If you’re a business owner, you already know how vital digital signage is when it comes to communicating with customers. Having digital signage is a great way to talk to your customers and keep them engaged. In turn, you will drive up your profit margins and increase productivity amongst your workforce. However, just like everything else, your digital signage will need regular maintenance to keep looking sharp. Below, we tell you exactly how to look after your signage.
Software Maintenance
Digital signage requires specialised software to keep everything running. Therefore, you will need to carry out regular software maintenance to get the longest life you can out of your digital signage. When you upgrade your software, you will see improvements in security alongside the most up-to-date visuals. If you’re not sure how to take care of software maintenance yourself, you can outsource the majority of your digital signage solutions.
For best practices, you should commit to a software update package. With this, all of your software needs will be taken care of. All you need to do is schedule checks to ensure all security and software are in place. The last thing you need is security breaches in your digital signage, which can lead to incorrect content being shown and much more.
Hardware Maintenance
Digital signage works on the same principle as any other device you have. Over time, it will wear out and you’ll need to replace some parts. Therefore, you should make sure that any media players, hard drives, and servers are looked after. If you need to replace a part, it will be cheaper than replacing the entire digital signage.
You should check with your manufacturer because in some cases you can trade in old hardware for upgrades. When you upgrade your hardware in this way, you won’t need to worry about losing anything. All of your content will migrate onto the new system.
General Maintenance
You should look after the visual state of your signage regularly by cleaning down the outer casing to remove any stubborn dirt. You can use compressed air on hard-to-reach parts, which will dispel any trapped dust. If you leave grime to build up, your sign will lose its crystal-clear image and may start to break down.
Indoor Signage
Cleaning down indoor digital signage is a breeze. All you need to use is a soft washcloth and a bucket of soapy water. Once you’ve finished removing the dirt, you just need to dry it clean with a fresh cloth. Sometimes, you will come across grime that won’t come off, in which case you should use a baking soda solution or quality window cleaner.
Outdoor Signage
Outdoor signage still needs to be cleaned. If you can, you should keep your signage out of the rain to avoid unwanted watermarks. When it comes to cleaning, you need to use high-quality materials that will repel water. Further, while you’re out there, you should check any wire seals and electricals for degrading materials.
Keep Water Out of Your Digital Signage
You need to clean your digital signage to prevent dirt build-up. However, you should avoid getting water into the screen. Before you put your cloth to the screen, be sure to rinse any excess water off beforehand. Also, if you’re cleaning with a spray bottle, you should direct the spray at the cloth as opposed to directly at the screen. If you get water inside the hardware, you may end up paying more money to get the sign repaired.
Content Management
You may not think of this as essential maintenance, but looking after your content is arguably one of the most important parts. Without regularly maintained content, your digital signage will soon become outdated and stop having the desired impact. When building content, you need to make sure that it engages your audience through effective design. Using the latest software will help you with content management.
Digital signage is important to your business, and if maintained well can serve you for many years. Think of your digital sign like you do your car, and keep up with a regular schedule including cleaning, software and hardware maintenance, as well as content management.