With such a saturation of adverts everywhere we look, marketers are finding it more and more difficult to make their messages memorable. And the general public are finding it easier to zone out altogether.

As consumers, we like adverts which are relevant to us. We gain a sense of satisfaction from Amazon suggesting that we might like to buy something we have been pondering on for ages (incidentally did you know they do this with algorithms that have been know to go wrong on occasion?) However, no one likes to feel harassed by unnecessary and untargeted nonsense.

Perhaps this is why larger retailers are turning more and more to the digital channel to get their message across?  Digital signage provides the tools to broadcast relevant, targeted and interesting marketing communications, perhaps explaining its rise in popularity over recent years. As a marketing tool, it offers:

• The ability to react quickly to market opportunities and deploy content immediately;
• The capability to create localised signage;
• The ability to schedule signage specific to different day parts and seasonal times;
• The ability to create eye-catching, and dynamic displays with RSS tickers, animation and video windows showing live or pre-recorded content;
• The opportunity for new revenue streams from third-party advertisers;
• The opportunity to improve environmental credentials by reducing paper signage;
• The capacity to display emergency messaging, automatically if necessary.

The main reason for its popularity is almost certainly the ability to react instantly to market conditions. A fantastic analogy for summing up this power goes as follows: you own a shop that sells umbrellas and it starts to rain, in less than a minute you can have a sign up on all your screens with the message “What horrible weather, 10 per cent off umbrellas today!” Soggy shoppers will thank you for understanding their needs, and addressing them so helpfully, enabling your brand to build a relationship with them and hopefully secure a sale into the bargain.

In a climate where every victory in increasing sales or market share is a hard fought battle, digital signage is an excellent weapon to have in your armoury.

You may well ask what a digital signage and IPTV company is doing blogging about Steve Jobs. Well, we like technology (being a technology company) and we like Apple (Macs all the way here), so it felt fitting to comment on an historic day in the annals of one of the world’s most well-known companies. Plus their products all have a key attribute which is close to our hearts (more on this in a bit).

With the announcement of Jobs’ resignation as CEO due to ill health, there will be much discussion about what the future holds for Apple. News that the company’s shares initially fell five per cent on the US stock market suggests many believe Apple’s massive success is thanks to Jobs.

Love him or loathe him, Steve Jobs is one of the most successful businessmen in recent history. Founding Apple in the mid seventies and taking the helm again in 1997 after an absence of 12 years, he transformed the struggling computer company to arguably the most innovative consumer electronics organisation the world has ever seen.

Whatever your opinion, there are some irrefutable figures which amply demonstrate Apple’s success. Here’s just three; they have sold 275 million iPods worldwide, they recently overtook Exxon Mobil as the world’s most valued company, and they have sold 25 million iPads in just 14 months.

So why has Apple enjoyed such massive success? And why is the stock market reflecting a fear the golden years are over now Jobs has stepped down? Some may argue it is Jobs’ innate ability to sell that has led Apple to the heights it enjoys today. That is certainly part of it. But is one man really entirely responsible for the success of a company that employs in excess of 45,000 people?

Yes it is his vision that has made Apple what is it, but it is his team of talented developers that has allowed the company to create highly usable products that leave competitors standing.

Their products are complex pieces of technology, but they are so intuitive to use that you can practically throw the manual in the bin. Plain and simple, usability is at the heart of everything Apple do.

At DMP, this was our aim when designing our web-based tool for managing and creating digital signage. We wanted to make the system (which is accessible through any web browser) as familiar and intuitive as possible. Now, we’re not professing to be Apple, and but we like to think that our digital signage platform is the most user friendly on the market. Don’t believe us? We challenge you to come and see for yourself by booking a demonstration.

As for the Apple/Jobs conundrum, only time will tell how the story will end. One thing’s for sure, as long as Apple keeps making highly usable and innovative products (that look seriously cool), people will keep buying them.  And you don’t need to be Steve Jobs to work that one out.

DMP will exhibit at the Techmesh Expo 2011 at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on the 13th October.

With a place on the Interactive Stand, the team will show off the best of DMP’s products, including our next-generation set top box DMP Immersion and our low latency HD-SDI encoder.

The Immersion’s capabilities will also be on show in the reception area of the exhibtion, powering the content on the fours screens to welcome visitors.

If you are planning to go to the Techmesh Expo, we’d love to say hello. Drop us an email, and we can even create some bespoke signage to welcome you.

We look forward to seeing you there.

DMP is celebrating the successful launch of an innovation which will offer a much-needed boost to the lacklustre British high street.

We decided to develop the technology when we saw how cost prohibitive it was for many retailers to invest in next-generation solutions.

‘DMP Instant Sign’, a new all-in-one digital signage platform, is extremely affordable because it needs virtually no infrastructure save for power supply and can be installed and set up in less than 30 minutes, users do not even need to install any software.

Three major UK retailers have already adopted the solution, and we are in talks with numerous other interested parties from football stadiums to food retailers.

