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Digital signage provides a way to communicate information about your church efficiently and in a way that attracts people’s attention through dynamic graphics. Signage placed strategically through your facility in areas where people gather will get your message across, improving attendance at events and participation in ministries.
With its ability to attract and captivate viewers, digital signage is a very effective way to present information about your church and upcoming events through live or pre-recorded video, 3D animation, graphics, still images, PowerPoint slides, scrolling text, and more—all on a single screen. Here are some of the top considerations and most frequently asked questions when implementing digital signage at a house of worship:
1) How can churches use digital signage?
For churches of all affiliations, especially those with more than 1,000 members, digital signage can be used to display videos of sermons, inspirational messages, event schedules, news about food drives and fundraisers, promotional videos, community happenings, and other information that strengthens ties to the congregation.
2) Where can digital signage displays be positioned?
Churches can use a single, centralized digital signage display, such as an HD plasma flat panel in the main lobby, or a network of displays across the campus, affiliated locations, and even at community centers to extend the ministry’s reach.
3) How is content fed to multiple displays?
Many digital signage systems can be configured with a centralized content creation station that can push media content and updated files to remote players (playback devices) via the Internet or IP-based local and wide area networks to feed players anywhere in the world. Remote players can also query the central server for new content and then pull it down onto their hard drives—via the Internet and IP networks—for play out, without manual intervention.
4) How is content creation and scheduling handled?
Most digital signage systems offer a creation station with tools and templates for designing and composing visually interesting displays. Content can often be created at a central site, like the church office, or at several different sites. Once templates are created, filler content can easily be inserted or modified—a real timesaver since the graphic look only has to be designed once. Once created, operators scheduling content should have the ability to preview and edit all infoCasts, along with sequence settings, with an intuitive interface that details dates, duration, days played, timing, and transitions. Look for systems that offer user-friendly, WYSIWIG interfaces that are intuitive for novice operators, and come with advanced scheduling functionality that is easy to set and monitor, either onsite or remotely.
5) Can digital signage management be outsourced?
Since churches often rely upon volunteers, students, and part-time staff, dedicating personnel to digital signage management may be a hardship. Today, churches can outsource the installation and creative management of digital signage systems very cost-effectively, minimizing the time that church members must be involved. Clark Powell recently launched its Citecast Digital Signage turnkey service that packages their digital signage design and engineering expertise to meet any church’s need or budget.
6) What does digital signage cost?
Digital signage systems vary greatly in price, depending upon the features, software and hardware. Most promise to scale from small, basic setups to large sophisticated installations. In many cases, digital signage systems can take advantage of existing monitors and sound systems, and integrate with existing video production and networking infrastructure. In terms of a return on investment, digital signage can expand the membership, which brings new revenue to the ministry, while at the same time saves money by eliminating recurring printing costs.
7) What are the benefits of digital signage?
Digital signage gives churches a high-tech facelift that says this ministry’s message and services are extremely relevant to people’s lives today. Shifting from xeroxed bulletins, circulars, and posters, in favor of colorful, dynamic digital signage also gets the respect of youth members, who gravitate to visual communication technologies.
8) Would digital signage enhance the church service?
Digital signage can fill a big screen display with live or pre-recorded HDTV or broadcast-quality video and professional sound that enhances the service. It can also display different kinds of media simultaneously. So during the service, people can watch the pastor’s sermon in one small video window and faces from the crowd in another video window, along with displays of praise lyrics, Bible passages, and supporting imagery.
9) What is the best strategy for finding the right solution?
Since every church’s requirements are unique, and needs can change and expand over time, it is advisable to find a brand that offers scalability, flexibility, and upgradability for maximum value, such as the InfoCaster solution from Harris Digital Signage, and Citecast, the turnkey solution from ClarkPowell, based on the Harris InfoCaster system.
10) How popular is digital signage among today’s churches?
Digital signage is gaining popularity rapidly among today’s churches because it is proving to be a powerful, cost-effective way to inform, educate, and influence people and expand the reach and impact of the ministry.
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Dave Manley is a Business Development Manager for ClarkPowell, Winston-Salem, NC.
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