How Digital Signage Plus CMS Equals A Total Solution

Many companies are seeing the benefits of using a content management system (CMS), and with good reason. Used correctly and managed by responsible stakeholders, a CMS is a powerful tool in leveraging your content to increase brand awareness, setting you apart as a thought leader, amplifying your customer experience, and ultimately gaining more business.

Digital signage software and a CMS are natural best friends. They can align to provide synergy that achieves business goals more effectively and quicker than either could do alone.

Choosing a CMS can be overwhelming, because there are literally hundreds of options, and each one offers something a bit different from the other. The time and money it takes to land on a CMS, however, is well worth the investment.

Here are some points you need to consider when deciding on a digital signage CMS.

Before making ANY investment, you should think about your goals. What are you trying to accomplish? How will you measure success? This is especially true when implementing a signage CMS software system. A finite list of goals helps you define the type of system you need, the features you're going to use, and the set-up you require. Additionally, these goals guide you away from expensive bells and whistles you DON'T need. Thoughtfully review what you'll be using your digital signage CMS for before you make a decision. Take heart, though because whatever you're trying to accomplish is undoubtedly possible with a CMS/Digital Signage combo.

Complicated is overrated. Opt for a CMS that is simple and user-friendly. Just say no to difficult, complex systems, and you'll be able to ramp up your content sharing faster and easily be able to train others to use it. A simple UI helps you gain early buy-in and start enjoying measurable results faster than something that is unwieldy and challenging to learn. When you're looking at solutions, lean toward the straightforward, simple ones over the confusing ones.

It's possible to get everything you need out of a single digital signage CMS solution. You just need to search until you find it. You'll sabotage your company's goals if you settle for a solution just because it's cheaper. After all, you're counting on the digital signage and CMS to work together to accomplish your goals. Make sure there are features that will help you address every objective that made you consider signage CMS software in the first place.

Companies automate to streamline processes and save time, making this next point a critical one. Integrations are one of the most important considerations of a digital signage CMS and one of the foundational keys of your company enjoying success with it. An Application Programming Interface (API) is what makes this possible. Being able to use real-time data in your content, and pull from your other systems, is simple when your CMS has an API. Be sure to verify the integrations offered, so you avoid having to add manual entering and editing because your digital signage CMS and your other systems don't connect with each other.

There are many advantages of using digital signage software with a CMS. Here are four of the most impactful ones.

What you're sharing on the screen, and who you're sharing it with, is the primary premise of signage CMS software. Will your content be primarily data-driven? Are videos a large part of your content plan? Will your content strategy include real-time information? Charts? Graphs? Clearly define and digest the type of content you want your digital signage CMS to manage on the front end, and you will proactively choose one that fits your needs best.

Easily use your branding, tone, and voice in all of your content. A digital signage CMS provides content templates that empower you to professionally design your content offering to deliver the same look and feel across the board. You can use similar templates for related information, and choose separate templates for other information, such as important announcements or breaking news. Content templates put you ahead of the game because you don't have to start from scratch.

A blank screen is every digital signage end user's nightmare. Fortunately, the chances of that being an issue are dramatically minimized with a digital signage CMS. Being able to monitor issues, downtime, and the system's performance is easy with a CMS. Checking all your devices that are integrated with your CMS is simple, and your troubleshooting is, too. Decreasing downtime helps your content stay in front of your target audience, not to mention decreasing your end-user's stress levels!

It's always good to be able to tell who's doing what. This rings true with your content. With a CMS, different users can be granted varying levels of control. Some can handle fixed tasks, while others have the run of the entire system. This type of accessibility maintains the content quality and heads off any issues before they become big problems.

You may be starting out with just a handful of displays, but your company may need to expand and grow over time. New ways to share content requires functionality. A digital signage CMS provides a way to do this without adding a bunch of extra work. The best news? You will still be able to manage your content from the original single platform.

Using a combination of digital signage software and a CMS offers extensive benefits and usability that your company is sure to find advantageous. By deciding on your objectives up front and understanding what digital CMS software can do for you, your company can get the most bang for your buck from the solution you choose.