How to Set Up a Digital Signage Network – It’s This Easy

Whether you run a retail chain, manage a corporate office or are hosting an event, digital signage networks help you communicate seamlessly with your audience, draw everybody's attention, and improve overall interactivity.

But what do you need to set up and run a digital signage network without complication? Well, that’s what this guide is all about. We'll discuss everything you need to know: using digital displays run by a content management system, the hardware and software components you'll need to install, and tips and best practices for success.

Read More: How to Use Digital Trade Show Signage.

What is a digital signage network?

A digital signage network is a system of connected displays (like TVs, monitors, or LED panels) that you can use to show multimedia content in real time across multiple locations. You can manage these screens using specialized software that lets you update, schedule, and manage your displayed content remotely.

So what does a digital signage network look like in practice?

Well, imagine you run a chain of fitness centers across the state. Each location has multiple screens with some in the lobby, others near equipment zones, and a few in locker areas. 

You use digital signage software to push different content to each screen: welcome messages and class schedules in the lobby, safety reminders and workout tips near the equipment, and promotional offers in the locker room.

You update everything from your laptop, without stepping foot in the gym. That’s a digital signage network at work. It’s coordinated, flexible, and  makes sharing content easier than ever. 

It's the same for corporate communications, retail outlets, or any other kind of business.

What do you need to create a digital signage network?

You need three things to make your digital signage network run smoothly: Digital signage software, digital signage hardware, and beautiful content to host on your screens.

Digital signage hardware

Digital signage hardware isn't complicated to get. You can either connect to any smart TV or use a media player to connect to a non-smart TV. We do however recommend using a made for purpose digital signage media player when possible as this makes for better functionality, improved security, access to features such as remote device management and easier setup and scaling.

If using a third party media player, you'll need to download your ScreenCloud app from the app store. If you are using ScreenCloud’s purpose built signage player, PIXI, you'll find it works out of the box - just connect to your ScreenCloud account. It is designed to run 24/7, outputs in 4k, and delivers top-grade performance.

For a little more, you can get a purpose-built digital signage-ready media player; we recommend our ScreenCloud OS device, the Station P1 Pro. The Station P1 Pro is commercially built with an aluminum chassis to easily dissipate heat, and it comes with more security and faster deployment options. For more help deciding what to buy, use our hardware selector. 

Of course, if you have a huge budget for fancy tech such as an LED wall or seamless video screen, you could use this for your digital display or mix it up and add both types to your digital signage networks.

Read more: Energy-Efficient Digital Signage Displays.

An easy-to-use software solution

Now, down to the software. Like with hardware, you don’t have to break the bank or get specialist IT teams to manage your digital signage software. In fact, we've made our digital signage system incredibly easy to set up; all you need are a few minutes, and you'll be able to add multiple screens to your digital signage network.

Content for your digital screens

Creating content for your screens can be just as easy as the 5-minutes set up it takes to get everything running. You could design everything from scratch, constantly agonizing over what colors and fonts to use,

Or,

You could use digital signage applications like our Quick Post app. It that helps you create screen ready content in minutes. With the app, you can create company-wide announcements, create customer-facing posters, or any other kind of content, with zero design experience.

Setting up digital signage for events step by step

Here’s how it works in a few simple steps:

1. Download the ScreenCloud app

If using third party media players, make sure to download the ScreenCloud app onto the device before setup. You can download ScreenCloud from the following app stores.

• Google Play (including for smart TVs)
• Amazon App Store (Note: The Amazon Signage Stick comes pre-loaded with ScreenCloud)
• Chrome store
• iOS app

2. Pair up your screens

Once you’ve downloaded your ScreenCloud app of choice, you’ll see a pairing code that looks like the one below.

To use this, head to the ScreenCloud website and set up your free account. You get 14 days for free following which, you’ll only pay $20 per month, per screen. No contract or commitment if you decide to switch off access once your event has ended.

Once signed up, you’ll see a page that asks you to ‘add screen’. Hit that, enter your pairing code and that’s it! For multiple screens you can simply repeat the process, adding all of your event screens to the same account to be managed anytime, from anywhere. 

• Interactive kiosks: These are usually touchscreens that allow your audience to interact with content. They are particularly useful at events where people use them to access maps, view schedules, and gather additional information.
• Video walls: Multiple screens arranged in a grid to create a large, visually impactful screen. They often showcase high-resolution images, videos, or dynamic content.
• Digital posters: Digital posters are standalone displays that can be placed throughout your venue to share information and promotional content.
• Wayfinding displays: Digital wayfinding displays help guests and visitors navigate your space by providing interactive maps and directions.
• Social media walls: Social media walls display live feeds of event-related posts from social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. This encourages people to engage on social media and promote your business.
• Menu boards: Menu boards are great at restaurants, cafes, and similar businesses where they show  food and beverage options, prices, and special promotions.
• Ticker Displays are interactive digital signage that feature scrolling text to convey real-time updates, news, or important announcements. They can be used in an office, conference, or at high-traffic events.
• Banner displays: These are simply digital banners that can display advertisements, sponsor logos, or branding. They can be oriented vertically or horizontally.
• Interactive whiteboards: Excellent for interactive and brainstorming sessions in office meetings, workshops and similar set ups.
• Augmented reality display: These could be as simple as scannable QR codes that lead the user to additional information accessible on mobile.

Getting started with ScreenCloud's digital signage solution

Digital signage at its root should be simple: screens and content. But its possibilities are endless. Regardless of the kind of business you run, digital signage can help you deliver crucial information to employees, customers, and guests.

ScreenCloud’s cloud based digital signage solution is reliable, easy to scale, and comes with tools that make your content creation and publishing easier.  It works with virtually any screen, plays nicely with your existing tools, and gives you total control from anywhere, whether you're managing five screens or five hundred

Find out for yourself why ScreenCloud is trusted by hundreds of hotel chains, large and small.

Try ScreenCloud FREE for 14 days, or schedule a demo.