point you may be thinking that the various forms of content rotation are all well and good, but what about when it comes time to update the pricing information? This may be one of the most significant points of hesitation to adopt digital signage content since the display needs to be easy to update for facilities managers. The MediaCast system can accommodate this in either of two ways: data managed within the management portal, or data managed externally on your own web server.

By creating the content which displays pricing information in Flash, you can get a unique blend of text and graphics and even have potential for animation here - careful not to overwhelm this particular display however as it needs to be useful for your most scrutinizing viewer. One thing that Flash is particularly well suited to is integrating data from multiple sources into a single view. Your Flash programmer can assemble a view that pulls data from an XML file and display it as directed. Then it just comes down to data management.

For data management, you can maintain a simple XML file on your management PC and associate it with your Dynamic Flash content in the MediaCast system. When you update the file and upload it to the portal, the updated data will be pushed out to the display automatically. Or if you'd prefer to centralize the management of the data on the portal, you can store the XML data right inside the properties of the Dynamic Flash asset itself within the portal and forego the need for maintaining a separate file.

If maintaining the data through the MediaCast portal is not well suited to your business operations, you also have the option of publishing the XML on your own website with a secret URL. Your programmers can create your own web based data editor which generates the XML file; simply add the URL to the XML as a "URL File" for your Dynamic Flash on the MediaCast portal.

As a URL File, the MediaCast system will poll it for updates every 15 minutes. When a change is found, it will update the data and push it out to the displays that need it without any additional adminsitrative effort - this way your employees can maintain your display data within your own, controlled administrative system and never need to log in to the portal after the initial setup - that's the beauty of Digital Signage SaaS!

If you don't know any Flash programmers but still want to take advantage of exciting digital signage content like this we've got your back. MediaTile offers creative Media Services with specific digital signage content expertise and can efficiently produce a custom presentation to your specifications!

Questioning the role of digital signage in retail?

Friday, October 30, 2009 by Chuck Gose

I'm not. But several other digital signage bloggers are commiserating over a recent study that reports on the alleged lack of impact digital signage is having on buyer awareness and behavior. The report (available as a PDF) cites what appears to be overall ineffectiveness for the technology.

Now much could be debated over whether it's the fault of the technology or the placement. Is it the content or the lack of coverage. It's tough to know without talking to the people in the survey at a greater depth, but many factors are at play to just simply label it as ineffective. I'm not a retail expert so I'll leave it to them continue on.

But I will tell you one area in retail where digital signage can have a tremendous impact: employee communications. I'm working with a very large national retailer to install digital signage to help them deliver timely communication to their dispersed retail employees.

Think about it. You have employees scattered about the country in malls and strip centers. They have no real connection to the corporate entity so engagement has to be a tremendous challenge. And since every one of the stores is in a different environment, finding one common communication vehicle can be tough. And when you're trying to cover coast to coast, going digital is a must.

Fortunately, digital signage has it covered. They will be able to inform and entertain from a distance. They can provide training tips, employee recognition opportunity as well as general corporate information. AND it can all be controlled from one central location, thus ensuring the integrity of the brand and the message.

Pretty powerful stuff. Consumers may not yet appreciate what the technology can do in retail but I guarantee you the employees will.

4G and partnering with Alcatel-Lucent's ng Connect program

Saturday, October 10, 2009 by Leah Kane

We at MediaTile are PSYCHED to announce the first "HumanKiosk" prototype. This is an interactive, two-way video conferencing mechanism, enabling consumers and retailers (among others) to communicate directly with one another, in-store- no middle man.

Imagine the possibilities - you're in the store, comparison shopping, you have a question but the store staff doesn't know anything more about the product you're holding than the info which appears on its packaging. No problem- connect to a product expert and have a face-to-face conversation via HumanKiosk.

The excitement surrounding the HumanKiosk release is that it is based on ng Connect's 4G/LTE technology. (LTE = Long Term Evolution). If you're unfamiliar with ng Connect, it is a program "conceived and founded by Alcatel-Lucent, bring[ing] together infrastructure, device, application and content companies to create an end-to-end ecosystem with all the resources and expertise required to rapidly deliver next generation services and applications to service providers, enterprises and consumers. " (quoted from the ng Connect website...)

4G essentially is 3G on steroids. It has the bandwidth to support live and streaming video uploads/downloads - and to support the increasingly interactive nature of successful digital signage deployments.

Every retailer and brand manager hopes to improve communication with its consumer- traditional advertising is limited in this regard. HumanKiosk takes digital signage to another level of relevancy- it provides a purely interactive experience and accomplishes what pre-recorded content, whatever the medium, cannot hope to achieve.

Check it out- we can't wait to hear your feedback!

