“Outdoor is perhaps the most overlooked medium of all when it comes to launching PSA campaigns…When used to inform the public about public causes, outdoor billboards provide many different communications advantages, and the total universe of outdoor opportunities is almost unlimited…”
Public Service Announcements (PSA)
A major component of our benevolent society is the allocation of resources for the greater good like charities, community programs and other opportunities for the less fortunate. If you are the owner of an LED Sign then you have an excellent tool that can help others. This is a win-win for you and those who need your support through a Public Service Announcement (PSA).
How Can You Help?
Digital Signage like outdoor LED signs is perfect for PSA activity since content can be created near-zero cost and inserted into the ad rotation with the click of a mouse. Here are some simple suggestions to gain respect, recognition and admiration in your community by using a small slice of your LED signs display cycle to give back to the community:
Enable Emergency Alerts in SM Infinity
While not a traditional PSA, emergency alerts in our cloud-based SM Infinity system let users provide automatic Amber and Silver alerts, weather alerts and other local and national public safety alerts on any size display. Alerts play automatically according to the location of the display, then stop automatically after the event is over. If you’re using SM Infinity, turning them on is an easy way to get started.
Additionally, reach out to your local government agencies to join any community disaster plans. If you live on the coast you can work with local emergency management services to provide information about an approaching Hurricane or post-hurricane recovery information. Every area has an agency, usually the county, that executes an official plan when disaster strikes. Give them a call and see what you can do!
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
While Amber alerts cover immediate emergency situations, there are many children missing for a longer period of time who still need help. You can recieve information and search for children in your area by going to www.missingkids.org or directly to the search page. You can narrow your regions by state, city or other factors, then create content to play on your display accordingly.
Local Governments
Approach your city or county government and see what they need. Whether it’s announcing an important upcoming city council meeting or congratulating a long-term employee on their upcoming retirement, you’ve shared information for the community good.
Local Clubs and Sports Teams
Local clubs and youth sports teams need all the help they can get. What about the local garden club, art events, the VFW or Elks? The local high school or youth club teams? Select a couple favorites to see what impact you can make. Just make sure their actions align with the interests of the community.
Content and Resources
The PSA Research Center has some great resources for outdoor displays and design tips. In many cases, the PSA will be provided for you, ready to schedule on your display. Encourage your provider to remember how fast cars drive, how far away the sign is from the traffic flow.
When designing your own content, remember to keep it simple and to the point, and make sure your content is generous and genuine. Have fun with your PSA campaign by selecting broad-based messaging that you enjoy and helps everyone. But remember that ultimately this is about the community and what they want and need.
Respect and Appreciation
Remember that regardless the size of the organization, resources are often limited and they need community help to be effective. Don’t be intimidated by the size of any agency or club. In most cases, you’ll be dealing with one or two contacts that can help facilitate ways you can help.
Select your PSA messages wisely and you’ll enjoy the respect and appreciation of the community. In some ways, the PSA will get you more positive attention than anything else you could place on your LED sign.