Introduction: Screens Are Only as Good as the Content On Them
You’ve got the screens. Now what?
Too often, digital signage is installed with the best intentions — but after the launch, content starts to repeat, go stale, or vanish altogether. Internal teams get busy. Updates fall through the cracks. And what started as a powerful communication tool becomes digital wallpaper.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Planning screen content doesn’t need to be a creative headache or a time sink. With the right system in place, you can plan a full month of useful, engaging content in just 30 minutes. No stress. No guesswork. Just a clear, repeatable process that works — every time.
In this blog, we’ll show you how to create a practical, no-fuss content plan for your screens using themes, templates, and a simple scheduling strategy.
The Problem: Content Fatigue, Manual Work, and Missed Opportunities
You’re not alone if your screens go days — or weeks — without an update. Many organisations face the same challenges: good intentions, but no plan. Content becomes ad hoc, reactive, and inconsistent.
It usually starts with a few enthusiastic uploads: a birthday shoutout, a health & safety message, maybe a leadership quote. But then things get busy. The person responsible changes roles. No one’s quite sure who owns it. And suddenly, your signage is showing the same two slides on a loop from last month.
The result? Missed internal events. Duplicated efforts across departments. Poor visibility of business priorities. And screens that don’t justify their investment.
Manual processes only make things worse. If someone has to open PowerPoint, design a slide, upload it, and repeat the process every time — it’s no wonder content gets deprioritised.
The truth is, screens only deliver value if they’re kept alive. And that means having a plan that saves time, not adds to it.
The 30-Minute Solution: A Simple Monthly Planning Workflow
Great content doesn’t require a design team or hours of your time — it just needs structure. With a simple system, you can map out a full month of screen content in under 30 minutes. Here’s how:
Step 1: Set Weekly Themes
Break your month into four weekly themes that align with internal goals. For example:
- Week 1: People & Culture
- Week 2: Safety & Operations
- Week 3: Business Performance
- Week 4: Engagement & Events
This gives your content variety while still aligning with strategic priorities.
Step 2: Assign Daily Content Types
Decide on simple, repeatable formats for each day of the week. For example:
- Monday: Quote or leadership message
- Tuesday: Safety tip or reminder
- Wednesday: Event or calendar date
- Thursday: Recognition or spotlight
- Friday: Performance or KPI update
No need to reinvent the wheel — just rotate formats and content to keep it fresh.
Step 3: Use Templates and Repurpose Content
Create a bank of editable templates for each content type — or pull from your intranet, newsletter, or HR platform. Repurpose what you already have to save time.
Step 4: Schedule It All at Once
Use your digital signage CMS to schedule the full month’s content in one session. Most systems allow you to preview content by day, time, and location — so you can go live with confidence.
Step 5: Share the Plan
Store your plan in a shared calendar or content sheet. Make ownership clear. If possible, rotate responsibility across departments to keep perspectives fresh.
With a simple workflow like this, you shift from reactive to proactive — and your screens go from forgotten to effective.
Plug-and-Play Content Ideas for Your Calendar
Not sure what to put on your screens? Don’t overthink it. The best digital signage content is simple, relevant, and repeatable. Here are some proven ideas you can plug straight into your content plan:
People & Culture
Keep your team connected with updates that build community:
- Staff birthdays and work anniversaries
- Welcome new starters with a friendly intro
- Employee of the Month or peer-nominated shoutouts
- DEI spotlights or cultural celebrations
Safety & Operations
Reinforce day-to-day awareness in high-traffic or operational spaces:
- PPE reminders
- Emergency procedures or muster points
- “Last incident-free day” stats
- Shift changes or rota alerts
- Quality tips or equipment care messages
Business & Strategy
Keep staff informed on how the business is doing and where it’s heading:
- Monthly goals or KPI progress
- Customer satisfaction or NPS scores
- Quotes from leadership
- New product or service announcements
- Department wins and milestones
Engagement & Events
Promote involvement and raise visibility for internal initiatives:
- Training sessions and lunch & learns
- Fundraising and charity events
- Mental health or wellbeing days
- Internal surveys or feedback deadlines
- Calendar countdowns to key events
Everyday Boosters
Quick, light content that lifts morale or sparks curiosity:
- Motivational quotes
- Trivia or fun facts
- Weather updates or seasonal notes
- “On this day” historical moments
With just a few items from each of these buckets, you can build a full calendar of engaging content that’s easy to refresh every month — no creative burnout required.
Tips to Stay on Track (Without Doing More Work)
Planning a month of content is one thing — keeping it going is another. Here’s how to stay consistent without adding extra work to your team:
Use a Shared Planning Sheet
Keep your themes, content types, and publishing dates in a single shared spreadsheet or calendar. It keeps everyone aligned and avoids duplication.
Batch Your Content Creation
Set aside one 30-minute block per month to design and schedule everything at once. Tools like Canva, PowerPoint templates, or built-in CMS creatives can speed things up.
Rotate Responsibility
Give ownership of content planning to different departments each month. It spreads the workload and keeps the content diverse and inclusive.
Repurpose Existing Content
Pull messages from internal emails, intranet posts, or HR updates — you don’t have to start from scratch. If it’s already been written, it can go on a screen.
A little structure goes a long way. With these habits in place, your screens stay fresh without becoming another task that gets dropped when things get busy.
Conclusion: Consistency Over Creativity
When it comes to digital signage, consistency beats creativity every time. You don’t need a new campaign every week — you need a simple plan that keeps your screens active, relevant, and aligned with your internal goals.
By spending just 30 minutes each month planning content, you avoid last-minute scrambles, keep teams engaged, and ensure your investment in screens actually pays off.
We help organisations build signage strategies that are easy to manage, visually impactful, and built for the realities of the modern workplace.
Ready to get started? Let’s make your screens work smarter — not harder.