Muzak to my Digital Signage Ears

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 by Simon Wilson

There is increasing recognition in the DOOH industry of the importance of relevant content and ‘making every screen count’ – in other words ensuring that the content on each and every screen on the network is relevant to its specific audience at all times. This of course is not a straightforward task - technically, creatively, or even logistically in the case of large disparate networks. Add to that the drive towards experiential and contextual-based content and you have a complicated cocktail of requirements on your hands.

In response to this requirement, solution providers are taking varied approaches and bringing different backgrounds and skill sets to the client table in order to design and deliver high value-add digital signage content solutions.

One rather interesting approach is that being taken by Muzak. The other day I met up with Jon Luther, Director of the Visual Solutions Division of Muzak, and wanted to share his approach. Muzak has a long rich 75-year history and is the leader in in-store and on-hold custom music solutions. Over recent years, Muzak has been expanding its approach to deliver a much broader solution. Playing on the senses of sight and smell, as well as hearing, Muzak now provides a broader sensory and experiential branding solution to its business clients. By combining music, messaging, custom scent, and visual imagery through digital signage, Muzak has created a compelling and contemporary integrated suite of sensory branding and entertainment products and services.

As network operators and digital signage customers increasingly demand that their DOOH networks deliver a contextual based experience that is relevant to their environment, I expect we will see more examples of innovative approaches like Muzak’s. This really is an exciting time to be at the forefront of digital signage.

Keepin’ it Simple

Thank you for reducing my perceived wait-time.

Sunday, September 6, 2009 by Leah Kane

The other day, I made a visit to a big-box electronics store to make a return. (I'd mention the company's name, but as they've only recently edged another big-box electronics store out of business, they hardly need my plug... pun intended.)

A woman at the store's entrance helpfully pointed me to the 'Returns & Exchanges' area of the store, and when I got there, I took my place in line behind the 5 or 10 others with a bone to pick.

While waiting in line, I watched TV. A few minutes passed before it even dawned on me that there I was, queued up inside a store, watching TV. The content was fresh, quirky, funny. It was carefully crafted for store visitors with a bone to pick- this content was created for me.

This was not a mounted TV set running episodes of some syndicated Chuck Norris drama in hi-def, this was retail digital signage, designed to entertain, amuse, and reduce my perceived wait time.

True enough, while I waited, (only 2 or 3 bone-pickers to go now), the time flew by. I was entertained, learned a bit more about this particular big-box store, and left with an appreciation of its customer service.

The phrase, "reduce perceived wait time" is one we strategically bandy-about in the digital signage industry, because, in truth, pre-occupying one's customers 'while they wait' is not the same as shortening their time in line. But then, perception is everything.

Kudos to the big-box store for leveraging its electronic signage to make my visit more enjoyable (or at the very least, less painful). I'm likely a bit conditioned, as a digital signage professional, but left the store, whispering to myself, "thank you for reducing my perceived wait time..."

Then giggled, thinking, "who says things like that?"

When is a TV not a TV? When it’s DOOHTV of course

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 by Simon Wilson

As digital signage practitioners, we all spend a lot time and energy explaining to our customers why digital signage is “not TV” – yet the brand marketers, network operators, or corporate communicators all seem to naturally call it “[something, something] TV." [Insert Brand Name, Store Name, School Name, Company Name etc.]

Digital signage networks differ from broadcast or cable TV for a long list of reasons. For digital signage:

The audiences are not captive;
The content must always be relevant and localized;
The business objective for the digital signage network will be tailored to each location and type of network;
Programming must be synchronized with traffic flows and demographics of each location;
Attention spans are short and sensory competition is high.

The list goes on, yet everyone still likes to call it “…………. TV”. Some examples include

When a name sticks it is hard to dislodge – especially when it is simple and quickly conveys the essence of something. Don’t fight it I say – keep it simple – but be ever vigilant for the customer or operator who wants to treat it like TV rather than just naming it TV.   

Everything in context; context is everything!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 by Leah Kane

A large part of my week is spent keeping up with the Jones's...websites. Everything is constantly shifting in the world of web marketing, the rules (and search engine algorithms) change by the day. Because of this, exhaustive efforts are made to curry favor with the Great White Whale of the internet: Google.

Google is frighteningly intelligent.

Have you ever noticed how Google appears to anticipate what you are REALLY looking for? You might enter the phrase "used auto parts Toyota" in the search box and Google returns twenty listings for used Toyota parts...in your neighborhood.

That level of accuracy merely skims the surface of what Google can do; there are a whole host of tools Google provides webmasters of which the casual web user is unaware.

AdSense is one such tool. AdSense, in a nutshell, matches relevant ads to a site's content. Google already does this exceedingly well, but recently has announced what they call "improved contextual targeting." You'll find yourself on a website, say, planning a ski trip to snowy Lake Tahoe, and what will appear next to the lodging options but a cozy ad for L.L. Bean. Coincidence? Obviously not, but what you may not realize is that that ad was served up to you from a pool of ads, dynamically.

