Digital Signage Done Right

EPISODE 136 | Guest: Ellyce Kelly, professional services consultant for Visix Boost viewer engagement with these five easy content design tips: prioritize readability, design for the specific environment, maintain brand consistency, leverage storytelling and embrace interactivity. In this episode, we give you practical advice to create compelling communications that make people put down their phones and pay attention to your digital signs. With a few tweaks to your messages, you can grab more attention, make more impact and boost ROI. - Think about how to design from the viewers’ perspective - Understand basic design principles for impact and understanding - Leverage storytelling and campaigns for more memorable messaging - Embrace interactive elements for both static displays and touchscreens - Learn the importance of testing, adjustment and measurement See the full transcript HERE Get more content design tips in our free Digital Signage Design Guide.

EPISODE 135 | Guest: Trey Hicks, COO & CSO of Visix, Inc. Choros is a revolutionary new space booking solution that lets you book any kind of shared space or asset, in any kind of environment, using just a smartphone. There’s no app to download and admin tools are all in the cloud, so you never have to download or update anything. Use Choros by itself, or combine it with ultra-low-power availability lights and/or epaper signs for maximum flexibility and choice. In this episode, we step through some FAQs we’ve collected, going over Choros features and all the ways this simple solution can be modified and expanded to meet any organization’s space management needs. - Understand how easy Choros is to set up and use - Walk through the user-friendly WebAR interface and admin options - Explore how EPS signs can support Choros in hybrid offices - Discover new ultra-low-power availability lights - Learn how Choros interacts with your calendar system to provide schedules and backend analytics See the full transcript HERE: https://www.visix.com/podcasts/choros-features-and-faqs/ Learn more about the Choros WebAR space booking platform: https://www.visix.com/space-booking/

EPISODE 134 | Guest: Brian Galante, founder and owner of Dimension PR Integrated Systems Europe, the largest event of its kind anywhere, happened recently in Barcelona. We talk about some of the technologies and trends we saw there, as well as what these new innovations might mean for the future of audiovisual communications, workplace technologies and the return to office movement. Discover the big themes and biggest wow factors at the show Learn how sustainability is influencing the show and new products Hear how AI and analytics are being integrated in to all types of AV/IT tech Explore the surge in room sign and space booking technologies Understand how interoperability and integration are shaping the industry See the full transcript here. Learn more about Integrated Systems Europe here.

EPISODE 133 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix Digital signage has become so ubiquitous that people are finding new and innovative ways to transcend common uses of digital signage, expanding the technology’s reach into more uncommon contexts. In this episode, we cover some of the newest ways organizations are using their screens to communicate to , connect with, and immerse their audiences in unique experiences. And yet these, too, will be more widely adopted and will eventually become, themselves, commonplace. - Understand the most common uses for digital signage today - Hear how digital wayfinding is being expanded to parking garages - Learn creative uses for queue management and smart restaurants - Discover how screens are enhancing libraries, museums, galleries and public artwork - Explore shopping enhancements using mirrors, digital signage, AI and IoT See the full transcript HERE Get more ideas in our Masterclass 3: Digital Signage Content Guide

EPISODE 132 | Derek DeWitt, communications specialist for Visix The Internet of Things (IoT) is increasing connectivity in new and interesting ways that will transform the way we interact with our surroundings. Digital signs with sensors and IoT capabilities will become environmentally-aware, and as circumstances around the screens change, they’ll be able to alter what they’re showing (and how they’re showing it) automatically, with no human intervention at all. Digital signage is no longer just a one-way push communications tool. It’s become responsive in ways previously undreamed of. And this creates a number of exciting opportunities for communications and the viewer experience. - Hear the evolution of the Internet of Things and how it works - Understand how increased connectivity has brought about unprecedented changes - Discover how organizations are already using IoT in innovative ways - Learn how digital signage is becoming more responsive to external factors - Explore some of the possibilities in both the near and far future See the full transcript HERE Learn more about digital signage systems with our Overview Masterclass Guide

EPISODE 131 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix No communication strategy can be successful without a good plan in place. There are many models out there to choose from, but the OASIS model is a perfect fit for people who are responsible for managing digital signage and other internal communications platforms. By using the five pillars of OASIS, anyone can develop and maintain a comprehensive plan for creating content that’s sure to engage their audiences. - Learn what the five pillars of OASIS are - Hear the benefits of having a communications plan - Understand how SMART goals apply within this framework - Get concrete examples for each step - Explore ways to tailor OASIS to your specific context and needs See the full transcript HERE Get more advice for digital signage managers in our Communications Planning Masterclass Guide

EPISODE 130 | Guest: Jennifer King, artistic director of Napa Shakespeare, tenured professor of theater at Napa Valley College, freelance theater director and corporate communications coach When looking for advice on how to improve communications and engagement, you can do a lot worse than looking to the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare, for inspiration. His use of language, his ability to engage different audiences simultaneously and the way he develops story all contain valuable lessons for communicators in the modern world. - Hear how word choice and brevity can elevate communications - Learn why understanding your audience is crucial for a successful exchange - Understand the use of story and character to engage audiences - Explore how deep listening and a curious mindset can build bridges - Discover the pros of vocal variety and the cons of filler words See the full transcript HERE Want communications tips specifically for digital signage software? Download our free guide.

