The humble memo board can be found anywhere from company offices to campuses and government buildings. But the time is ripe for it to get a well-deserved digital upgrade.
What is a memo board?
Simply put, a memo board is a board for writing and posting quick notes. It serves as a convenient and visual way to organize a wide range of information like reminders, notices, ideas, and to-do lists.
It’s an effective way to keep track of tasks, communicate important information like schedule changes and meeting agendas to employees, and present important milestones. Nonetheless, as notes pile on top of each other and managing all different kinds of inputs can be cumbersome, a new digital alternative can make things simpler and much more efficient. Let’s see how.
Benefits of digital memo boards
Updating physical memo boards is not only time consuming, but it also risks letting outdated information stay on display. Digital signage offers a new way to set up memo boards using screens instead of traditional cork or magnetic boards.
This sort of transition fits a growing wave already under way which sees 70% of organizations already implementing or planning digital transformation strategies.
Cloud-based screen and content management systems, along with ever more affordable flatscreens are on track to create a new breed of digital memo boards that are smarter and more effective than their analog counterparts.
Increased functionality
With this modern version, users can type and organize notes electronically, which is especially useful for those who prefer digital organization over paper based materials. On top of that, digital boards can include features such as reminders, alerts, and automatically updated content.
Cross-team collaboration
Digital memo boards constitute a great tool for people to add and manage notes collaboratively, which is particularly handy for large organizations that need to manage and push announcements and alerts quickly in front of their employees. More teams and individuals can access, manage and update digital memo boards through a single CMS platform, keeping up-to-date and relevant material in the spotlight.
Integration capabilities
Software-based memo boards, enhanced with add-on applications, streamline note management and unlock innovative features. For instance, the Yodeck platform incorporates apps such as Canva, Google Slides, Interactive Kiosk, and PosterMyWall. Utilizing apps like Canva simplifies the process of designing and publishing notes in real time, with zero waste and an access for various teams to collaborate on a single memo board. More on that later!
How to make a digital memo board
Making a digital memo board is as simple as signing up for a digital signage app and setting up a screen and a media player. Let’s break down some basic steps.
If you come from the world of traditional solutions like the magnetic memo board, the solution of a digital memo board may not be straightforward right away. And though there are some different ways of implementing digital signage (on-premise, DIY, cloud-based), here we will take a closer look at using Yodeck’s cloud-based software.
Set up your account and screen(s)
Start by signing-up with Yodeck. You can claim your first screen for free, forever. After that, you will need to set up your screen and media player. Note that even though we recommend pairing your screen with the Raspberry Pi, you may not even need an external media player to get you started, provided your screen’s operating system is supported as a playback software.
For a more detailed outline for your digital signage set-up you can check this quick-start guide designed to take you from a complete beginner to pushing content on screens in one go.
Get your content on
After everything is set up and working, you will then want to work on your content. The impact of your memo board will heavily depend on the quality of the content displayed. Therefore, it is crucial that you simplify and optimize the creation and sharing process.
With Yodeck you can access a range of features and integrations for making handling content easier and more straightforward. Here we will look into some of the apps that can help you effectively streamline your memo boards creation.
Canva
Canva is one of the most popular design apps, allowing users to easily create stunning visuals for just about anything, including memo boards. By incorporating your designs into your Yodeck screens they will be updated in real-time each time you make an edit, without you having to do any extra changes to your screens. Moreover, the Canva library is filled with templates that you can freely access and customize, while the app allows for multiple people to collaborate on the designs, further simplifying content management for large organizations.
PosterMyWall
PosterMyWall is an online graphic design tool that allows users to create various visual content such as posters, flyers and boards. The app is fully integrated into Yodeck and allows you to access customizable templates and designs that serve as virtual bulletin boards. These pre-designed bulletin boards can be customized or made from scratch within the app and can function in a wide range of cases from schools and offices, to healthcare facilities and government agencies.
