The short answer is a resounding yes, digital signage can absolutely help you get more customers and sales!
It’s not just a fancy display; when implemented strategically, digital signage is a powerful marketing and communication tool with a proven track record of positively impacting customer behavior and revenue.
Here’s why and how it makes a difference:
1. Grabbing Attention and Driving Foot Traffic:
- Eye-Catching Dynamic Content: Unlike static posters that are easily ignored, digital signs with videos, animations, and vibrant graphics naturally draw the eye. People are more likely to notice and remember dynamic content.
- Draw-in” Factor: Studies have shown that a significant percentage of customers (as high as 80% in some cases) have entered a store specifically because they were attracted to the digital signage displays they saw from outside. This is your first step to getting more customers – getting them through the door!
2. Influencing Purchasing Decisions and Boosting Sales:
- Point-of-Purchase Impact: Placing digital signs near products or at checkout areas can significantly influence impulse purchases. Highlighting limited-time offers, complementary products, or customer testimonials right where decisions are being made is highly effective. Some retailers have seen impulse buys increase by as much as 27% by switching from static to dynamic displays.
- Real-time Promotions and Updates: The ability to instantly change promotions, prices, and product information allows you to react to inventory levels, competitor sales, or even time of day. This flexibility means you can always showcase the most relevant and appealing offers.
- Enhanced Product Information: Digital screens can provide detailed product information, usage tips, or comparisons, empowering customers to make more informed decisions and feel confident in their purchases.
- Cross-selling and Upselling: Strategically displaying related items or “bundle deals” can encourage customers to purchase more than they initially intended.
- Sense of Urgency and Scarcity (FOMO): Digital signage can effectively create a “fear of missing out” (FOMO) by displaying limited-time offers, countdowns to sales, or showing popular items selling out.
- Menu Boards (Especially for Restaurants/QSRs): Digital menu boards are incredibly effective. They allow for easy updates, can display appealing food photography/videos, and can even highlight specials based on time of day. Some restaurants have reported sales increases of 30-50% after switching to digital menus.
3. Enhancing the Customer Experience:
- Reduced Perceived Wait Times: In queues or waiting areas, digital signage can entertain and inform customers, making wait times feel shorter. This improves overall customer satisfaction.
- Wayfinding and Information: For larger spaces, digital signage can help customers navigate, find specific departments or products, or learn about events and services.
- Modern and Professional Image: Using digital signage projects a contemporary and tech-savvy image, which can enhance your brand perception and make your business more appealing to modern consumers.
- Interactive Experiences: Touchscreens and interactive kiosks allow customers to explore products, customize orders, or access loyalty program information, leading to deeper engagement.
4. Building Brand Awareness and Loyalty:
- Consistent Branding: Digital signage ensures consistent messaging and branding across all your displays, reinforcing your brand identity.
- Storytelling: Digital screens provide a dynamic canvas for telling your brand’s story, showcasing your values, and connecting with customers on an emotional level.
- Social Proof: Displaying customer testimonials, reviews, or social media feeds on your screens builds trust and credibility.
5. Measurable Results and ROI:
- Analytics and Optimization: Many digital signage platforms allow you to track engagement metrics (e.g., how many people viewed a certain promotion, how long they lingered) and even integrate with POS data to measure direct sales impact. This data is crucial for optimizing your content and strategy.
- Cost Savings: While there’s an initial investment, digital signage significantly reduces ongoing printing costs for posters, flyers, and banners. Over time, it proves to be a more cost-effective advertising solution. Case studies often show ROI achieved in as little as 18 months, primarily through increased sales and reduced print costs.
In essence, digital signage works because it taps into how people consume information today – visually, dynamically, and on demand. It transforms a passive viewing experience into an active, engaging one that can directly influence buying behavior and contribute significantly to your bottom line. When combined with smart technology like Retailr AI, the potential for personalized, highly effective customer engagement and sales growth becomes even greater.