Key to this technology is the DMP Immersion, an incredibly powerful media adapter capable of playing static signage, animation and even simultaneous HD video streams. The box, which was designed and developed by us in the UK, uses 3G mobile networks to connect with hosted cloud-based sign creation and publishing tools. Users can log on from anywhere with an internet connection to create, amend and deploy signage, which is then seen by customers in store within minutes.

Nicholas Fearnley, DMP CEO, said: “We are extremely excited about this unique advance in digital signage technology, which will make the power of this type of media available to all retailers. Our solution is not PC-based, which means it is future proof, as well as extremely robust and flexible.

“Often the cost prohibitive nature of the majority of technology and the high installation costs prevent companies investing in something which can have a hugely positive impact on their bottom line. We hope our new product will change that, giving wider access to a sales-enhancing, next-generation solution.”

For more information or to book a demonstration of this product, please call 0800 157 1119 or email info@dmpip.tv.

DMP will be exhibiting at the NEC Solutions Showcase on Wednesday 6th April at Battersea Power Station.

As well as the chance to meet some of DMP’s lovely sales and marketing team (in the form of Andrew, Harriet and Sarah), there will also be the opportunity to see a range of ground-breaking technology in action.

On show will be DMP’s HD over coax solution, our web-based digital signage system and our state-of-the-art low latency HD-SDI encoder.

Let us know if you are attending the showcase, we would love to say hello. Email hcullum@dmpip.tv or call 0800 157 1119 for more information. For more details about the showcase itself follow @NECShowcase on Twitter. We hope to see you there!

This handy application is perfect for people on the move and free to any clients subscribed to our CMS. DMP is really proud of this latest advance and we know it will be popular with our ever-growing list of clients.

As a result of sustained company growth following the opening of a new sales and marketing headquarters in Harrogate, Digital Media Projects continues to expand its workforce. Harriet will be responsible for the management and development of DMP’s marketing and promotion strategy to propel the business to the next level. She will bring fresh ideas from her background in public relations, which will support DMP’s ambitious growth plans. Harriet joins from a Yorkshire-based PR agency where she managed a wide range of accounts across B2B and B2C sectors.

Nicolas Fearnley, CEO of DMP, said: “We welcome Harriet’s appointment to DMP as marketing manager, where her considerable experience will be invaluable in developing a fresh strategy. We are ending 2010 on a high, with new client wins and the biggest names in retail visiting our demonstration suite. With the company growing at such a rapid rate, Harriet’s skills will be a great asset to our business.”

DMP is delighted to welcome Tim Wells as systems engineer

With an ongoing commitment to high standards of innovation and service, DMP has become a key player in the broadcast media solutions industry and a world leader for IPTV and digital signage. With over 13 years experience in developing and testing ASIC and FPGA devices (silicon chips), Tim is a welcome addition to the diverse technical team. He joins from Pace where he spent over three years in the networks group, designing head-end equipment for the digital video broadcasting industry.

Peter Hill, technical director at DMP, said: “With his impressive technical background, Tim will provide invaluable assistance to progress a number of exciting projects. He is a fantastic addition to the team and we look forward to working with him at this very busy time.”

Tim graduated from the University of Cambridge, England, with a MEng in electrical and information sciences and he is a qualified chartered engineer.

DMP were called in by the Club to revamp its digital signage system – a form of electronic display that shows information, advertising and other messages on screens – which replaces the traditional static, retail signs and billboards.

DMP worked with both Manchester City’s IT and marketing departments to develop a new system – capable of broadcasting in hi-definition – to keep staff, and staff, well and truly in the picture of the latest merchandise, special offers, events and team news.

Technical Director Peter Hill said: “The team at Manchester City began investigating the need to upgrade their existing signage system at the end of last year, and, after considerable research, contacted us.

“Our system is unique, highly adaptable and flexible and the software is written by our team in Leeds.”

CEO Nicholas Fearnley said: “We were not only able to meet the Club’s exacting requirements, but surpass them.

“With our system you can change instantly what is being screened, stream videos in high-definition and track sales and responses to promotions. It’s a very powerful marketing tool.

“It can also be operated from anywhere in the world, via a laptop or even an Iphone. There is no other system in the world like this.”

Danny Wilson, Head of Supporter Experience at Manchester City said: “The digital signage system has provided the Club with a unique communication channel through which to engage supporters visiting the Citycentre – our retail and ticket sales facility.

“The ability to broadcast multiple content in real time, including high definition video and commercial promotions, is another example of our commitment to delivering a premium supporter experience across all touch points.”

We are recruiting for a systems developer to join our technical team in our highly innovative and expanding company, specialising in media delivery systems for the retail, corporate, education and hospitality sectors.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate capability in the following areas:

• Development CGI components to interact with backend information systems to deliver web based interfaces;

• Integration of code with server-side and embedded devices;

• Extension and development of cutting-edge small footprint applications wholly in web containers.

Essential Skills:

• Linux experience;

• Strong C/C++;

• Strong JavaScript.

Beneficial:

More details

The role is a full time permanent position based in the attractive spa town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire. Some foreign travel may be involved so the right candidate must be able to meet international visa requirements.

To register your interest, please email your CV with covering letter to Harriet Cullum; careers@dmpip.tv