For many operators of electronic message centers, the selection of entry and exit modes is based entirely on his/her likes and dislikes. No thought is given to how these modes affect the length of the message. Mainly because it doesn’t matter how long the messages are, right?

If you are thinking this, you may be wrong. Timing is important in a large number of message center applications. The most common timing application is in the selling of advertising. These ads are almost always sold by time (5 seconds spots). The buyer of these ads usually wants an animation with text or too much text for the amount of time. Whichever the case you are required to display the text in as little time as possible yet keep it effective.

Even if you are not selling advertising, timing is still very important. Each message center,  depending on its location., has a very specific viewing time. This time is shortened by obstructions and/or higher speed limits. You need to check the viewing time of your sign by actually getting in your car and driving by your sign. Start timing at the point that you can see(and read) the messages. Be sure you are driving the speed limit or the speed of the traffic(they may be different). You will find that short, to-the-point messages work well in all applications.

To help you create effective word messages that take the minimum amount of time, we have conducted a study. We typed the word SALE into a 16×64 matrix and assigned it one of 12 entry effect modes. This was done for each mode and saved to a separate file name. To figure the entry mode time we subtracted the hold time(and off-time if one is programmed). The resulting entry mode times are as follows:

No effect: 0 sec

Spell out: 0.4 sec

Zoom Up (or Down) 0.5 sec

Roll up (or Down) 0.5 sec

Unveil up (or Down) 1 sec

Unveil left (or right) 2.2 sec

Roll left (or right) 2.2 sec

Travel: 3.4 sec

As you can see some entry modes are better than others. Remember these times reflect entry mode only. Hold time and exit time(if used) must also be added to get the overall message run time. If you are using an off or blank time between messages this must also be added.

To get the most messages across in the least amount of time consider forgoing all entry and exit effects and removing blank time between messages entirely. Also, beware of scrolling text as it takes much longer to scroll a given message than present it on one or two frames or on multiple lines of a display without added effects. Scrolling messages are particularly bad for short viewing windows and high-speed traffic as there is not enough time for them to be viewed completely by most vehicle traffic in the time it takes for them to run.

If you’re the owner of a small business (or even a larger one), you’re likely always looking for ways to better connect with your customers and increase your sales. The research describing the best sales practices is incredibly extensive and can be overwhelming if you are looking for the simplest solutions. Luckily, there are a few basic tips requiring minimal effort and investment which can make a huge difference in the way that you interact with your customers. We’ve taken it upon ourselves to list a few of these strategies below.

1. Increase the visibility of your product. While this may seem obvious, it can be easy to assume that your customers see the products you want to sell. Assumptions are some of the most dangerous things to a business looking to make sales, so act fully and implement proven solutions instead. The use of digital signage such as a programmable LED sign makes it more likely that your customers will see and comprehend your advertisements.
2. Address the customer directly and, even better, encourage them to take action. Often, all a person needs is a little push towards making a purchase. Plus, an advertisement that urges or encourages is more likely to make a personal connection with a potential customer.
3. Keep your ads relevant and meaningful. Our world is a busy one, and it’s not likely that your customers will spend much time considering your ad. Many purchases are made as a split-second decision, so make sure your verbiage is direct and urgent.
4. Style and design are just as important as the content of the advertisements themselves! Make sure that your ad is clear, visually appealing, and will stand out amongst a sea of other calls to action that your customer may have seen on the same day. Create a visual that will leave a lasting impression.
5. —there’s nothing worse than the possibility of your well-worded ad campaign being associated with a competitor. Advertisements aren’t the place for humility, so get your name out there and link it to your product!

Once you’ve developed the perfect advertisements to intrigue and engage your clientele, contact us to learn more about how you can integrate your fantastic campaign into a programmable LED sign that will catch your patrons’ eyes and bring clarity to the product or service you are selling.

The use of digital menu displays can take your restaurant up a notch—your patrons will appreciate the sleek appearance of technology in your dining room, or perhaps you will choose to use the displays as a shining beacon to passersby outside your storefront. With crisp images and bright colors, digital menus give your restaurant a chance to entice potential customers with a sneak preview of the delicious food you have to offer.

However, all the technology in the world won’t benefit your business if your menu is poorly designed or difficult to read. By following some of the tips below, you can ensure that both the design and presentation of your menus will catch the eye and tantalize the taste buds.