EPISODE 129 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix McKinsey & Company has published a report about ten top-of-mind organizational shifts in that leaders are coping with and implementing. And these items are still relevant as we close out the year and enter a new one. Our times have brought some fundamental changes to the way organizations do what they do, and leaders must adapt or get left behind. Whether or not you’re using our digital signage software, these topics are likely affecting your organization right now. And for communicators and content creators, awareness of and responses to these shifts will have to be integrated into future messaging and campaigns. - Learn about the ten top-of-mind organizational shifts - Understand how they’re relevant today, and will continue to be for some time - Hear concrete statistics for how these shifts are affecting employees and businesses - Explore how changes in the culture today will affect operations tomorrow - Discover four action items for implementing change now See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Learn more about how to apply this to managing digital signage in our free white paper: Corporate Communications for the Modern Workforce

EPISODE 128 | Guest: Jill Perardi, director of professional services for Visix Time and money constraints shouldn’t stop your organization from having professional-looking interactive content on your digital signage. Interactive wayfinding templates are an attractive and affordable solution for environments that are less demanding than others. Every design starts from a standardized template, but comes to life with your own branding, ADA controls, light and dark modes, and more. Your audience gets exactly what they need, and you don’t break the bank. But there are more benefits than just cost, and more available than just maps. - Understand what wayfinding templates are and what they include - Discover the benefits of wayfinding and directory templates versus custom projects - Get real-world examples and applications in various industries - Hear about two new interactive packages from Visix - Learn what’s needed to make sure your project runs smoothly See the full transcript HERE Get more ideas for touchscreen designs in our white paper: Touchscreens for Audience Engagement

EPISODE 127 | Guest: Fanette Ronjat, professional services consultant for Visix Digital signage content feeds are a fast and easy way to get content up on your screens. They look good, save you time and money, and are always up-to-date and relevant. Even if you have in-house designers, using content feeds can supplement your branded content, freeing up your folks to do more targeted messaging and campaigns. And the variety of content feeds is huge. In this episode, we cover the basics of content feeds – what’s available, why you want them, how to set them up and how they can increase audience engagement. - Learn how content feeds save time and money, and increase engagement - Hear the pros and (very few) cons of using content feeds - Explore the most popular content feed subscriptions - Discover how easy it is to schedule auto-updating feeds - Understand how to choose the best attractors for your audience See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Get more content tips with our Masterclass 3: Digital Signage Content Guide

EPISODE 126 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix Most organizations have communications for both internal and external audiences. If you’re sending mixed messages, or if those messages don’t reflect common branding and values, you can lose both employee trust and customer revenues In this episode, we talk about the importance of aligning your internal and external communications, what the benefits are when you do, and some of the real bottom-line repercussions if you don’t. - Learn where internal and external communications should overlap - Understand the benefits of communications alignment - Hear why brand standards are just as crucial as consistent messaging - Discover the three Ts (transparency, trust and training) and channel maps - Get best practices you can start using today See the full transcript HERE Get more communications advice in our free guide Digital Signage Communications Planning

EPISODE 125 | Guest: Ellyce Kelly, professional services consultant for Visix A fast and easy way to get great-looking content up on screens quickly is by using digital signage templates. They’re already designed with digital signage in mind by professionals yet can also be adjusted to fit in with existing brand standards. Digital signage templates also allow more people to contribute content while still maintaining consistency in the look and feel of your messaging. Even for an organization that has dedicated design and content creation teams, templates are an effective way to augment what’s on offer without sacrificing quality. - Understand the timesaving benefits of using digital signage templates - Discover how templates can democratize your communications - Get a rundown of all the templates provided in Visix software - Explore ready-made packs and kits for popular screen designs - Hear dos and don’ts for using digital signage templates See the full transcript HERE Get more design tips with our Masterclass guide on Digital Signage Design HERE

EPISODE 124 | Derek DeWitt, communications specialist for Visix Web 3.0 is almost upon us, and it will herald completely new ways for people to communicate with one another in person, online and in virtual spaces. Organizations need to get in front of this new tech to understand what’s coming and what’s possible. We take a quick look back at the birth of the web and Web 2.0, and then peer into our crystal ball to see what’s coming up for the online world as we all get more connected. - Hear the origins of the world wide web and how it continues to improve - Learn the basic of how the Semantic Web (3.0) will work - Understand six key aspects of Web 3.0 - Walk through a typical day in the world of Web 3.0 - Speculate about what late stage Web 3.0 and Web 4.0 will be like See the full transcript HERE Interested in future tech? Listen to our podcast episodes about the AI Age, AI Personas & Ethics and Using AI to Create Content

