I Set Up a Screen. Now What Do I Put on It?

The Blank Screen Problem

So here’s a cheat sheet. Find your location, steal the ideas.

By Location

Office Lobby

Content	Why It Works	Update Frequency
Visitor welcome board	First impression, people feel expected	Per visit / daily
Meeting room status	Saves receptionist from “is room 3 free?”	Live / automatic
Company news & wins	Builds culture, visitors see a living company	Weekly
Weather + transit	Actually useful for people heading out	Automatic
Job openings	Your lobby is a recruiting channel	As needed

The trick with lobbies: rotate useful info, not marketing fluff. Nobody sitting on your couch wants to watch your brand video on loop. For more on this, check out 5 tips for lobby displays that don’t bore people.

Coworking Space

Content	Why It Works	Update Frequency
Room availability	Helps members check which rooms are free	Live
Daily/weekly events	Puts the current programme in a shared space	Weekly
WiFi password	Answers a common practical question	Whenever it changes
New member intros	Introduces people joining the space	When new members join
Local partner deals	Shows current offers in one place	Monthly

Practical information such as the WiFi password is a useful starting point because members already need it. We go deeper on coworking signage in our dedicated coworking guide.

Church

Content	Why It Works	Update Frequency
Service times	The basics. Especially if they change seasonally	Seasonally
This week’s events	Replaces half the Sunday announcements	Weekly
Mission trip photos	Congregations actually care about these	After trips
Volunteer sign-ups	Big QR code to a sign-up form	As needed
Scripture or quote of the week	Conversation starter in the lobby	Weekly

Use the lobby screen to support announcements, then compare which messages still need to be repeated during the service. Our church digital signage guide covers this in detail.

Trade Show Booth

Content	Why It Works	Update Frequency
Product demo reel (30-60 sec)	Motion catches eyes on the show floor	Per event
Verified proof point	One sourced number is easier to scan	Per event
QR code to lead form	People scan while walking	Per event
Session times (if you’re speaking)	Drives traffic to your talk	During event
Live hashtag feed	Encourages social sharing	Live

Keep the loop short — 60-90 seconds total. People passing your booth won’t watch a 5-minute presentation. They’ll glance for 3 seconds. Make those 3 seconds count. We have a full trade show display guide with checklists and more strategies.

Restaurant / Café

Content	Why It Works	Update Frequency
Menu + prices	Replaces printed menus that get outdated	When menu changes
Daily specials	The whole point of a “specials” board	Daily
Wait time estimate	Manages expectations, reduces complaints	Live
Instagram feed	Social proof + free content	Automatic
Allergen info	Required in some places, useful everywhere	When menu changes

If you’re a café and you only put one thing on the screen: the menu. Seriously. A well-designed digital menu with clear photos and prices does more work than any other content type. Our restaurant menu board guide covers menu design, pricing psychology, and scheduling.

Content Rules That Apply Everywhere

The 3-second rule. If someone glancing at your screen for 3 seconds can’t get the point, the text is too long or the design is too busy. We cover the most common design pitfalls in 7 content design mistakes that make your screens invisible.

Define an update routine. A screen showing last month’s event is no longer useful. Set a calendar reminder, assign an owner, or use scheduling where appropriate. AI-assisted content tools can help draft recurring updates, but the output and source data still need review.

One screen, one job. Don’t try to make one screen do everything. A meeting room screen shows room status. A lobby screen shows welcome info. Mixing everything together means nothing gets attention.

Prefer relevant photos. A clear photo from the actual event can provide more context than a generic stock image. Check that you have permission to use it and that it remains legible on the screen.

Quick Start

Still stuck? Here’s the minimum viable content for your first screen:

Pick 4-5 slides from the table above that match your location
Set each slide to show for 10-15 seconds
Schedule different content for morning vs. afternoon (even simple changes help)
Put a “last updated” date on one slide — it forces you to keep it fresh

You can always add more later. Start simple, see what people actually look at, then iterate.