1. Take your time and treat your menu design for what it is—an important marketing tool! The Balance notes that your restaurant menu design deserves just as much attention as the items on the menu, which is absolutely correct.
2. The most successful designs rely on categorization that makes sense and the arrangement of these categories in a way that is easily scanned and processed. Have an awareness of eye scanning patterns and arrange your groups accordingly. (New research has shown that the eyes of your patrons are drawn to the upper lefthand corner first, just like they’re reading a book.)
3. Consider the use of boxes to lead the eye to the most important items, such as your restaurant’s signature dishes or the items with the highest profit margin.
4. Keep in mind the mood of your menu design and focus on the big picture once you’ve got the details nailed down. You want to make sure that the tone of your menu matches your restaurant’s theme—otherwise, your customers will feel a disconnect that might confuse their dining experience.
5. Finally, use colorful images of food to display your fresh ingredients and commitment to quality dining. This will add flair to your menus, allow your customers to visualize what they are ordering, and will make them hungry, too!

Remember, design and presentation work as a team. Even the savviest menu design won’t come across well to your patrons if it appears dull and lifeless or is difficult to read. If you fear that your menu isn’t putting its best foot forward, contact us today to inquire about the use of digital menu displays in your restaurant.

5-steps-to-design-the-best-digital-menu-display

Almost everyone has come into contact with LED displays. In fact, it’s arguable that there’s not a person in America who hasn’t seen or interacted with an LED display. LEDs are used in our homes and for small business advertising. Larger operations use LED displays even more frequently. If you’ve ever been to a sporting event, the outdoor digital signage displays that announce the game’s score probably utilized LEDs. For something that occurs so frequently in our modern world, full of bright lights and technology, LEDs are generally not well understood.

What, Exactly, Are LEDs?

LED is an abbreviation for “light-emitting diode,” and LEDs function by passing an electrical current through a microchip that then illuminates the smaller light sources, the LEDs themselves. These tiny light sources combine to create the visible, illuminated image that we see in LED displays.

The Beginning of LEDs

While many people think that LEDs are a recent technological development, LEDs have actually been around for over fifty years. In fact, LEDs were discovered by James R. Biard and Gary Pittman in 1961. Soon afterwards, the first LED was sold in the summer of 1962. LEDs were initially used in IBM computers which controlled punch card readers, replacing the tungsten bulbs originally used.

Current Uses

Today, LEDs are used as alternatives for incandescent and neon lights. They are also utilized in larger RGB screen displays. A few of the places you may have encountered LEDs are:

• • Cellphones
• • Flashlights
• • Watches
• • Advertisements and outdoor digital signage displays
• • Televisions and other home technologies
• • Traffic lights
• • Remote controls
• • Automobile Headlights

However, there are countless other applications for LEDs, and there will soon be even more.

Looking Forward

With such a flexible and useful technology, there is no doubt that even more uses will be found for LEDs in the future. As technology advances, so does the need for smarter and more efficient LEDs. As more and more individuals begin using LED displays for advertising, advancements such as ease of color change and brightness adjustment, as well as LED networking, are in high demand. There are also medical applications for LEDs in both operating rooms and the very exam rooms you visit during your yearly check-up.

To learn more about how you can use LED displays to optimize your lifestyle, visit AD Systems for more information about our variety of LED displays, indoor and outdoor digital signage displays, and more.

Techorating might sound like a typo or a word just invented for this blog post, but we promise it’s real! This term, a play on the word “decorating,” was coined by Doug Wilson in 2008. It is a particularly useful concept to be familiar with today, as more and more technology is being integrated into homes around the world. Everything from televisions to home assistants to smart appliances are becoming mainstays in the houses of many savvy individuals. As these technologies become more affordable, the number of people utilizing modern tech in their homes is increasing by the day. So what, exactly, is techorating, and how can you integrate it into your next home makeover?

So What Is It?

Techorating is the art of finding a balance between the best of home décor and the best of home technologies. As with any other kind of home design, the possibilities and applications of techoration are endless. The goal, however, is to find a balance between your design and your technology, allowing your gadgets to fit seamlessly in with the rest of your home.

Technology As Art

Here’s the part you’ve all been waiting for—the most fun and unique ideas to transform your living space into a comfortable (but still futuristic) lounge. Try a few of the following suggestions, and you’ll be surprised at how even small changes can drastically update your home.

• • Electronic signage boards aren’t just for advertising! It’s possible to use these LED signs in thousands of creative ways within your home. Whether you want to brighten your kitchen with a custom message or spice up your man cave with something that will give all your buddies a laugh, electronic signage boards offer flexibility and customization like no other.
• • Most new commercial LED backlit LCD monitors now come with built in coaxial tv tuners as well as HDMI inputs so they can be used easily used as televisions when they are not being used to display dynamic digital content.
• • Techoration can be as flamboyant or as subtle as you want it to be. For example, utilizing your space in smart, effective ways while keeping the rooms in your house up to date with the newest technology.

Not Just Your Home!

