How to Set Up a Digital Signage Network at an Event

Event marketing is still big and well back on track after taking a hit in 2019 when the global pandemic brought the in-person event industry to a near standstill. These events provide the perfect opportunity to showcase your offerings, network with clients and other industry players, and strengthen your brand identity.

Interestingly, up to 74% of event attendees say that their opinion of a brand improved after attending events. And having a great digital signage network is a great tool to help you put your best foot forward at these events.

Digital Signage at Events: Opportunities and Benefits

Today, a digital signage solution is one of the fundamental needs for events. Digital signs significantly influence the quality of an event, and with proper content management, you can look forward to a more successful event.

Display content that is useful, entertaining, and just right for a particular event. This way, you can be sure of your digital signage network catching the attention of all event attendees and increasing their engagement. Actually, a well-implemented digital signage system is the ultimate key to building and optimizing brand recognition at events.

You can show both scheduled and real-time content on your screens. Create playlists and schedule them to run throughout the day with content such as introductory messages and event schedule outlines at the beginning of the event. Also, don’t forget real-time content such as social media feeds, notices, and an analysis of the audience’s reactions.

1. Event Details and Announcements

Use your digital signage network to display essential event details and announce updates. A digital schedule board allows you to instantly share any schedule changes, helping all event attendees to stay on top of the event’s structure and flow at all times. This will eliminate confusion and ensure everyone has a great time.

2. Directions and Venue Layouts

Save the event attendees time with high-interactivity wayfinding digital signs. New public spaces can be challenging to navigate, especially if your event venue has many locations. So, put up maps and building directions on the digital screens to help attendees find their way.

3. Shout Out to Event Sponsors

Use your digital screens to give some airtime and create good publicity for your event sponsors. This is a great way to increase their visibility and say thank you for the resources they have put in towards the success of your event. For instance, an interview with executives from the sponsor companies is always a great idea.

4. Publicity for Exhibitors

Exhibitors at your event may miss opportunities to connect with other attendees on the floor. With the right digital signage display, exhibitors have more ways to connect with their target audience and show off their portfolio and offerings.

A kiosk with interactive touchscreen display screens, for example, can provide an immersive experience, allowing event attendees to interact with a brand and find out more information even in the absence of a company representative.

5. Showcase Social Walls in Real-Time

Add social media feeds to your event digital signage network for a greater wow factor and increase engagement. Attendees at your event will no doubt turn to social media to share their experiences and give feedback. So, why not capitalize on this as part of user-generated digital signage content?

Display these social walls in real-time to increase awareness of your event’s hashtag and see an increase in the number of subscribers across your socials. This will encourage more people at the event to use hashtags. If your event hashtag trends, you can be sure of more publicity, and if those in attendance have good things to say about it, you can be certain of more numbers at your next event.

Setting Up Digital Signage Network for Events

As outlined in the section above, you can use digital signage in various ways at events. How, then, do you set up your event digital signage network to enjoy its many benefits?

1. Digital Signage Hardware and Software Selection

The main hardware components are the display screens and signage player. Choose hardware for your digital signage network based on the location of the displays, the type of content to display, and the distance between the screens and the target audience.

For instance, LED screens, which are perfect for DOOH campaigns, maybe the better choice for the displays in the exteriors at your event venue. On the other hand, LCD screens will do just fine for interiors. You also want a media player that can handle the various content formats you will display at the event.

Beyond compatibility with your hardware, you will want to choose digital signage software that brings other functionality benefits for your event digital signage. Consider ease of use when it comes to overall content management.

It should have many templates for easy content design customization. The software should also provide a centralized content management system for quick and real-time collection and updating of content from RSS feeds, social media sites, various apps, and other data sources.

2. Map Out Network Locations

Choose locations that offer the best exposure for your digital signage network screens. The screens should be in the direct line of your target audience. However, if your event venue is large, ensure you have enough displays spread out throughout the venue. Also, be strategic about the location. Wayfinding signs, for example, should be right at the venue’s entrance.

3. Secure Installation

Security is always a concern for public spaces. Therefore, install your digital signage network with some considerations in mind to ensure top security. Protect your Wi-Fi connection and disable any network services you don’t require.

Manage passwords and permissions so that only authorized personnel can access your content management system to add or remove screens and manage the content displaying on each screen. You will also want to install a firewall to block unwanted traffic and ensure you have enough bandwidth for your digital signage network deployment.

4. Plan Your Content

What will you be showing across your various digital signs? As highlighted in the use cases, there is no limit to what you can display, but the ultimate goal is to ensure the content is relevant. From highlights of your company profile and what you offer to the goals and objectives of the event, display informative information that adds value to your target audience. For example, entertaining content, such as music, social media posts, and more, will help to liven up the event. Real-time content will keep your audience up to date with what’s happening around them.

Setting Up Digital Signage Network Made Easier

You will no doubt engage the services of various vendors for your event for various functions. These include rental and set-up, videography and photography, décor, food and beverages, and more. You can’t do it alone; hence, the need to engage professionals.

In the same way, you will benefit greatly from digital signage implementation services. Setting up a digital signage network for your event is quite straightforward, but putting together a successful event has too many moving parts. As a result, let the professionals handle the digital signage for you. In fact, it takes 5-8 weeks for the average B2B company to organize a small-medium event, and leaving the digital signage to the experts will save you time. 

A Worthy Investment

Surprisingly, 65% of customers say they understand a brand and its offerings better after events. Throw in a well-implemented digital signage network, and you have an effective tool to better inform and educate your event attendees. Therefore, increased sales, improved brand recognition, and better relationships are some benefits you can expect when you invest in digital signage for your event.