AN INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL SIGNAGE FOR RELIGIOUS VENUES
Across the world, digital spaces are blending with real-world messaging to bring communities closer together. That is why churches and other religious venues quickly adopt digital signage to bolster their communities and improve fundraising efforts. Digital signage has many benefits over traditional media. Digital displays are known to receive greater attention, have higher recall rates, and can even influence decision-making. Additionally, digital signage can reduce costs including printing and travel, and even allow you to save for more important objectives. However, the biggest strength digital signage offers is powerful app integrations. REACH Media Network’s expansive app library hosts a variety of integrations that you can leverage to add flair to your displays. These apps allow you to showcase third-party content and display content that would otherwise not be possible. If you want an integration in your signage layout but do not see it within our app library, reach out to your account manager to begin scoping out the project. Our team will work to find the best possible solution for your desired integrations.
Once you have your signage solution, you’ll be ready to start making content! Well, almost. You will need proper training to get the most out of your new content management system. Of course, this means picking the right people for the appropriate job. Our software comes with a host of inherent roles that can be assigned to users to streamline workflows within the CMS. However, you can also create roles as well. In the next section, we’ll go over how to build a digital signage team in addition to the roles users can take on within your organization.
BUILDING YOUR TEAM FOR DIGITAL SIGNAGE
The most successful signage teams consist of predetermined roles within environments that help streamline those tasks. REACH Media Network takes a proactive approach to these roles by instilling certain default roles into each organization. These roles can be edited to fit your needs, and original roles can be created altogether. These default options will help you determine your preferred workflow and assist your team in getting started.
There are two types of roles within REACH Media’s CMS. The first are the Admin Roles. These roles are only accessible to those who have access to the back-end admin panel of your facility. From there, you will also have Facility Roles. These are roles centered around the apps and tools you have available within the client-facing side of the CMS.
There are two options within Admin Roles. The first is the Full Access role. This role will have access to all applications under the Admin Panel except player + licensing and SSO. However, they will be unable to edit permissions for those considered “Owners.” Owners are the second and highest-tier role within the admin panel. As the “kings or queens” of the castle, they will have access to EVERYTHING as well as the ability to change permissions for other users. Only those who require the highest level of access to your signage should be assigned as an owner. Regardless, both
For facility roles, there are Admins and Content Creators. Admins have full access to every application within the facility. This mirrors our Admin-level access from our previous CMS solution. From there, you can also assign Content Creators. Content Creators receive full access to the dashboard, media library, and playlist applications. However, they will only be able to view player settings. This will help focus their workflows and prevent confusion that results from people accessing tools or files they shouldn’t have access to.
With all of these assigned roles in mind, it’s important to review your team and decide where it is most important to place users. For example, someone on your creative team may want to focus on creating your content, so assigning them as a Content Creator would be appropriate. However, a supervisor who needs to oversee everything within your signage network would be placed in an Admin role. Following these basic principles will help you put together an efficient signage team.
WHAT YOU NEED TO PREPARE
Once you have an outline of your signage team and plan, it’s time to begin hunting down hardware and software. For hardware, you will need a screen and a media player. It is recommended to get at least an LCD screen that’s about 42-50 inches depending on the space and function of the screen. LCDs are cost effective and the size is great for wall-mounted displays that can reach multiple people. As for media players, our software is hardware agnostic, meaning common devices like Google Play or Fire TV can run the REACH Media Network software. For more advanced solutions, we recommend getting a dedicated media player. We usually recommend BrightSign for its reliability and functionality. As a recent Premier Partner with BrightSign, they are a trusted brand we recommend to many clients. However, we also have our own REACH Media Player! Our DS3 player provides an enterprise-level experience at an affordable price!
As for software, you’re already in the right place! REACH Media Network has an extremely flexible signage software solution that’s perfect for any industry. With over 100 apps and integrations, our software can help you achieve any objective. When you join the REACH family, you gain access to 24/7 support and free, creative design services. We’ll work with you to create a layout that meets your needs and aligns with your brand standards. Got an integration that isn’t included in our list? We will work with you to scope out a potential plan for integration with that solution. If you want to see what your layouts could look like, click the button below for a free demo, today!
HOW TO GET THE MOST OF YOUR SIGNAGE SOLUTION
Now that everything is in place, it’s time to finally get your religious digital signage content underway! Religious signage content can portray a variety of messages. Many use welcome or lobby signage strategies to welcome people into the congregation as soon as they walk in. This can center around simple welcome messages, promote upcoming events, or highlight specific members of your community for the outstanding work they’ve achieved. Signage placed within high-traffic hallways can alert users to important initiatives. This can encourage higher registration numbers when paired with QR codes that redirect to sign-up pages, boosting engagement and growing your community.
In fact, for those who may not get seating in the main auditorium areas, larger campuses can employ live streaming through digital signage. This will output an HD video of sermons and prayer services throughout your displays, ensuring no one misses out on important religious events. This all comes together to provide a digital display solution that brings people together and grows your parish.
REACH OUT NOW
Many facilities are updating their signage approach. With that in mind, we HIGHLY recommend reaching out to your account manager now if you want free content, interactive integrations, or other signage implementations. While the process itself should not take too long, we do like having time to test the connection and ensure stable connectivity. Additionally, if any issues arise in that time, our support team can quickly sort them out. For more information, click the button below!