EPISODE 123 | Guest: Fanette Ronjat, professional services consultant for Visix We’re drowning in data. Every organization has statistics, goals, deadlines and other info that they need to communicate to their employees, students, visitors and stakeholders. Making sure that data is accurate, timely and easy to understand is paramount. Data-driven content on digital signs can help. In this episode, we walk through different types of data feeds, how best to get them onto screens, and the benefits and hurdles of designing good data-driven content for displays. - Understand the benefits of data-driven content - Hear lots of examples of what you can put on digital signs - Learn when to use text and when to use data visualizations - Explore the common mistakes and challenges involved - Discover how Visix digital signage software and services can help See the full transcript HERE Get more content ideas and inspiration in our Masterclass Guide 3: Digital Signage Content

VUCA & How Digital Signage Can Help EPISODE 122 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix In this episode, we look at how business leaders and communicators can prepare for and react to the real and perceived effects of VUCA – Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. To meet these challenges, they need to be diligent, flexible and adaptable at speed. A good digital signage system can be an extremely valuable tool for delivering real-time, targeted and motivating communications to employees, stakeholders and the organization as a whole. Join us as we explore how digital signage can help you adapt, communicate and lead with agility in a VUCA world, where change is constant, and uncertainty is the only certainty. - Learn the origin of VUCA and why it should matter to you - Understand why flexibility, adaptability and speed are crucial - Hear four reasons digital signage is a great tool in a VUCA environment - Explore how to combat VUCA with Vision, Understanding, Clarity and Agility - Get content ideas to combat each of the four VUCA attributes See the full transcript HERE Get more communications advice in our free guide: Digital Signage Communications Planning

Benefits and Tips for Digital Directories EPISODE 121 | Guest: Jill Perardi, director of professional services for Visix Giving people attractive, easy-to-read digital directories can save them time and improve the visitor experience. The trick is to plan ahead, know your audience’s needs and give them just enough information on screen. We’ll walk you through the best practices and most common mistakes in digital directory design. Whether you’re using our digital signage software or need a custom directory design, this episode will get you started with practical tips and advice. - Hear the benefits of digital directories over printed signs and placards - Get advice on where to put your screen or kiosk - Learn about auto-updating directories tied to data sources - Explore different ways to make your directory interactive - Understand the basics of good directory design See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Grab our free infographic 8 Advantages of a Digital Directory

The Evolution of Booking Spaces EPISODE 120 | Guest: Trey Hicks, COO & CSO of Visix, Inc. People need to meet, work and thrive, no matter how their workplace or work schedule is organized. As hybrid models incorporate more office hoteling, hotdesking and other shared workspace policies, tech tools are having to adapt to meet more modern standards. In this episode, we step through the history and challenges of space booking and how different technologies have improved the experience. We also give an overview of our new Choros WebAR space booking platform – the latest innovation for booking spaces. - Hear about the challenges of booking spaces before digital tools came along - Learn about the various room sign solutions that have been introduced - Discover the pros and cons of using space booking apps - Understand how simple QR codes can facilitate faster, easier reservations - Explore the advantages of BYOD space booking with Choros See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Get our free infographic 12 Ways to Streamline Space Booking here.

Connect without Corporate Jargon EPISODE 119 | Guest: Jennifer King, executive communication coach Corporate jargon is something that’s used in every workplace, but does it serve the audience or the speaker? Jargon has its place and might be efficient, but it can often dilute, obfuscate and even offend. To communicate effectively, the needs of the listener have to be prioritized. Otherwise, things can go very wrong. Thoughtful, intentional language is what’s needed to connect with today’s employees, visitors and customers. In every context, communicators need to remember that their target audience is people. - Understand why each interaction needs to be treated as unique - Explore specific jargon terms, and how they’re used and misused - Consider what unintentional messages certain language might be conveying - Hear how some terms can be dehumanizing - Learn which terms need to be discarded and which ones to keep See the FULL TRANSCRIPT See more about Jennifer’s coaching by clicking this link

Common Technical Mistakes to Avoid EPISODE 118 | Guest: Joe Murray, technical operations manager and lead systems engineer for Visix We want to be sure that your digital signage software implementation goes as smoothly as possible. To that end, we’ve rounded up some of the most common technical mistakes we’ve seen in the past so you can avoid them. This is an episode we think your IT team will very much appreciate. In this episode, Joe Murray walks us through some of the more common issues that can crop up before, during and after implementation, and gives practical tips on how to avoid them. - Learn the reasoning behind installing prerequisites on your own hardware - Explore the importance of domain policies, publishing ports and SSL certificates - Understand our three authentication types and why you should choose one early - Prevent misunderstandings about the OS version on Visix media players - Hear about wifi for players, video codecs and Windows Authentication on home PCs See the FULL TRANSCRIPT For more systems info, download our free Masterclass Guide 1: Digital Signage Systems Overview.