We coach our digital signage operators to take a similar approach with respect to management of their networks. It's insufficient merely to create compelling visuals for digital displays. These days, contextual targeting is everything. Know your audience, understand their habits, anticipate their needs and deliver your messages at the right place, at the right time.

One advantage digital signage advertisers have over internet advertisers is that the targeted consumer is already out of the house! (In fact, the industry term is "Digital Out of Home", or DOOH) It's much easier to sell paint to a person in a hardware store than it is to a person lounging on their couch with a laptop.

Context.

Composer makes creating digital signage content easy

Tuesday, July 28, 2009 by Chuck Gose

First, we made it easy to install your own digital signage network with our Digital Sign in a Box hardware.

Then, we made it even easier to manage the network and content with MediaCast 4.0.

And now, creating digital signage content couldn't be simpler.

Last week, MediaTile officially launched Composer, an online Flash-based content generating tool. With Composer, customers can create professional looking flash-based media quickly and easily. You need no knowledge of Flash or other animation tools to create this great looking content.

Many of our customers went through a webinar this morning so I'll be curious to hear the feedback. Where I think this will really help in internal communications is through templates. You can store your own templates right inside the system. This could give many others the ability to contribute content to your network while still ensuring brand compliance.

You might have an HR rep or an admin somewhere who would like add content. With the templates, you can give them access without having to worry about will appear on your screens.
Simply put, you can decide what the content looks like and let others worry about the message.

Though you have the option of storing your own templates, MediaCast does come with 20 built in. These are available in both landscape and portrait, as well as different sizes so that you can add them into variou8s playlists or use them in a Multizone playlist.

If you'd like to learn more about Composer, let us know. I'd be more than happy to walk you through the tool.

MediaTile: We don't break guitars

Monday, July 13, 2009 by Chuck Gose

Social media has changed a lot of things, but look at what it has done for (and against) customer service. The options of angry customers used to be limited to letter writing and in-store temper tantrums. But not any more...

The most recent popular customer service story is told by Canadian musician Dave Carroll about what happened to his beloved Taylor guitar on a United Airlines flight. You can read the "short" version of his story, but I recommend watching the music video he created. Unfortunately for United Airlines, it's quite a catchy tune.

Dave Carroll seemed reasonable in his quest as a customer to get his guitar fixed. He followed the process United puts customers through. But United appeared to not take his request seriously. . . at least until he released the clever song on YouTube. United has changed their tune but it's a lot too late. Even Taylor Guitars got their two cents in.

Now everyone who watches will not associate United Airlines with the thousands of passengers and bags who arrive safely every day. Nope, instead they will now remember Dave Carroll and how "United breaks guitars."

When I visit companies and customers, I travel with one of our 19" Digital Signs in a Box. Because of the case's size, I have to check it with the regular baggage. I'm always concerned that something might happen to it en route to my destination but, knock on wood, I've dodged any disasters thus far. Plus, it weighs about 50 pounds so it's not so easy to toss around on the tarmac. . . I hope.

As a former customer of MediaTile, I know how important customer service is. And now that I'm an employee, I make customer service a priority. We've made every attempt to make our digital signage simple and easy to install and operate, but from time to time customers do have questions or issues. It could be concerns relating to digital signage content they are trying to upload or questions about how to get a schedule in place for effective business communication.

No matter what the inquiry is, we take it very seriously. I take it very seriously. But this is also isn't to suggest that United Airlines doesn't. I'm sure there are thousands of satisfied United customers, but it just takes one disappointed (and musically talented) customer to change the perception.

It cost Dave $1200 to fix his guitar. What has this video cost United Airlines? We'll see.

Employee communications: Clean up on aisle 5!

Friday, July 10, 2009 by Chuck Gose

My background in internal communications has largely been in the manufacturing environment. When I would attend various corporate communication shows, i would be envious of several communicators. They would complain about why their employees wouldn't read emails.

I wish my coworkers even had email.

But this envy only lasted a few seconds. I enjoyed the challenge of not being able to rely on the easy communication methods. It's hard work reaching employees who don't live in Cubicle World (it's a real place - I've seen it). You can't shoot off an email and then cross your fingers they read it. There's no email address to send to.

Internal communications for retail employees

This same situation applies at a lot of companies but one that completely escaped me until recently were retail employees. Duh. Here you have a workforce that's often far, far away from the corporate headquarters but their job is to stock shelves / racks and help with needy customers. They are constantly on the go.

Another challenge is that very few employees make a true career out of retail and others are strictly seasonal employees. They have no legitimate commitment or buy-in to the company. How does a communicator go about bridging the gap?

