A template is an easy way to create attractive and effective Ads. Each template is divided into different display areas called frames. Frame sizes are shown below in percentages. The actual pixel size of a frame depends on the resolution of the monitor used. Regardless of monitor resolution, content will automatically be scaled to fit the frame. Each frame is named and color-coded. The color tells you the type of media accepted and their potential applications. The color keys are listed at the very bottom of this page.

When preparing the content for the display, you do need to pay attention to the aspect ratio of your monitor. For example, if a frame size is 75% wide by 75% high and your monitor resolution is 1024 by 768, the ideal size of your image is 1024x75% wide and 768x75% high. Your image doesn't need to be the extra size as the frame, but it should have the correct width to height ratio (aspect ratio). If the aspect ratio of your image deviates too much from the aspect ratio of your monitor, you will see a distorted image, such as a circle will look like an ellipse. If you don't know the resolution of your monitor, in general, you can expect your monitor resolution to be 1024x768 (4x3 aspect ratio) for regular monitors and 1280x720 (16x9 aspect ratio) for HDTV monitors.

Once you select your template, you can use the eSignageAd software module to create the content for the Digital Signage Ads. The User Manual will give you step-by-step instructions to compose dynamic content from still images and type-in text. If you have the resouces, you can create some professional quality Flash animations or digital movies and upload the files as the Ad content. In the Quick Start User Guide, we provide you with some test images to practice with, but you can also use your own images or stock photos. We recommend dreamstime.com and istockphoto.com if you want to purchase some professional quality stock photos, most photos cost $1 to $2.

According to 'The Arbitron Retail Media Study Volume II', shoppers are extremely receptive to retail Ads with nearly 30% of Ads viewers making unplanned purchases after viewing in-store Ads. Consumers are primarily interested in store sales, product information, and special events. They are very susceptible to suggestions while they are in the store, even though they are not consciously seeking information. You can make an impact if you show an Ad that gets your point across in two seconds while shoppers are glancing through the signage screen.

Make your Ads crisp and to the point. You only have a few seconds to capture a shopper's fleeting attention. We highly recommend using single frame format where you can display your Ads with large text. Adding news in RSS format at the bottom of the screen may help to retain viewers' attention. Avoid Ads with: too much information to read, poor contrast between image and text, or complex scene. They make it difficult for customers to get your message.