There are just as many ways to techorate your business or retail space as there are to upgrade your home, which means that the techorating trend will only continue to grow.

So what are you waiting for? Whether for your business or your own house, start planning your next upgrade today, and don’t forget to grab a few Programmable Led Sign from us, AD Systems, to really make your space pop.

The Christmas season can be one of the busiest and most rewarding times of the year for businesses. It’s difficult for brick-and-mortar businesses to set themselves apart from each other and still compete with online businesses. If you have a programmable LED sign for your business, it can be a fun and effective way to call attention to your business during the Christmas shopping season. AdSystemsLED sells signs that can help you stand out among your competition. These are a few suggestions of how to use your LED signs to show your holiday spirit:

Indoor Window Display

This window display is extremely economical and budget friendly for ground level businesses. But it only displays text messages, and that limitation can be intimidating to some business owners. To catch a customer’s attention, you can use phrases that have a holiday flair while still delivering your message.

• • Snow Sale! 50%!!
• • Santa Claus Discount!
• • Merry Sales!

 
All of these phrases express a type of holiday cheer while also advertising that your prices have dropped for a limited time during the holidays. For example, the snow sale may only be active while snow is actively falling in your area. The Santa Claus discount could be a discount on all items with a Santa Claus sticker on the tag. Merry Sales expresses joy to your customers. These types of marketing strategies are fun for customers. They’re creative, and customers are more likely to spread the word about your sales themselves. There are many creative and effective options with text displays. Your programmable LED sign can show your holiday cheer and spread a message as well.

The ProColor Full Color

This sign is our best deal for businesses who need to stay within a certain budget but need a versatile sign that has a lot of image options. With this sign, clipart, animations, and moving text is possible. Advertising holiday sales and Christmas themed merchandise with this display can capture the attention of your customers with very little effort.

The ProColor Full Color is excellent for schools who want to display images and information pertaining to school hours around the holidays.

Churches also favor this sign because of its reasonable price and image options. For example, churches who host Christmas programs and parties use this type of sign to let the public know about their holiday activities, worship hours, and holiday charity projects.

AdSystemsLED provides programmable LED signs to help your business have an advantage during the holiday season. Fill out our Sales Inquiry Form for more information about what we can provide for you!

Digital displays are changing the way restaurants market to their customers. But there’s no reason to limit the changes to your storefront signs. Still work with traditional menu boards? Consider the merits of taking your menus to another level for the holidays by going for digital menu displays.

Special prices and discount offers

A lot of restaurants offer set menus for a special price during the holiday season. This is a fantastic way to get customers to try your complete meals. And what better way to let new customers and regulars know about these menus than through the use of your digital display? With digital displays, you won’t have to take down your menu or put up a new sign that you’re only going to use for weeks or a month. Digital displays are easy to change and these changes come at no extra cost.

Gift cards

You can easily extend your holiday sales into the new year by encouraging customers to bring in friends and family members to your restaurant. Offer gift cards discounts. You can put in a bit of detail about those gift cards on your digital menu. Done right, it could easily call the attention of your customers who won’t be able to resist getting a few of those gift cards right off the bat.

Holiday events

December is the perfect month to promote special events with plenty of people meeting up for get-togethers with colleagues and loved ones. And what better way to contribute to your promotional efforts than by transforming your digital menu displays for the holidays? Use just the right touch and your customers will feel the warm fuzzies and holiday cheer of the season. That’s going to put them in the best mood to enjoy your holiday meals, offers and treats.

Holiday meals

The best menus are engineered and designed to lead customers to the food you want them to choose, says TigerChef. Your digital menu shouldn’t be any different. From the layout to the concept, your digital display can help you direct customers’ attention and interest to your signature dishes with some holiday twist added to your star offerings for the season. It’s the best way to rack up sales when you introduce your limited edition drinks, meal sets or dishes.

Stop using boring menus that do nothing to improve your sales. Boost your bottom line with the right display. Call us at AD SYSTEMS to order your displays today.

The sign on the front of your business is an important marketing tool. Many business owners design their storefront to give customers an idea of what type of merchandise or services they sell. A flat plywood sign or punched metal sign is sufficient for most business, but stagnant images don’t always catch a customer’s eye. Your store front gives a customer a first impression about your business, and outdoor LED signs for businesses definitely attract more attention.

After Hours

Marketing a small business may not be very difficult, due to tools such as social media or online giveaways, but it’s still very time consuming. Even when you’re store isn’t open, advertising is still a huge part of making sure that your customers are aware of your presence. With an outdoor LED sign for your business, you can advertise 24/7, including your business hours or holiday sales. At night, a painted plywood sign or punched metal is not easily seen. An outdoor LED sign for your business will grab the attention of people who are passing by, even if they are only looking at your sign to find the source of light. Some businesses will install lights around their flat signs to help customers find the store at nighttime, but that requires electrical installation and maintenance for when the light bulbs fail. LED signs require less time and maintenance.