Quick Guide to Digital Signage Benefits EPISODE 117 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix The case has certainly been made for businesses needing digital signage, but what, specifically, can and should you put on your screens? In this episode, we give you a quick guide with 14 digital signage benefits and content ideas in just over 15 minutes. Whether you have a digital signage system or are considering one, these tips will help you understand how digital signage can better engage your audience with dynamic visual communications. - Hear how digital signage can actually save you time - Explore realtime metrics and event schedules that auto-update - Discover ideas for improving space management - Understand why the visitor experience is everything these days - Learn how your digital signs can become a source of revenue See the FULL TRANSCRIPT For a wrap up of these quick tips, download our infographic: 14 Things Digital Signage Can Do For You

IC23 InfoComm Preview of New Products EPISODE 116 | Guest: Sean Matthews, president & CEO of Visix In this InfoComm preview, hear all about the three (count ‘em, three) new products Visix will unveil at this year’s show that all aim to greatly improve the user experience. There’s support for a digital signage player that’s becoming ubiquitous, an affordable solution for office hoteling and hotdesking, and a brand new product that aims to completely disrupt the room booking industry and mindset. - Hear about Visix digital signage support for the BrightSign player - Explore the benefits of the new pocket-sized EPS 42 E Ink sign for office hoteling - Discover how the hybrid workplace is changing habits and expectations - Learn about Visix’s disruptive new space booking product Choros - Get information on where to find Visix at InfoComm 2023 See the full transcript HERE Find out more about our new products premiering at IC23 here.

Digital Signage Today & Tomorrow EPISODE 115 | Guest: Daniel Brown, editor of Digital Signage Today The digital signage space is facing a period of rapid change that shifts the focus to the audience and the experience, instead of the message and the product. Innovations in workflows and approaches are being augmented by technological advances like holograms, IoT, AR and AI. Sustainability considerations have also come to the forefront of everyone’s minds. And, as always, it’s ultimately about the content you put up on your screens. - Learn why it’s all about the user experience today - Understand why DEI is important for today’s audiences - Hear how academic research is impacting the ways businesses communicate - Discover how coopetition is changing the way businesses interact with each other - Explore how advances in holograms and mixed reality are impacting many diverse sectors, from branding to healthcare See the FULL TRANSCRIPT To see the latest in the world of digital signage on Digital Signage Today, CLICK HERE

Digital Donor Walls: Benefits & Tips EPISODE 114 | Guest: Jill Perardi, director or professional services for Visix Digital donor walls are being used by companies, non-profits, hospitals, schools and other organizations to celebrate and encourage philanthropy. Studies have proven that recognizing donors with a well-designed presentation on big screens can drive more donations than static plaques. In this episode, Jill Perardi shares her design expertise and real-world client stories about the advantages of using digital donor walls to recognize donors and encourage giving. - Hear the benefits of digital donor walls and why they’re better than plaques - Discover how to create effective donor walls for static or interactive screens - Learn about preparation and budgeting for a digital donor wall - Understand the importance of good digital design and ADA compliance - Explore the use of multiple screens, touchscreens and audio See the full transcript by clicking HERE Get more design tips in our Masterclass 4: Digital Signage Design Guide by clicking HERE

Use AI to Create Content Today EPISODE 113 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix, Inc. AI is a hot topic these days, but can it really be used to help with digital signage content and other communications efforts? The short answer is, yes. Using just a few tools, and a basic knowledge of prompts, anyone can use AI tools to generate ideas and suggestions, text, images, videos and more. Listen to find out how you can use AI to create content right now, and get lots of practical advice and links to get you started. - Understand how AI can help generate text for messages and campaigns - Discover AI tools for graphics, images and videos - Explore how prompts work and what to include in them - Hear how AI can act as an editor, scheduler and motivator - Get links to online tools you can start using today See the full transcript by clicking HERE For more content inspiration, download our Masterclass Guide 3: Digital Signage Content HERE

EPISODE 112 | AI Personas & Ethics Guest: Josh Bachynski, AI innovator and thought leader Do you have certain employee groups or demographics you’d like to communicate with more effectively? Can you identify your ideal audience representative? Artificial intelligence can help, but Using AI tools to create personas and improve communication requires a solid understanding of their capabilities and limitations. In this episode, we continue our conversation with Josh Bachynski to explore the current state of AI tools and how communicators can use them, what the future may hold, and the ethical considerations that will need to guide our development and use of these technologies. - Learn what personas are and how to create them using AI tools - Find out how AI can help you communicate better using employee personas - Understand the importance of learning how to leverage AI tools ASAP - Recognize the limitations and pitfalls inherent in current AI tools - Explore the ethical implications of using AI for business decisions To see the FULL TRANSCRIPT, click HERE Connect with Josh Bachynski on LinkedIn to talk about how you can use AI in your business today.

