Standing out and capturing the attention of your audience is more crucial than ever. This is especially true for customer facing small businesses, where first impressions can very well determine the success or failure of the business.

Digital signage has become an invaluable tool, especially for catering, hospitality and retail businesses. And many business owners will look towards a free or entry level tool to create their first digital sign.

Among the many digital signage solutions available, Google’s Chrome Sign Builder has been a popular choice for many. But its impending discontinuation has left many small businesses in a lurch, scrambling to find a suitable replacement that won’t break the bank.

What is Google Chrome Sign Builder?

Chrome Sign Builder is, or was, a free digital signage utility for Chrome devices that allowed businesses to schedule and display content across their digital signs and information boards.

It provided an easy, efficient, and, importantly, free way to manage digital displays. Users could download Chrome Sign Builder from the Chrome Web Store and create a slide presentation for retail stores, display restaurant menus, or even have simple content displayed for announcements and bulletin boards.

The Chrome Sign Builder app could be used on Chrome OS devices such as Chromebooks, Chromeboxes, and Chromebits to manage display schedules. To configure Chrome Sign Builder for scheduling and displaying content, users could use a handy calendar view to set display schedules, configure default URL settings, export configuration files, and deploy the ChromeOS player for digital signage display.

In short, the tool leveraged the simplicity and security of Chrome OS, making it an ideal solution for businesses looking for a straightforward and cost-effective way to manage their digital displays.

NOTE: While Google Chrome Sign Builder is still available to use on the Chrome Web Store, Google has announced that it will be discontinued and stop working in January 2025.

Read more: What is digital signage?

The importance of customer facing digital signage

Digital signage has transitioned from a nice-to-have to a must-have for businesses striving to maintain a competitive edge.

Using tools like Google Slides and YouTube videos for creating and managing display content can simplify the process and enhance flexibility. But, it goes beyond merely displaying information; it’s about enhancing the customer experience, improving efficiency, and driving sales.

From switching between the lunch or breakfast menu in a cafe, to highlighting the latest offers in a retail store. Digital signage offers a versatile channel to bolster brand visibility, inform and entertain customers, and influence purchasing decisions.

In the hospitality and service industries, it streamlines operations. For example, allowing businesses to dynamically update content in real-time, offering features such as self check-in kiosks, automating things like collecting reviews and even handling common queries.

But Chrome Sign Builder users having dipped their toes into the world of opportunity that digital signs present now need to find another

Alternative digital signage utility tools

With Chrome Sign Builder bowing out, businesses looking for a reliable, efficient, and budget-friendly alternative digital signage software tool are spoiled for choice. Deploying Chrome Sign Builder and using a default URL to display content on the media player screen when nothing else is scheduled has been a common practice.

There are many digital signage solutions, with pricing and features as bewildering as the options available. So, finding a signage company that aligns with the specific needs of small businesses can be daunting.

However, there are several reasons why ScreenCloud is one of the best Chrome Sign Builder alternatives.

ScreenCloud: Revolutionizing digital signage for small businesses

Offering intuitive user-friendly design, affordability, and a comprehensive suite of tools tailored for small businesses, ScreenCloud is a digital signage go-to for global brands of all sizes. And what's more, it can be easily integrated into a managed Chrome device network, making it simple to schedule and display content across multiple devices.

ScreenCloud also offers a seamless transition for those accustomed to Chrome Sign Builder, ensuring that businesses can continue to communicate with their audience effectively without a steep learning curve or significant investment. Additionally, ScreenCloud helps avoid a blank screen by allowing users to set default content such as a logo, tagline, message, or URL when no specific content is scheduled.

Intuitive design

ScreenCloud is designed with the non-technical user in mind. Just like Chrome Sign Builder, it's really simple to deploy scheduled content for digital signage.

When the app is launched, a schedule window and a preview window appear, with the preview window remaining blank until a URL for scheduled content is specified. Its drag-and-drop interface makes creating, scheduling, and displaying content as easy as posting to social media. This ease of use is vital for small businesses that might not have dedicated IT support or the resources to invest in extensive training.

Versatility

One of the most compelling reasons to switch to ScreenCloud is its versatility. Using digital signs and Google Chrome Sign Builder, users can display various types of content such as menus, announcements, and schedules.

ScreenCloud offers templates right out of the box, meaning you don't need to be a design whizz to create stunning displays.

But beyond just displaying simple slideshows or menu boards, users can display a wide range of content types including:

• Live social media feeds
• Review site integration (Yelp, Google etc)
• Weather updates
• News tickers
• Video content
• Local traffic information
• Scheduled content

This ability to mix and match content types ensures that digital signage remains engaging and relevant to the audience.

Cost-effective

For small businesses operating on tight budgets, affordability is a key consideration. ScreenCloud offers competitive pricing plans with no hidden costs.

It delivers value for money by combining a rich feature set with an unquestionable ease of use, and industry leading support, making it an accessible option for businesses of all sizes.

Cloud-based flexibility

As a cloud-based solution, ScreenCloud provides flexibility and scalability. It allows businesses to display URLs and YouTube videos through its app for Chrome devices - as well as many other devices as required (MacOS, Windows, Tizen, Raspberry Pi etc).

Businesses can manage their digital signage from anywhere, at any time, without needing to be physically present at the site. This flexibility is crucial for businesses with multiple locations or those that frequently update their signage content.

Robust support and resources

Adopting new technology can be challenging, but ScreenCloud smooths this transition with its comprehensive support and resources. One effective method for creating and managing display content is using Google Slides, which allows users to create content, set up display schedules, and deploy the ChromeOS player for displaying the content.

From step-by-step guides and how-to videos to responsive customer support, businesses have access to all the tools they need to get the most out of their digital signage.

Try ScreenCloud

Choosing a digital signage solution is a significant decision for any small business. But, it’s not just about replacing Chrome Sign Builder; it’s about finding a tool that will grow with your business and continue to meet your needs as they evolve.

ScreenCloud’s blend of ease of use, versatility, affordability, and robust support makes it an ideal choice for small businesses looking to leverage digital signage to its fullest potential.

Sign up for a free trial or request a demo to find out more.