DIRECTV Message Board:Advanced Tips and Tricks

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Your day has finally come. You’ve seen the demo, you’ve signed up for the service, and you’re about to get DIRECTV Message Board installed. Here are the things you need to know in order to get the most from the service.

24 Hours is a long time to wait but...

When you get DIRECTV Message Board installed, you will have to wait a full day to use it. That doesn’t mean you can’t do anything, though. You

will receive two e-mails from DIRECTV once the service is activated. Take a few minutes to read them, and to sign up for the DIRECTV Message Board web site. The instructions are in the e-mail. Once you’re logged in, you can begin to create messages using the built-in system.

The interactive design system built into the web site is great for a quick message but you really want to find some local talent to help you with design. If you design the slides in a program like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, you can do anything you want and the slides will look a lot better.

If you’re not familiar with Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, take the time to find someone on your staff who is. This won’t be hard, especially if you work with people in their 20s. Younger people have grown up with this technology and have used it since elementary school. Once you find someone, go to the Message Board web site, to Message Library and choose Upload. You’ll see this screen

The Help Resources will let you make slides in any program you want. The SVG version is for Flash or Illustrator users, for example if you’re hiring an ad agency or professional. The “Design Specification” is also for the pros if you need it. Your local resource will want the JPG file. Have him or her design using that and you’ll be all set.

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ADVANCED SCHEDULINGThe Scheduling system is really powerful, but it’s based on tools you already know how to use. Let’s take a look at some of the tips that will make scheduling easier for you.

Select more than one slide at a time, even on multiple pages.

When building a schedule, you can check as many slides as you want to add. You can even go to multiple pages and select. If you are on page 1 and you check a bunch of slides, then you go to page 2 and check

more, your selections from page 1 are still there. You can check and uncheck as much as you want.You’ll see a green dot next to slides that are already used in other schedules. This is helpful if you want to make sure that you’re not duplicating slides across schedules. If you decide later that you want to remove a slide, you can edit the schedule later. It’s not set in stone.When you’re all done, click “Save Selection.”

Re-order slides just like you re-order your Netflix queue.

If you’ve ever spent any time looking at your Netflix queue, you know how to re-order slides.It’s easy! You can use the blue arrows to move a slide up one notch, or you can type in the order that you want. Keep re-ordering slides until your setup looks just right. Don’t forget to think about the emotional impact each slide will have. There’s an old rule in the television industry that says you shouldn’t follow a food commercial with a medicine commercial. It takes away all the impact of the food commercial. So, remember not to show an ad for a special on nachos and then follow it right up with a slide showing where the restrooms are. No one will complain but it will leave the wrong impression.When you’re done scheduling, you can choose where your slides will appear.

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Choose Multiple TVs.

If you have more than one Message Board DVR installed, you’ll be given the option to choose which TVs you want to use for your schedule. Take a minute and give each TV a “Friendly Name” so you remember which one is which. If you don’t remember, go to the front panel of each DVR and push on the front right, right above the words “DIRECTV DVR.” Inside you’ll see a green sticker with the receiver ID. This receiver ID will also be listed next to each TV. (I blurred it out here for privacy reasons.)By giving each of your TVs a “friendly name” like Behind the Bar or Lobby it will make it easier for you to know where you’re sending the messages.

Schedule like a Pro.The Scheduling tool is very flexible and if you’ve ever bought an airline ticket online you know how to use it. Click on a date and you’ll get a little calendar that helps you decide. Click on a time and you’ll see a drop-down tool to help you choose.Check the days of the week that you want to run the ad and remember to set an end date unless you want the schedule to go on forever. If you are running a sale or special, you don’t want it on the screen after it’s over. If you change your mind about the end date, click “Clear End Date.”

ADVANCED SCHEDULING

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Remember, you’re not tied down to a schedule when you’re finished. You can always go back and edit that schedule, changing times and dates or whatever you need. You can even add additional slides right from the edit schedule screen or edit the slides themselves. This will let you make minor adjustments if, for example, you run out of something or if a time or date changes.

Now, you have the power! Go out and create!

Click above for a video tour of scheduling using DIRECTV Message Board.

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