And this gap applies at high-end retail stores all the way to your local grocer. No matter how large or small, I firmly believe digital signage is a solution. With the proper network, a corporate HQ could broadcast out the key messages and even use the signage for training. At the same time, local managers could access the screen to inform on store performance numbers or do some employee recognition.

I only worked in retail once, in high school at a local grocery store. Frankly, I don't remember any communicating going on at all. But I'd like to hear from any of you who have worked in retail and can speak on the sort of corporate communication that occurs.

We'll then know if there's any communication clean up needed on aisle 5.

______________________
Photo credit, Untitled blue

Globalshop observations from The (Digital Signage) Man (of the Year)

Thursday, March 26, 2009 by Chuck Gose

As I mentioned earlier in the week, our very own Keith Kelsen took part in two different panels at this year's Globalshop in Vegas. Here's what he had to say:

The Best Practices for Digital Signage Content in Retail panel was a huge success. The key take-aways for this audience were that digital signage:

- will engage your brand
- brings an uplift in sales
- needs to part of a larger campaign in the design and use of message across all screens

Paul Flanagan of Best Buy revealed that a digital signage project for their Insignia brand that ran on their digital signage network increased sales of Insignia’s LCD’s by 149% AND has held this number consistently even in the down economy. This is a remarkable uplift in sales and further proves that digital signage is a very powerful tool when the content is done right. Retailers need to pay attention to the uplift that digital signs can bring especially in a down economy

Michael Chase from Alchemy showed how to connect the messages across each screen, including print. Alchemy also creates content for Sears (Canada). They create the catalog, web, newspaper ads, and in-store printed media. Michael was able to show the audience how two look at the assets and use those asset across the board.

Thanks Keith for providing the overview. Though the last example ties directly to retail, the lessons learned can be applied to employee communications. You have multiple vehicles you're managing and it comes down to managing the content across each of the mediums.

Add some MediaTile magic to your existing LCD screens

Thursday, March 26, 2009 by Chuck Gose

When I speak to many prospective customers on the phone about our Digital Sign in a Box (DSB) solution, I then hear one of these statements:

"But we already have an LCD sign in our lobby," or, "My company bought plasmas a year ago. Can we use them?"

Given the current economic conditions, I can certainly appreciate wanting to take advantage of existing technology and resources. The good news is that the likely answer to those statements is yes, thanks to our Component Player. It's a digital signage media player that can be plugged into any existing 16:9 LCD, plasma, or projectors via VGA.

MediaTile Component Players include all the technology necessary to receive, store and play digital content to these displays, just like our DSBs. They are fully automated environments that do not require any on-site interaction, additional software, computer systems, or IT infrastructure to operate.

Many companies are operating their signage off of an aging IT backbone or are possibly even manually updating messages at the screen via PC or even DVD. There's a better solution out there. With our component player, you have the ability to update content and schedules from anywhere via a browser.

Who has time these days to go around screen by screen to update the messaging? Nobody, which is why they are likely showing outdated content. Kick it up a notch and add MediaTile's Component Player to the mix.

Are you going to be at GlobalShop 2009? Keith Kelsen is.

Monday, March 23, 2009 by Chuck Gose

Digital Signage Man of the Year, also known as MediaTile's Keith Kelsen, will not only be at GlobalShop 2009, he's participating on one panel (the first one listed below) and moderating another (the second) on Tuesday, March 24.

If you're attending this year's show or just happen to be in Vegas, I recommend swinging by the Sands Expo and listening in on Keith's sessions.

Session DS-2
Digital Signage Delivery: The Best Choice for Your Network
9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Digital signage networks are popping up everywhere you go. Airports, malls, banks, bars and grocery stores are just a few of the places where content is delivered to capture the attention of the consumer. But every digital signage implementation is different, and is only as effective as the network that delivers the content. In some cases, the content may be able to be delivered and maintained through physical media, cellular broadband or terrestrial broadband, while other, more extensive networks require satellite network delivery. Which content delivery method would best fit your network? Find out here.
Session DS-6
Content Best Practices for Retail Digital Signage Networks
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
This panel discussion will highlight how to create and schedule content to achieve the highest possible viewer impact, influence and response. Presented by the chair and members of the Digital Signage Association's Content Best Practices Committee, this presentation will provide attendees with the critical factors that ensure the ongoing and ultimate success of their in-store network. Key topic areas of this presentation include understanding environmental issues such as display placement, location and traffic; creating content that is relevant to viewers based on demographics, lifestyle and dwell time; structuring playlists to achieve maximum effect with loop times, day parts and update frequency; and adding elements that create additional viewer interest such as weather, news and subscription services.

For those especially interested in corporate communication networks, the first one about choosing the right network will be extremely insightful and valuable.