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Knowing which signs bring the most advantages to your business is vital. Among the many options, LED message boards stand out for their versatility and effectiveness. These dynamic displays not only promote deals but also provide crucial information to customers. In fact, LED outdoor retail signage grabs 72 percent more interest than web advertising. In this blog, we’ll explore LED message boards, answering questions about how they work and why they’re essential for businesses aiming to connect with consumers efficiently.

 

What is an LED Message Board?

LED, which stands for light-emitting diode, is a long-lasting and durable type of lightbulb. These bulbs are energy efficient and have changed the game when it comes to illuminated signs. LED bulbs can last anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 hours, depending on the type. Unlike traditional bulbs that use the casing to produce colour, LEDs emit light based on the wavelength they emit. While red is the most common colour, blue and green are the most popular. By combining these colours, LEDs can create white light and a full spectrum of colours. LED message boards typically contain thousands of these bulbs. Factors such as the size of the sign, colour requirements, and desired resolution affect the number of LED bulbs needed. Every digital LED sign is made up of individual panels, allowing them to be customized to almost any size. Each panel contains clusters of LEDs, known as pixels, which are the building blocks of any content displayed on the sign.

 

The Different Types of LED Message Boards

Full-Colour Message Boards

Full-colour LED message boards utilize densely arranged diodes to generate a vast array of colour options, enabling the display of high-resolution images and videos. Due to the need for numerous diodes to achieve clear visuals, these signs are the most expensive among the three types.

Tri-Colour Message Boards

Tri-colour boards utilize three LED colours, making them suitable for businesses aiming to emphasize their message without the need for crisp images and videos. While they may not excel at displaying complex graphics, they can still incorporate simple graphics. These boards allow you to showcase various messages, contact information, or promotions, offering flexibility in updating content as needed. Due to their affordability, tri-colour LED message boards are commonly used by small businesses, as they effectively capture customer attention without the need for intricate visuals.

Single-Colour Message Boards

LED signs with a single colour, like amber or yellow, offer simplicity with effectiveness. Though straightforward, these signs make a strong impact. These message boards are ideal for businesses with limited space but still want an efficient outdoor retail signage solution.

Double-Sided Message Boards

As the name suggests, double-sided signs display digital messages on both sides of the screen, maximizing visibility from multiple directions. These LED signs are particularly useful for promoting dual offers or messages simultaneously. Depending on your business requirements, they can be either tri-colour or full-colour, offering versatility in meeting your marketing objectives.

 

How do LED Displays Work?

LED message boards operate differently compared to traditional signs. First, they need to be connected to a power source, a task often handled by a professional from Creative SignWorks. Then, the sign must be linked to a computer or laptop equipped with the appropriate software for programming and content control. This connection is typically made using an ethernet cable, although some manufacturers offer remote options for programming.

Are LED Message Boards Easy to Manage?

Many business owners hesitate to use programmable LED signs for outdoor advertising because they fear the technology is too complex to handle. However, the industry has made learning to operate these electronic message signs quite simple. With user-friendly technology and step-by-step guides, whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, you’ll be able to navigate these displays confidently. There are also various supports available to help you create effective advertisements. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, webinars can provide hands-on training in LED sign software. Plus, the system guides you in creating ads that work by suggesting effective words, lengths, and colours. With the ability to run multiple ads on LED message boards, you can even conduct A/B testing to see which messages perform better. For example, you can run an advertisement saying, “Enjoy breakfast, starting at $10, per person,” and on another day try “Come on in for an affordable breakfast,” and then look to see which one attracts more customers. This allows you to tailor your advertisements to what works best for your business, ensuring you get the most out of your LED signage.

 

7 Reasons To Invest in Digital LED Signs

1. LED Message Boards Provide Targeted Advertising

Digital LED signs offer easy customization, allowing targeted marketing opportunities. For instance, restaurants can advertise early bird specials in the morning and happy hour menus later in the day, all with excellent visibility. Can any other type of sign offer such flexibility? Similarly, grocery stores can promote specific items during different times of the day or week, maximizing their advertising effectiveness.

2. Digital LED Signs Increase Business Visibility and Help Build Your Brand

Electronic message signs attract attention from pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers passing by, especially if neighbouring stores lack illuminated signage. Depending on what you choose to include in your digital LED sign, it can also boost brand awareness. For example, featuring your business’s slogan can catch the eye of passing drivers, helping them remember your brand over time.

