Less Is More When Using Text

Less Is More When Using Text

Let’s talk about the use of text when creating messages in Venus^® 1500 software.

First of all, use as little text as you can.  Remember that your target audience may have only 3 to 6 seconds to read and react to your message (see Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 Less is more.

Next, if possible, use a good, attractive graphic (See Fig. 2). It takes people longer to read text, but we recognize a graphic almost at once.

Fig. 2 One picture is worth . . .

Another good tip is to spread your message out, programming your display to present just a little text at a time, like a slide show.  When planning messages, it’s good to look at it from your audience’s viewpoint:

• From 500 feet: your business can win the glance of passersby, establishing your facility as a destination.
• From 250 feet: customers recognize your presentation, prompting an impulse-buy response while there’s still time to turn into your parking lot.
• From 100 feet: depending on your area’s sign code, the consumer can view two to four presentations.
• From 75 feet:  your display is no longer an information resource, as the customer is looking for a way to turn in and buy or has made note to return later.

Also see the “Content and Viewing Distances” page in Create Dynamic Digital Messages at www.daktronics.com/dynamiccontent