Digital signage is a form of electronic display that shows information, entertainment, advertising, or any other messages. Digital signs such as LED, LCD, projected images, or plasma displays can be found in public and private environments, such as retail stores and corporate buildings.

Advertising using digital signage is a form of out-of-home advertising in which content and messages are displayed on digital signs with a common goal of delivering targeted messages to specific locations at specific times. This is often called "digital out of home" or abbreviated as DOOH. The benefits of digital signage over traditional static signs are that animations can be shown, the content can be exchanged more easily, and the signs can adapt to the context and audience, even interactively. When implemented correctly, digital signage also offers superior return on investment compared to traditional printed signs.

Stand-Alone Digital Signage consists of LCD displays with integrated media players, or ad players that run on flash memory cards. They are the most cost-effective method of providing digital signage. With sizes ranging from 7 inches to 46 inches or more, these ad players can be easily integrated into a point of purchase display, hung from the ceiling, or mounted to a rack or wall. All content is loaded onto a flash memory card that is easily installed in the ad player.

A few benefits of stand-alone players include ease of use, reliability, and security. Technology advances that allowed integration of a media player into an LCD chassis have provided products that are inexpensive and simple to use. Load images and videos onto a memory card, put the card in the player, and plug it in. That’s it. No external computer, DVD player, or media player is required. Stand-alone digital signage is extremely reliable because there are no moving parts to fail. All content is played from a flash memory card (think digital camera). Most manufacturers make their devices secure with a security door that is locked or screwed shut, so store clerks, shoppers, or children cannot change settings or unplug the sign.

Additional benefits include interactivity and a much lower cost for setup and maintenance. With stand alone units it is very easy to add pushbuttons or touch screen interaction and place the displays on or above shelves. This allows customers to get some quick information to make a purchase decision without feeling like they are being "sold" by a clerk. Also, there is no network to set up, no software to purchase, and no hard drives or DVD players to fail. Choosing stand-alone solutions over networked solutions can save $3,000 to $5,000 per screen when you compare the total cost of implementation. Updating the message is as easy as loading a new memory card in each sign.

Technology advancements are made at such a rapid rate that taking advantage of this technology becomes affordable in a short time. Digital signage is an effective, reliable tool that targets consumers and sucks them in. They are well worth the investment! Realize your business potential by utilizing this technology today.