Google slides
You can also utilize the Yodeck Google Slides app to create and share visuals on your screens. The app offers easy to manage slides and ready-made templates. In addition, the app allows for instant updates and modifications to your boards from anywhere, ensuring that your notices are always fresh and relevant. You just make your changes on your slide presentation and watch it go live on your screen.
After your content is ready, you can add it to a playlist and schedule when and where it will be displayed. Yodeck provides the adaptability to be as specific and detailed as you require when it comes to time and location.
Memo boards examples and ideas
Your new memo board can feature any type of content you want. But if this type of freedom makes you feel lost about how to best utilize your new communication channel, we gathered some ideas to help you get started.
General memo board ideas
- Weather Updates: Provide daily weather forecasts and emergency weather alerts.
- Health and Safety Tips and Protocols: Share hygiene tips along with important safety information.
- Emergency Procedures: Remind the audience of protocols for fire drills and other emergencies.
- Staff training and Workshops: Announce dates and details of upcoming training sessions and professional development opportunities.
- Community Service Opportunities: Advertise local volunteering events and community service projects.
Digital memo boards for schools
- Daily Schedules: Display class schedules, lunch and recess times, and extracurricular activities.
- Homework and Assignment Reminders: Post deadlines for homework and major assignments.
- Student Achievements: Highlight student accomplishments in academics, sports and arts.
- Inspirational Quotes: Keep students motivated with a daily rotation of inspirational quotes.
- School Menu: Present the daily cafeteria menu along with nutritional information.
- Club and Sport Announcements: Promote sport team tryouts and games as well as after-school clubs.
- Teacher and Staff Profiles: Introduce new staff and highlight teachers each month.
- Transportation Updates: Provide bus schedules, delays, and changes in routes.
Digital memo boards for offices
- Meeting Schedules: Display daily and weekly meeting schedules with virtual meeting links on digital calendar displays.
- Company Announcements: Share important company-wide notices, policy updates and achievements.
- Employee of the Month: Highlight outstanding employees or teams each month.
- Project Deadlines and Updates: Keep everyone informed about ongoing project statuses and upcoming deadlines.
- Birthday and Work Anniversary Celebrations: Celebrate personal milestones, birthdays and work anniversaries.
- Company Social Events: Promote office parties, team-building activities, and social gatherings.
Digital memo boards for government
- Public Service Announcements: Share important information from government departments and agencies.
- Transportation Updates: Provide real-time updates on public transport schedules, road closures, and construction detours.
- Job Openings: Advertise employment opportunities within government departments.
- Legal Notices: Post information about new ordinances, public hearings, and legal changes.
- Environmental Initiatives: Highlight environmental policies, recycling programs, and sustainability efforts.
- Tourist Information: Provide information about local attractions, tours, and cultural events for visitors.
- Educational Programs: Announce government-sponsored educational initiatives and scholarship programs.
- Emergency Contact Numbers: List important contact numbers for emergency services, helplines, and support centers.
Digital memo boards ideas in healthcare
- Shift schedules: Display current and upcoming shift schedules for staff.
- Health Tips and Awareness: Share tips on general health, wellness and seasonal health concerns
- Vaccination Campaign Information: Promote upcoming vaccination initiatives, eligibility criteria, and important dates for immunization services.
- Visiting Hours and Policies: Update patients and visitors about visiting guidelines and timings.
- Hygiene Practices: Remind staff and visitors about handwashing, sanitation, and infection control protocols.
- Community Health Outreach: Promote blood donation drives, awareness campaigns and other community health fairs.
- Mental Health Resources: Provide information on mental health support services and resources.
- Safety Compliance Reminders: Remind staff about safety protocols, PPE usage, and compliance standards.
- Waiting Times: Display current waiting times and queues in different departments.
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you can begin to include more varied content types, like KPI dashboards, integrated schedules/calendars, and content submitted by users–all supported by Yodeck’s app collection. With digital signage, your memo boards can share so much more than what you thought possible.
Sounds good? Sign up today and see what digital signage can do for your organization!