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Crafting Eye-Catching Content: Design Tips for LED Signs

When it comes to outdoor LED signs, what you display matters more than how big or bright the screen is. The content itself is what draws people in. Whether you’re a retailer driving foot traffic, a school sharing news, or a city center providing updates, your digital signage content must be clear, fast, and effective.

Here are ten smart tips to help you create LED sign content that works.

1. Keep It Short and Clear

Outdoor signs reach people in motion. You only have seconds to make an impression. Use 3–5 impactful words whenever possible. Short phrases get read. Long ones don’t.

Better: “Early Dismissal Today”
Too Long: “Attention Parents: School Will Be Closing Early This Afternoon Due to Weather Conditions”

2. Choose Legible Fonts

Not all fonts work well on LED screens. Choose ones designed for high readability, especially at a distance. At Project Content, these are among the best:

  • Ciabatta

  • Pink Sunset

  • Montserrat

  • Futura

  • Oswald Heavy

These fonts balance character spacing, stroke weight, and visual clarity. They also perform well on both indoor and outdoor LED displays.

Project Content - Design Tips - Digital Sign Messaging Content

3. Prioritize Contrast

High contrast improves visibility in all lighting conditions. Pair light text with dark backgrounds or vice versa. A few proven combos:

  • White on black

  • Yellow on blue

  • Black on white

Avoid similar tones. Low contrast means your message disappears in daylight or dusk.

4. Use Animations with Purpose

Motion attracts attention, but too much of it can backfire. Use simple fades or slides to highlight a message—not to overwhelm it. Avoid flashing or fast-moving effects that reduce readability.

5. Add Graphics that Support the Message

Graphics should support your words—not compete with them. Use simple, bold images that scale well. For example:

A diner can pair a coffee cup icon with the phrase “Hot Breakfast Inside.”

This makes the message both visual and memorable.

6. Think in Seconds

Every viewer has a time limit. Your content should rotate with enough time for anyone to read it fully. Each frame should be visible for 6–10 seconds, depending on how much text it contains.

Keep total content under 10 slides or messages per loop. Anything more can feel overwhelming or incomplete.

7. Test for Distance and Angles

Your content needs to be visible from across a parking lot or while driving past. Always preview your design from real-world perspectives. What looks great on a computer screen may fall flat outdoors.

8. Keep Content Fresh

Stale messages get ignored. Regular updates help keep people engaged—and give them a reason to look again. Rotate messages for events, weather, promotions, holidays, and real-time updates.

9. Always Include a Call to Action

Don’t just inform—invite. A clear call to action (CTA) gives viewers a next step. Try:

  • “Enroll Now”

  • “Visit Us Today”

  • “Text JOIN to 55555”

CTAs turn passive views into real results.

10. Use Content Planning Tools

With Project Content, you can plan, automate, and schedule your LED sign content without hassle. Our software includes:

  • Automated Content Scheduling

  • Digital Signage Templates

  • Real-Time Content Updates

  • Integrated Content Planning Tools

You don’t need to be a designer to deliver high-quality LED sign content that drives engagement.