EPISODE 111 | Adapting to the AI Age Guest: Josh Bachynski, AI innovator and thought leader The information age is over. The AI age is here. With ChatGPT, Bard and other AI-powered chat agents exploding onto the scene, how we search for and interact with information is changing rapidly, and will continue to evolve at breakneck speed. Communicators will have to adapt quickly to adopt and leverage these tools. In this episode, we have an insightful and thought-provoking discussion with Josh Bachynski, an innovator and thought leader in technology and artificial intelligence, on the current and future implications of AI for communicators and society at large. - Discover different AI categories and what’s available now. - Explore how AI will evolve and affect us in the very near future. - Learn about AI use in internal communications and marketing. - Discuss AI-powered chat agents, their advantages and limitations. - Get links and recommendations to start using AI chat agents today. For the FULL TRANSCRIPT, click this link Connect with Josh Bachynski on LinkedIn to talk about how he can use AI to help your business today.

6 Growing Content Trends for Digital Signage EPISODE 110 | Guest: Ellyce Kelly, professional services consultant for Visix Content is anything you put on screens. Coming up with the subjects and formats for your visual communications is a daily challenge that shouldn’t be dictated by your content management software. To engage viewers, messaging needs to be driven by your audience’s interests, needs and expectations. Content trends aren’t only about what you say, but also how you say it. In this episode, Ellyce Kelly walks us through six of the digital signage content trends we’re seeing. Get practical tips for new and expanded content to bring your messaging in line with current tastes. - Understand why keeping up with content trends is important - Learn about purpose-led and people-first communications - Get tips on why and how to produce video snippets - Explore increased data visualizations and interactivity - Consider alerts as part of your content strategy For the FULL TRANSCRIPT, click this link here Get more content trends and ideas in our Masterclass Guide 3: Digital Signage Content here

Internal Communication Trends for 2023 EPISODE 109 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix In the post-pandemic world, organizations have not only changed their physical footprints and in-office policies, they’ve had to reevaluate their priorities and processes to attract and retain valuable talent. The stopgaps that emerged in 2020 have evolved into more permanent, human-centric forms that are leveraging new tech and trends to meet reimagined goals. In this episode, we step through 12 internal communication trends taken from experts and surveys across the industry, with practical tips you can start using today. - Understand how collaboration tools and techniques have evolved - Hear how visual content is being prioritized across communication mediums - Explore the “Purpose Revolution” and the roll of frontline management and leadership - Discover how communicators are prioritizing mobile, personalization and alignment - Learn how AI, analytics and evidence-based communications are changing everything See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Get more advice in our free Masterclass Guide on Digital Signage Communications Planning

ISE 2023 Wrap Up EPISODE 108 | Guest: Brian Galante, president and co-founder of Dimension PR Trade shows are one of the most important ways that vendors can introduce new products, check in on technology trends and form lasting partnerships. For the first time in years, crowds are returning to the show floor in full force to see what’s new in the AV/IT industry. In this episode, we get a quick wrap-up of the major themes and products on show at this year’s Integrated Systems Europe show from Brian Galante. - Get the skinny on show attendance and vendor partnerships - Explore the growing crossover between residential and commercial markets - Delve into the main themes of the event: immersion, collaboration and sustainability - Look at hot products on the show floor: holograms, audio innovations and powerless displays - Hear about new space booking tech and trends for the modern workplace Get the full transcript here Learn more about Integrated Systems Europe here

How Digital Signage Helps Facility Managers EPISODE 107 | Guest: Sean Matthews, president & CEO of Visix, Inc. Facility managers have to keep the big picture in mind while juggling a lot of disparate systems and teams. Using enterprise digital signage software can help pull those systems together for a unified visual communications strategy. Combine message management with event schedules, wayfinding, emergency alerts and even space management – all managed from a single UI. Not only can it reduce workload and waste, but it also adds up to better employee, customer and visitor experiences. - Understand how digital signage fits into facility management - Hear how digital signage helps facilities remain relevant and competitive - Learn how integrated communications are more effective - Explore interactivity for events, wayfinding, menu and donor boards - Discover affordable e ink solutions for space management See the FULL TRANSCRIPT For more systems info, download our free white paper: Simplify and Diversify Facility Management with Digital Signage

How to Choose the Right Digital Signage Player EPISODE 106 | Guest: Joe Murray, technical operations manager and lead systems engineer for Visix Digital signage is a system, and that system includes displays, content management software and some specialized hardware to get your content to the screens. Choosing the right hardware depends on what your content is, how many screens you’re feeding and where you want your media players to live. Joe Murray walks us through the full line of Visix digital signage players and gives practical tips for how to choose the best options for your content strategy. - Understand what a digital signage player does - Learn why OS, processor and other specs are critical - Discover different mounting options for various form factors - Hear specs and use cases for Visix media players - Explore HTML5 playback options See the FULL TRANSCRIPT For more systems info, download our free Masterclass Guide 1: Digital Signage Systems Overview. See player specs on our webpage here: Digital Signage Media Players