Changing Images

A traditional sign for your store front is an investment. You need to be comfortable with your design before you make your purchase. But if you change your mind about that image, it will cost your business money to replace it. Outdoor LED signs for businesses have enough variety that you could change the image or the message of your business year round, which is especially important during the holidays.

During the holidays, decorating a storefront attracts more customers. Most people enjoy visiting a store that shows holiday spirit. If your storefront doesn’t have much flexibility for decoration, for example, if you do not have large storefront windows, an outdoor LED sign could help you display your Christmas sales. A ProVideo High Definition Color display will allow you to display designs that you’ve purchased or created yourself to show your holiday cheer.

AdSystemsLED sells a variety of outdoor LED signs to businesses of all sizes. During the holiday season, having a store front which attracts customers is critical, and we have many bright and merry signs which will fit your business and budget.

Creative marketing of your brand and business often pays off. If your storefront displays aren’t generating enough traffic to your place, though, it might be time to consider going for an upgrade. A LED electronic moving message sign might just be what you need to give your storefront that much-needed makeover.

Deliver brand promise

Start with the basics. Look for a sign that shows potential customers what your brand and business is all about. That means ensuring your sign isn’t damaged or smudged in any way. Take every opportunity to market your brand and to show customers the quality of your service by going for neat, bright and simple signs, says Small Business Trends.

Adapt for changing seasons

One of the best things about using LED displays is that these are easy to change and customize. Want to wish your customers happy holidays? You can easily adapt your display to changing seasons. Fall, winter, spring and summer—you won’t have a problem getting your displays to show timely messages to your audience, ones that will encourage them to open their wallets and shop.

Change for special occasions

Want to commemorate your 5-year anniversary with a big sale? Use your LED electronic moving message sign to tell customers about it. Anyone who’s going to come passing through your shop or who’s going to see your LED display from a distance will want to come in and take a look around. That’s all because of your sign. The best part? In the past, you would need to have another sign drawn up altogether. With LED displays, you can easily change the content at no extra cost. If you want long-term savings with your signs, then start switching to LED displays. These are durable options that will last you many, many years down the road.

Hold contests

You can use your LED display to increase attention and interest in whatever contests you might be holding as well. With a moving LED sign, you can draw more attention to your store’s activities. This will help drive engagement levels even higher with your customers. If you want to make your contests or store activities as successful as possible, then this is one way to build interest in your events.

Ready to upgrade your storefront displays? Put in a call to us at AD SYSTEMS today. With a range of display solutions, we can provide for all your signage needs.

With the Christmas season approaching quickly, many businesses are trying to find ways to enhance the look of their stores. One way to enhance the look of your store is by using electronic digital signage. Many stores use electronic or LED signs for eye catching displays and flashes of color. Here are three ways that you can use electronic digital signage to boost your sales:

Clipart and Animations

You can stand out among your competition by using clipart and animations on your electronic signage. AdSystems LED has a variety of signage that uses the full color spectrum with various transitions between images. Some of the clipart or animations that you may want to use for a holiday sale could include images of snowmen, snowflakes, Christmas trees, the Menorah, or Kwanzaa symbols. People who are familiar with the images that you are displaying outside of your store are more likely to look at your merchandise or inquire about your services.

Advertise Discounts

Everyone likes to see the word “SALE” in front of a store. The holiday season is an excellent time to have a sale. Even small businesses will participate in Black Friday sales, when a majority of people are shopping for holiday gifts. Advertising discounts in local newspapers, on television, and online can be very helpful because many people will create an itinerary of the stores that they want to visit on Black Friday. If you include your sale in the newspaper, and people believe that they can find good deals in your store, they may visit you. But some shoppers don’t plan to visit specific stores and will instead visit a few shopping centers to try and find the best deals that weren’t advertised so heavily. With some electronic digital signage on your store front, you can advertise directly to people who are nearby.

Your Social Media Pages

If you own a small business, your social media profiles are the best advertisement tools that you have. The majority of social media is free, and posting pictures of new merchandise or advertising your new services is an invaluable marketing tool. A PROvision single color electronic sign above your front door can display your social media handles to everyone who enters your store or simply passes by your front door. Naturally, you’ll want your social media pages advertised on your business cards, but displaying them on your outdoor electronic digital signage will reach a broader audience.

AdSystemsLED has a large variety of signs that are designed to fit your business needs and budget. Our products will capture the attention of customers.