3. Electronic Message Signs are Customizable

One of the standout features of LED message boards is their remarkable level of customization and how easy it is to achieve. Shop owners can constantly upgrade the message on their programmable LED signs to increase outdoor advertising efforts. Unlike other traditional marketing methods that are static and offer little room for changes once the sign is made, digital LED signs allow for updates whenever needed!

4. Provide Real-Time Information

Keep your clients and customers informed of the latest updates using LED message boards. These boards can show various information like wait times, weather forecasts, stock rates, or gas prices, instantly reflecting any changes as they occur.

5. Digital LED Signs Attract Business

Any form of movement tends to grab the attention of potential clients and customers. It’s why businesses often use inflatable mascots outside their premises. Flailing in the wind, they’re hard to miss. The same principle applies to electronic message signs. With your message scrolling across the screen, customers won’t be able to look away. Moreover, many digital LED signs offer special effects that can be applied to the text on your display, making your outdoor retail signage even more appealing.

6. Available in Different Sizes

Tailored to your business requirements, LED message boards come in various sizes. They can be compact enough to fit beneath your commercial illuminated signs, acting as a digital welcoming banner. This allows you to greet your clients and customers while providing them with daily deals, contact details, or other essential business information. Looking for something larger? With digital LED signs, the options are limitless. Pylon signs, also called pole signs or freestanding signs, serve as excellent hosts for electronic message signs. Often found in parking lots, near intersections or highways, they have the potential to reach large audiences. For instance, a retail business located in a plaza with a pylon sign could greatly benefit from installing an LED message board to showcase weekly promotions or operating hours. The range of available sizes offers versatility in application, ensuring that you can find the perfect fit for your business needs.

7. Low Maintenance and Environmentally Friendly

Once set up, LED message boards need minimal upkeep. They typically last about 10 years and require little attention from installation to replacement. Unlike neon signs, which use harmful substances like Mercury and Argon for their vibrant colours, LED displays utilize electricity and diodes to produce light, posing no environmental risk. Moreover, LED signs are eco-friendly alternatives to paper and vinyl signs, contributing to waste reduction.

 

Key Terms to Understand When Designing an LED Message Board

In the realm of digital LED signs, certain fundamental concepts influence their design and effectiveness. To enhance comprehension and facilitate communication during the design phase, here are some essential terms to familiarize yourself with:

• Pixel Pitch: The resolution of your LED display message board is crucial. Each pixel represents a cluster of LEDs, and the pitch refers to the distance between these clusters in millimetres. A tighter pixel pitch means higher resolution. When choosing the right ratio, factors like viewing distance, desired resolution, size, and budget come into play. As a general guideline, if your audience will be farther away, opt for a higher pitch.

• Viewing Distance: Another key term to understand is the viewing distance. It refers to how far the observer is from the sign they’re looking at. It’s essential to find the best spot where the content is both visible and easy to read while still looking appealing.

• Matrix: The matrix refers to the total number of pixels vertically and horizontally on your sign. These figures dictate the amount of content you can show on the LED message board simultaneously.  

• Brightness: Luminance refers to how bright the light is coming from a surface. For outdoor retail signs, you’ll want to increase brightness during the day for better visibility. LED message boards have the advantage of adjusting brightness automatically based on the time of day.

 

Tips for Crafting Your Marketing Message

Now that we’ve explored the benefits of LED message boards for your business, let’s delve into crafting effective messages for them. It’s crucial to get straight to the point quickly. Consumers have short attention spans, so you need to convey your message clearly and concisely. Before programming your outdoor LED signs, consider how much time people will have to read your sign. The goal should be to convey your entire message in 10 seconds. To achieve this, keep these points in mind:

• Use fewer words
• Avoid long and complicated phrases
• Choose powerful and impactful words
• Be clear and avoid ambiguity
• Decide what your primary message will be and make it the focus of your digital sign
• Ensure it appears more or less once per minute

 

Contact Creative SignWorks to Get Started on Your LED Display Message Board

Start reaping the rewards of electronic message signs. Whether you run a small, medium, or large business, LED message boards offer limitless customization, appeal, and flexibility.  Contact us today to get started in creating your own custom LED display.