Designing Menu Boards for Screens EPISODE 105 | Guest: Jill Perardi, director of professional services for Visix Menus can go digital and contain as much information as you like. But designing menu boards is not the same as creating paper menus, so you need to keep a few things in mind to have maximum effect and provide the best customer experience possible. In this episode, Jill Perardi walks us through some best practices, and shares real-world successes and misfires you can learn from: - Understand the difference between printed and digital menus - Learn some design tips to make your menus easy to read - Hear how auto-updating content simplifies things - Discover how good menu board design affects revenues - Explore the possibilities of interactivity Get the FULL TRANSCRIPT Get more design tips in our Masterclass 4: Digital Signage Design Guide

10 Digital Signage Tips in Under 10 Minutes EPISODE 104 | Guest: Ellyce Kelly, professional services consultant for Visix, Inc. As we approach the year’s end, we’re giving you our quick countdown of 10 digital signage tips that you can start using right now. Or you can work these into your content strategy when you get back to the office in the new year. Either way, isn’t it worth just 10 minutes of your time to improve your visual communications? See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Get more advice in our free Masterclass Guide on Digital Signage Communications Planning

Why Your Business Needs a Digital Signage System EPISODE 103 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix No matter what size organization you have, business digital signage is a necessary tool to engage employees, increase their productivity and further your business goals. This is just as true with a hybrid workplace as it is for someplace where everyone is on site all the time. In this episode, we talk about how digital signage can help unify a disparate workforce, enhancing their interactions with your company and reminding them that they’re still part of a team. - Explore the difference between business digital signage and retail signage - Hear different benefits for different sized organizations - Learn how to include remote workers - Understand how localization makes your content relevant - Discover how simple managing a digital signage system can be See the FULL TRANSCRIPT For more ideas, get our free white paper: Employee Engagement in the Digital Workplace

9 Quick Digital Design Tips EPISODE 102 | Host: Derek DeWitt, communications specialist for Visix Whether you’re designing for digital signage software, PowerPoint presentations, social media or downloadable resources, you’ve got to nail the basics to break through to your audience. In addition to good graphic design, you need to understand your audience and the context of your messaging to communicate effectively. In this episode, we give you nine practical digital design tips you can start using today to attract more viewers, engage them longer and ensure your communications are motivating them to act. - Understand how knowing your endpoint resolution is crucial - Explore six basic design principles (contrast, colors, fonts, etc.) - Learn to organize visual information for more impact - Hear how colorblindness, eye strain and ADA guidelines affect designs - Discover multiple ways to get your audience to interact and provide feedback Get the FULL TRANSCRIPT Download our handy infographic to take these tips with you.

Digital Signs for Hotels & Hospitality EPISODE 101 | Guest: Dave Leo, region sales manager – North Central for Visix Digital signs for hotels and other hospitality venues are the most efficient way to communicate large amounts of timely information to visitors in an environment that’s constantly changing. Anything from wayfinding to advertising and even flight information can be updated quickly and easily on screens to give people the best guest experience possible. And today it’s even easier to use this technology. Cloud-hosted options mean no more server rooms, and events and other feeds can be pulled from elsewhere to populate displays with eye-catching content that people want to see. Weather, alerts and other streams can all be automated to save your staff time and free them up for more personalized guest service. Hear examples of how digital signs are being used by hotels Discover how seamless it is to integrate with scheduling systems Explore interactive wayfinding, emergency alerts and other content ideas Understand the power of under-the-hood analytics Learn how cloud solutions and third-party content can streamline system management See the FULL TRANSCRIPT For more information, download our free white paper: Maximize the Guest Experience with Digital Signage for Hotels and Resorts

Using Design Themes on Your Screens EPISODE 100 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix Design themes are super useful for both launching and maintaining momentum on a digital signage system. It helps you maintain consistency, helps reinforce your branding and it makes things a lot easier for multiple content contributors. Most importantly, it makes your screens look good. In this episode, we’ll walk through the different element of a digital signage design theme, talk about why you need one, and give you lots of inspiration and links to get started. - Understand what a design theme includes - Learn the benefits of using themes for digital signage - Get ideas for different types of design themes - Discover where to find theme inspiration - Hear about different ways to create a theme See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Get more screen design advice in our Masterclass Guide 4: Digital Signage Design

Digital Signage Analytics & Why It Matters EPISODE 99 | Trey Hicks, COO & CSO of Visix, Inc. A powerful tool for any communications efforts is digital signage analytics, which can not only give you an overview of how successful your messaging is but can also help drill down to something as granular as individual contributors. In this episode, Trey Hicks from Visix discusses why analytics matters, what to look at and how to use that data to help achieve your digital signage objectives. - Learn what makes analytics data meaningful - Discover data tools that may be already built into your system - Understand the power of reports - Explore how power users can help others in the organization - Hear how to share analytics results effectively See the FULL TRANSCRIPT See our blog on analytics: The Value of Communications Analytics

