More than just a billboard. Digital signage has rapidly become a tool for everything from displaying menus or promotional content to internal communications.

TV screens displaying all manner of content are now almost everywhere. But if you're considering using a digital signage system for your business, whether that's a logistics warehouse, a hotel resort or a coffee shop, there's probably one question on your mind....

When setting up digital signage, you need to factor in the price of the screen, the media player (if using an external player), and the software running it. You might also want to factor in things such as hardware installation and pre-installation strategy.

There are hundreds of digital signage software solutions available, with prices ranging from free to over $100 per screen per month - and all points in between.

Here at ScreenCloud, we offer digital signage software starting from $20 per screen per month. But just because a digital signage system costs a little more than the competition, this doesn't necessarily mean it's a no-brainer.

The variation in cost often reflects the flexibility, scalability and features of the software.

For example, a free digital signage software tool might cost nothing to start using. But it will likely be limited in how you can use it, how easy it is to connect and often with minimal support if you run into problems. Likewise, if you do need to expand your signage across multiple sites, or if you want advanced features such as remote management or enterprise grade technology, you might find the free or cheap solutions are less adaptable.

The hardware for digital signage can also vary hugely, depending on your requirements. A typical TV screen used for digital signage can start from as low as $200. You can also spend many thousands of dollars for an LED video wall or larger screen for commercial displays.

You'll also need to factor in the controller and operating system that your digital signage solution supports. In most cases you can plug in a consumer grade media player such as an Amazon Signage Stick or Google Chromecast. This will allow you to remotely manage your signage content, which can be especially useful if you have multiple sites with multiple screens.

Cheaper digital signage solutions might require connections with HDMI cables, or even USB drives - which can be frustrating and fiddly when it comes to updating content.

You can connect any consumer grade TV screen or tablet to digital signage software. This means that you could, in theory, use a TV under $100.

However, in the name of better performance, efficiency and longevity, you should look at TVs which are made for commercial displays. These will cost anything upwards of $200, depending on factors such as size and display technology.

Some of the best options for digital signage display screen include:

This is just a small selection of the brands and product lines available for TVs for digital signage - and whatever your budget there are lots of options.

You will need some kind of software to manage your digital signage content and displays. Some digital signage software is relatively simple, and just allows you to connect your controlling device (eg. a laptop or mobile phone) and upload your screen designs.

Made for purpose digital signage software such as ScreenCloud doesn't just allow you to network your devices and screens. You'll also be able to do advanced management tasks such as content creation, display zoning (i.e; displaying different stuff in different areas), content scheduling and remote management.

Truth be told, the list of cheap and free digital signage software is long. But is free digital signage worth it?

In theory, you could set up one to three TV displays and pay nothing for the software.

But if you're looking for top-tier support, glitch-free operation, high performance, remote operation and best in class security, you'll need to pay a monthly package price.

ScreenCloud starts from $20 per screen, per month. Try us out for free with a 14 day trial.

You'll find other software packages offering monthly digital signage pricing starting from as low as $3 per month. However, ScreenCloud is one of the most powerful signage solutions on the market, with a user friendly interface, great tech support and functionality across all types of hardware from consumer grade to high end professional screens.

Read More: These are the Best Digital Signage Companies

To connect wirelessly to your screens, you'll need a media player. Popular consumer grade media players can be picked up for as little as $25 or purpose built signage players for $60. These include:

Amazon Fire TV stick (now superseded buy the Signage Stick)

Consumer smart TVs also come with in-built media connection players, allowing you to connect easily from your laptop, phone or other device. While these are very useful for simple signage, for more complex networking they don't offer the reliability and stability of made for purpose digital signage players such as ScreenCloud OS.

Beyond your hardware and software, you'll also need to factor in your installation costs. This will of course depend on numerous factors such as:

Installing menu board signage in a single restaurant might cost you just a few hundred dollars, whilst adding a network of screens across a hotel resort, healthcare facility or various retail shops could stretch into the multiple thousands.

Check local installers before budgeting your digital signage installation costs.

Average costs: Between $500 - thousands...

While digital signage is a cost effective communication tool, you do need to ensure you manage regular maintenance to get the best out of your signage setup.

With regards to the software, this is usually automatically updated. But it is worth checking that you are running the latest version of the software, which should also include security patches and performance upgrades.

With hardware related maintenance, make sure to check your screen mounts, any cables or electrical inputs and the screen casing on a regular basis. Ideally every six to 12 months. This is especially important for screens in public spaces, those mounted at height or screens which are exposed to the elements.

While it can be a simple process to audit a few screens in an office every few months, a larger setup might require a professional service.

Maintenance costs can range from around $200 for a one off service on a small setup, to $2000 or more on a larger digital signage network.

Creating and managing great digital signage displays is something that can require additional skills. Especially if you need regular content creation, for example for D2C marketing or a public facing messaging service.

There are also many excellent software tools which make it easier than ever to create eye-catching signage, for example Canva.

Tools such as ScreenCloud feature a suite of apps and templates so you don't need to hire a professional team of graphic designers or pay for additional apps.

With that being said, creating regular great quality displays can take time, even if you have access to our excellent templates. Many companies already hire graphic designers and content managers, so these teams can easily be repurposed to create signage too.

Factor in the time and skills required for your digital signage design. While many organizations have the manpower available, consider whether you will need to add an extra employee to manage your network.

Factoring in all the digital signage costs, what benefits do you actually get from using it? While this might depend on your industry, signage use and your business goals for your digital signs, these are some of the common benefits of using digital signage.

Do people remember the messages they see? Well, with email, the recall rate is about 40%, and with printed media it can be up to 77%. With digital signage, our own data shows that the recall rate can be up to 83%.

So whether you're using public facing retail digital signage, or internal office digital signage, it seems like digital signs are best to ensure everyone gets the memo.

Deskless workers make up 80% of the global workforce. And while these essential workers can make or break a business, being able to communicate with them can be a challenge - as they don't have access to company email.

Various studies show that digital signage improves a broad range of employee related statistics, including:

Staff productivity improved by an average of 25%

Accident and sickness rates reduced by 20%

We're bombarded with ads and marketing messages in our daily lives. But studies show that digital signage is a powerful tool for retail or customer facing businesses.

8 out of 10 customers admit entering a store because of digital signage

30% increase in return customers with digital signage

59% of retail customers believe that digital signage influenced their buying decisions

Digital signage helped to improve sales by 30% in one specific retail setting

While the customer or visitor experience can be hard to quantify or value, it shouldn't be overlooked. And digital signage can offer a number of benefits when it comes to the perception of your visitors or potential clients.

Digital displays can improve perceived waiting time for customers by 35%

94% of customers rely on user generated content to help make a purchasing decision

55% of travelers prefer hotels with self check-in kiosks

But that's just the tip of the iceberg...

How much does it cost to get started with digital signage? And are digital displays cost effective for your business? We look at hardware, software and more.

How Much Does Digital Signage Cost? And Is It Effective?

How Much Does Digital Signage Cost?

How Much Does Digital Signage Cost?

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