How to Create Perfect Videos for Digital Signage: Formats, Duration and Best Practices

When creating content for digital signage, such as corporate TVs or retail displays, it’s crucial to understand that the requirements differ from social media or websites. Poorly formatted videos can harm the viewing experience, reduce performance, and weaken your message.

With SignsBy, your videos are streamed directly over the web, so format, resolution, and file size directly affect loading speed and display quality. Following best practices ensures your message is shown clearly, without issues.

To ensure compatibility across devices, the formats recommended by SignsBy are:

• MP4 (H.264): Highly compatible, lightweight, and excellent quality.
• WebM: A modern alternative with great compression, ideal for modern browsers.

Avoid formats like MOV or AVI, as they may not work properly on Smart TV browsers.

Timing is key to maintaining audience attention. Here are suggested durations by content type:

• Promotional highlights: 10 to 15 seconds.
• Short informational content: 20 to 30 seconds.
• Institutional videos: Up to 60 seconds, only if highly relevant.

Overly long videos lose effectiveness. Aim for quick, clear, and visual communication.

Resolution and ratio greatly affect display quality. Here's what we recommend:

• Full HD (1920x1080): Best for most Smart TVs.
• 16:9 aspect ratio: Standard for horizontal screens.
• 9:16 aspect ratio: Best for vertical displays like kiosks and rotated screens.

Avoid black bars or side margins. Always produce content in the intended display orientation.

Although SignsBy supports videos up to 200 MB, the ideal size is between 5 and 50 MB for smoother playback. This helps avoid issues with unstable internet connections.

Use compression tools like HandBrake or export from your video editor using web-optimized settings.

Beyond technical specs, your video design should be engaging. Here are a few tips:

• Use large, legible text: TVs are viewed from a distance.
• Keep it concise: Short sentences and bullet points work best.
• Motion elements: Light animations increase attention.
• High contrast colors: Improve readability and focus.
• Brand consistency: Stick to your standard colors and fonts.

Before uploading your video to SignsBy, verify the following:

• Is the format MP4 or WebM?
• Is the aspect ratio correct for the display orientation?
• Is the file size reasonable and quality good?
• Is the message clear and to the point?
• Is the duration appropriate for the context?

Following this checklist helps ensure seamless playback and maximum viewer impact.

Producing videos for digital signage is easy when you follow the right practices. With SignsBy, the publishing process is fast and hassle-free.

Start creating your videos now and impress your audience with more modern and efficient communication.

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