Seven Principles for a Data-Driven Workplace EPISODE 98 | Sean Matthews, president & CEO of Visix, Inc. Many of our clients use their digital signage software to show data and data visualizations on their screens. It’s a great motivator for your workforce and helps create a data-driven workplace for better decision making and higher productivity. But how do you know what data to show and how to display it? Are you sure your employees understand it? Is it relevant and actionable? If not, you might need to rethink your strategy. Sean Matthews walks us through seven steps and real world examples that can help. Understand what we mean by data-driven workplace and why data matters Hear some surprising (and disappointing) workplace data literacy stats Discover how data affects everyday decisions and workloads Walk through seven principles of data literacy Find out about our digital signage data integration features Get the FULL TRANSCIPT Get content tips to motivate employees in our Masterclass Guide 3: Digital Signage Content Guide

Emotional Connections through Internal Messaging EPISODE 97 | Andrew Brown, co-founder of the Academy of Business Communications It's not engagement, it's not communications, it’s not culture. Although each of these things play a part, none of them encompasses the whole idea nor the entire effort involved in forging emotional connections between an organization an its employees. Andrew Brown walks us through what it takes to build emotional connections that benefit the wellness and success of both the organization and the humans involved in it. Whether or not you’re using digital signage, this is an episode that every comms and c-suite professional should listen to. - Learn why it matters and who it matters to - Understand the most common obstacles to connections - Answer three questions to define your organizational culture - Hear five key areas to focus on for building emotional connections - Get real-world examples of what to do and what not to do Get the FULL TRANSCRIPT Get more advice and free tools on the Academy of Business Communications website

12 Workplace Motivation Ideas EPISODE 96 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix Attracting and retaining talent; employee health, wellness and satisfaction; efficiency and productivity – the success of your organization hinges on workplace motivation and how you’re engaging your workers, whether they’re in the office or working remotely. In this episode, we cover some surprising stats that show employers are still falling short in the eyes of employees. We also give you some practical tips for what you can do to build a better culture with workplace motivation techniques and how that can translate to your digital signage system. - Understand how workplace motivation affect the bottom line - Learn what employees are saying they want from their workplace experience - Get 12 easy motivation ideas you can start using today - Discover how digital signage can supplement your HR and comms efforts - Hear where to find inspiration and tools that can help ease workloads See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Get more content tips in our Masterclass Guide 3: Digital Signage Content Guide

Retail Digital Signs: Worth the Investment EPISODE 95 | Guest: Jason Cain, region sales manager – South Central for Visix From shops to restaurants, campus bookstores to zoos, hotels and casinos to car dealerships – retail digital signs are being used to improve the customer experience, motivate staff and increase sales. In this episode, Jason Cain talks through how lots of different retailers are using digital signage to engage their audiences, whether it’s with a single screen or across a worldwide chain. We’ll explore popular content for each environment, and some of his best real-world examples. - Learn the benefits of investing in retail digital signs for CX - Explore how interactivity can engage customers and boost revenues - Hear how retailers handle internal vs. public-facing communications - Understand the benefits of CAP-compliant alerts and analytics - Discover cool real-world digital signage applications and get tips See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Read our blog: 8 Benefits of Digital Signage for Retailers

Digital Signage Content 101: Getting Started EPISODE 94 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix Your company or campus just bought and installed a digital signage system. Your boss then tells you you’re responsible for keeping your screens full of realtime, engaging content. Yikes! It’s not as scary as it sounds. With some basic training and a little inspiration, anyone can creative good-looking content for digital signs. We’ll walk you through how to get started and give you easy examples you can put into practice right away. - Get lots of examples of easy content for launch day - Understand how content goes from your desktop to screens - Explore auto-updating content, content kits and subscriptions - Hear how to build a content plan and calendar - Discover where you can find content inspiration and free content Get the FULL TRANSCRIPT Get more tips in our Masterclass Guide 3: Digital Signage Content Guide

Digital Signs for Local Government EPISODE 93 | Guest: Chip Kepner, region sales manager – West Great Lakes, for Visix Government is all about people. Communicating essential information to both the public and employees can be a challenge with such a wide array of services and updates to convey. Whether it’s meeting agendas, wayfinding, weather or info boards, digital signs for local governments can help keep everyone informed and engaged. In this episode, Chip Kepner gives us a quick overview of the way that digital signage is being used in city, county and local administrative offices to support both internal and public-facing communications: Learn about different types of government offices using digital signs Discover common content for both the public and employees Explore interactive options like wayfinding, directories and info boards Hear about messaging to mobiles, websites and public access channels Get info on CAP alerts, analytics, localization and scalability Get the FULL TRANSCRIPT Get more content ideas in our white paper: Streamline Communications with Digital Signage for Government Agencies

The Power of Language EPISODE 92 | Guest: Jennifer King, performance coach with Stand & Deliver Communication is about language. Words matter, but so does the intention behind those words, the feeling or action you want them to inspire, and the way you deliver them. This is true in any context, whether it’s digital signage messaging, email, Zoom meetings, one-on-one conversations or presentations to thousands. In this episode, which marks our third anniversary, Jennifer King, theater veteran and performance coach, walks us through some tips for how to make your communications more impactful and inclusive: Understand how intention shapes your language skills Learn how to flip your mindset from yourself to your audience Appreciate the power of the pause Hear how to get to the point and ensure people will remember it Explore tips for writing, speaking, videoconferencing and Q&A See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Stand & Deliver is a consulting and training firm that primes organizations for high-performance communication and leadership.

