Bus stops provide a unique opportunity to reach people via digital signage. Given the nature of a bus stop, it is a place where people wait. Depending on the bus stop, the waiting period can last for just a few minutes or up to twenty minutes or more. During that time, digital signs can provide commuters with engaging and informative content, and this time can provide an excellent opportunity for advertisers to reach their target customers. Read below to learn how to use digital signs at a bus stop.

Ideas for bus stop digital signs

There are a variety of different use cases for bus stop digital signs, and one of the most obvious use cases is, of course, displaying the bus schedule. Before digital signs, transportation companies printed bus time tables and mounted them onto the bus station wall. This solution worked only until the bus schedule inevitably changed. To fix out-of-date time tables, an employee would have to reprint the bus schedule and travel to each location to update the printed signs. On the other hand, with digital signs, the employee can update bus schedules with just a few clicks from the comfort of his or her office.

Bus stop digital signs can also display temporary delays and changes to the bus schedule times. Since it is easy to make changes to your digital sign’s content with the right digital signage software, an individual can update a bus stop digital sign in next to real-time as new information becomes available. Additionally, bus digital signs can display weather updates and forecasts for waiting passengers. This information helps passengers better plan their day and transportation routes.

Beyond displaying transportation times, a bus stop digital sign can show relevant community news and events. Depending on the setting, a bus stop digital sign can display a variety of notices, such as dates for planned utility or road maintenance. Of course, local information will be less relevant for bus stops in larger cities where many passengers may live on the other side of town. However, local information is appropriate for a variety of routes in smaller towns.

Another excellent use case for bus stop digital signs is displaying advertisements. People who are waiting at a bus stop have spare time to view and consume advertising content, and advertisers are willing to pay to access those individuals. Given the right opportunity, an advertising firm may even partner with the transportation service. In such a partnership, the advertising firm may provide the transportation company with free bus stop digital signs. In exchange, the transportation company allows the agency to display paid third-party ads for a set amount of time each hour. To learn more about advertising and digital signs, check out our post on setting up a digital signage advertising network.

How do I set up a digital sign at a bus stop?

To set up a digital sign at a bus stop, you will need a few different items. First, you will need a digital signage player. This device renders content to your display screen. A digital signage player requires a power source and an internet connection via an ethernet cable or WiFi. With the right adapter, bus stop digital signage players can also connect to the internet over cellphone networks via a SIM card. This method of connecting to the internet is often ideal for bus stop digital signs, as many bus stops are far from accessible WiFi networks.

Next, you will need digital signage software to manage your bus stop digital sign. This software allows an individual to manage content on multiple digital signs from a single web interface. With digital signage software, the individual no longer needs to travel to the digital sign to make content changes.

Lastly, you will need a digital signage enclosure unit for your bus stop digital sign. An enclosure unit will protect the bus stop digital sign from the elements, and it will also protect the digital sign from theft. When choosing an enclosure for your bus stop digital sign, you will need to consider the different temperature and moisture levels of the digital sign’s environment. Check out our post on outdoor digital signage to learn more about important considerations when launching an outdoor digital sign.

How do I get started?

To get started, sign up for an online account with Screenly’s digital signage management software. We offer a free 14-day trial, and we do not require users to enter a credit card for the trial. Next, you will need to purchase a digital signage player. You will need one digital signage player for each digital sign. You can buy Screenly’s digital signage player, the Screenly Player, from Amazon. Each Screenly Player comes with a universal power cord and HDMI cable. Also, as mentioned before, be sure to check out our post on outdoor digital signs. While we do not recommend any particular enclosure unit, you will need an enclosure unit to protect your bus stop digital sign.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to Screenly Support. We are always happy to help both new and established customers.