How to set up a digital signage network (parts 2, 3 & 4)

Once you’ve installed your TV and media players in all 10 of your host locations, and added all the necessary advertising for you and your host, it is important to make sure you have a professional website, as you will be judged based on your online presence. If you don’t already have a domain name or website dedicated to your digital signage business, you can get one at www.goDomainExpress.com. Ask about goDomainExpress.com’s discounts on certain iMotion Media products.

Also have a tablet available that you can bring with you to potential clients, where you will run a demo of your portfolio to showcase what you offer. Don’t worry; iMotionMedia.com will create one for you as part of our reseller program. Now armed with a professional website, business cards, flyers, demos, and all the necessary marketing tools, you are ready to take on clients and projects. We provide ongoing consultation along the way. Make sure that you have created contracts, liability clauses, and terms of service as well. These parts we cover within our consultation depending on your location and types of businesses you wish to approach. Always have a few extra media players on hand; you never know when a multiple-screen digital menu board job will pop up. Lastly, read up a little on digital signage advertising as an industry, just to understand the industry a bit better.

It would cost about $1000 per location for the hardware and software to start a 10 screen network. And about $1500 to set up a 10 touch-screen interactive kiosk network.

If you charge $2500 to advertise in all 10 locations, you would break even on your entire network with only 4 sales. Even at a more affordable $1500 to advertise in your entire network, you will only need 7 sales to break even. If you charge $300 per location, then you would break even after 34 sales. Also bear in mind, the lower you charge, the quicker you sell. You can also offer both pricing options. Remember, all prices are not written in stone, and vary greatly depending on your location’s demography.

Also be sure to use the C.P.M. rule for guidance, C.P.M. stands for cost-per-thousand, and helps calculate your advertising rates. We’ll help you with that. You may also engage in interactive touch-screen kiosks, as you can place unlimited ads for even more revenue in a touch screen kiosk. As well as digital restaurant menus, but on tablets, as both are part of digital signage, but interactive. We can also help you with that, as we provide interactive digital signage as well. If you have the entrepreneur in you and can sell, there’s no limit on how much you can earn in this niche industry. If you are not the salesman type and can’t sell, it is advisable to find a partner who can.

When starting up an ad network, there are 4 areas to think about;

1. The back-end which is the designing and the software running the ads.
2. The front-end the sales of ad spots and dealing with clients.
3. The investment needed to purchase the hardware necessary for a network.
4. Most importantly, your host locations, because without them you can’t set up a multiple screen network.

To recap, make sure you have a professional online presence, a network of busy locations where you can place screens for digital advertising, or interactive digital advertising, and the right business model based on your area. Don’t forget to subscribe for more tips & tricks.