8 Communications Trends for a Hybrid Workforce EPISODE 91 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix The hybrid workforce has changed the way organizations connect employees to the company, the mission and each other. Although new tech and tools are part of the equation, some good old-fashioned employee engagement techniques are evolving to take center stage in the battle to build community over distances. In this episode, we look at eight trends that internal communications professionals are leveraging to ensure everyone feels informed and engaged in the modern workplace: Learn how a hybrid workforce has changed the way we communicate Understand that adopting new tech is essential, but not the end-all Explore using more visuals, mobile-first designs and distributed communications Hear how communicators are focusing on EX, recognition, wellbeing and participation Appreciate the importance of frontline managers for message reinforcement See the full TRANSCRIPT Get more tips in our Masterclass Guide 2: Digital Signage Communications Planning Guide

Free Digital Signage Software Isn't Free EPISODE 90 | Sean Matthews, president & CEO of Visix, Inc. Lots of people advertise free digital signage software on the web. But is it free? Do these apps come with hidden costs, limited features or lackluster support? Most importantly, will the free software you’re considering adapt to your needs or force you to adapt to it? In this episode, Sean Matthews walks us through what to watch out for when considering a free CMS to manage your digital signs, what types of environments should and shouldn’t use them, and how to frame your software search to match your strategy. - Hear the difference between free software, freeware and open source - Walk through the pros and cons of free signage software - Find out what “free” might mean (trial, demo, pilot, hosting, etc.) - Consider how services, updates and security are affected - Learn the questions to ask before downloading a free signage app See the full TRANSCRIPT Learn more about this topic in our Masterclass Guide 1: Digital Signage Systems Overview

What Does Digital Signage Cost? EPISODE 89 | Guest: Trey Hicks, chief sales officer, Visix What does digital signage cost? It seems like a simple question, but it’s not. Digital signage isn’t like buying a cell phone at a kiosk. It’s more like kitting out a smart home with phones for your whole family along with smart speakers and TVs, a cell and internet service package, as well as all the entertainment feeds you’ll want access to. Digital signage isn’t a product. It’s a suite of products that includes digital signage software, hardware, services, subscriptions and more. We discuss six basic factors that can affect the cost of digital signage, so you can better plan your budget and shop with confidence. - Understand perpetual licenses versus software subscriptions - Hear the benefits of cloud and on-premise servers - Consider whether to buy media players or use your own PCs - Discover how endpoints, users and data options can affect pricing - Explore services you may not have factored into your budget See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Grab our handy infographic with 10 Questions to Ask When Shopping for Digital Signage

Using Digital Signage in K12 Schools EPISODE 88 | Guest: Ilyse Johnson, region sales manager – Mid-South for Visix Schools have a unique challenge of communicating across three very different audiences – students, teachers and staff, and parents and visitors. Finding easy ways to engage and inform all of these folks can be tricky, but digital signs in K12 schools can unify and streamline both messaging and workflows. Ilyse Johnson walks us through different methods to attract and motivate everyone in a school or school district, what schools have found to work best and some of the most popular things to show on screens. - Learn how to unify school messaging while still targeting different groups - Understand how digital signs get more buy-in than printed or audio announcements - Explore popular content for school screens and how students can get involved - Hear how automated data, content feeds and approval processes ease workloads - Find out how schools are using menu boards, interactivity and wayfinding for higher engagement See the FULL TRANSCIPT See how one school district is using digital signage in our case study with video: Hall County School District Soars with Digital Signage

Overcommunicate at Your Own Peril EPISODE 87 | Guest: Andrew Brown, co-founder of the Academy of Business Communications Email, chat, WhatsApp, Zoom, Teams, town halls, meetings, intranets, digital signage – it can all feel overwhelming. As the number of messages we receive every day grows, as well as the number of technologies and channels we have to master, it’s more important than ever that organizational communications be deliberate, well planned and focused on outcomes. Companies that overcommunicate, though well intentioned, risk demotivating or alienating their employees. Andrew Brown from the Academy of Business Communications takes us through some of the most common traps that companies fall into, and explains that overcommunicating is about much more than just volume. - Understand why people feel you’re overcommunicating (it’s not just volume) - Learn how trust and authenticity can cut the number of communications needed - Hear what executives, supervisors and employees need to do better - Discover how crucial listening is – both one-on-one and in groups - Get tips on how to make your communications more impactful See the FULL TRANSCRIPT Get more advice and free tools on the Academy of Business Communications website