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Content Association

Learn how to connect your content (images, videos, integrations) to your displays.

Overview​

Content association is how you control what appears on your displays. In BrandCast:

  • Each display can show multiple pieces of content
  • Each piece of content can appear on multiple displays
  • You control associations through layouts and assignments

Content Association Methods​

The most common way to associate content with displays:

  1. Create a Layout

    • Go to Layouts → Create Layout
    • Add content areas to your layout canvas
    • Drag and drop content into each area

  2. Assign Layout to Display

    • Go to Displays
    • Click on your display
    • Under Active Layout, select your layout
    • Click Update

Your display immediately shows the new layout with associated content.

Using Playlists​

Playlists let you rotate multiple pieces of content in a single area:

  1. Create Playlist

    • Go to Library → Playlists
    • Click Create Playlist
    • Name your playlist (e.g., "Product Showcase")

  2. Add Content to Playlist

    • Drag media files from your library
    • Set display duration for each item
    • Reorder items by dragging

  3. Add Playlist to Layout

    • Open your layout in the Layout Editor
    • Select a content area
    • Choose Source → Playlist
    • Select your playlist
    • Save layout

Playlist Settings:

  • Duration: How long each item displays (default: 10 seconds)
  • Transition: Fade, slide, or none
  • Loop: Automatically restart when finished

Using Schedules​

Schedule different content for different times:

  1. Create Schedule

    • Go to Schedules → Create Schedule
    • Name your schedule (e.g., "Daily Promotions")

  2. Add Time Blocks

    • Click Add Time Block
    • Set day(s) of week
    • Set start and end times
    • Assign content or playlist

  3. Assign Schedule to Display

    • Go to your display settings
    • Under Scheduling, select your schedule
    • Click Update

Example Schedule:

Monday-Friday:
  9am-12pm:  Morning Specials
  12pm-2pm:  Lunch Menu
  2pm-5pm:   Afternoon Deals
  5pm-close: Evening Promotions

Saturday-Sunday:
  All Day:   Weekend Specials

Content Types and Associations​

Static Media (Images/Videos)​

Best for:

  • Product photos
  • Promotional graphics
  • Video announcements

Association:

  • Add to layouts directly
  • Include in playlists
  • Schedule for specific times

Dynamic Content (Integrations)​

Google Slides:

  • Associate by connecting Google account
  • Select presentation
  • Set refresh interval

RSS Feeds:

  • Add feed URL
  • Configure update frequency
  • Style feed display

Calendar:

  • Connect Google Calendar
  • Select calendars to display
  • Choose event filters

Weather:

  • Configure location
  • Select data to show (temp, forecast, alerts)
  • Set update interval

See Integrations for detailed setup.

Managing Content Associations​

Viewing Current Associations​

For a Display:

  1. Go to Displays
  2. Click on display name
  3. View Active Layout section
  4. See all associated content

For Content:

  1. Go to Library
  2. Click on content item
  3. View Used In section
  4. See which displays use this content

Changing Associations​

Update Display Content:

  1. Go to display settings
  2. Change Active Layout
  3. Or edit the current layout
  4. Changes appear immediately

Update Playlist Content:

  1. Go to Library → Playlists
  2. Edit playlist
  3. Add/remove/reorder items
  4. Save changes
  5. All displays using this playlist update automatically

Removing Associations​

Remove Content from Display:

  • Edit the layout and remove content areas
  • Switch to a different layout
  • Deactivate the display

Remove Content from Playlist:

  • Edit playlist
  • Click X next to content item
  • Save changes

Multi-Store Content Management​

Shared Content​

Content can be shared across multiple stores:

  1. Upload to Shared Library

    • Mark content as Shared during upload
    • Or edit content and enable Share Across Stores

  2. Associate with Multiple Displays

    • Shared content appears in all stores' libraries
    • Each store can use it in their own layouts
    • Updates to content appear everywhere

Store-Specific Content​

Keep content local to one store:

  1. Upload without Shared checkbox
  2. Content only appears in that store's library
  3. Can only be used on displays in that store

Use Cases:

  • Shared: Brand logos, corporate announcements, product images
  • Store-Specific: Local promotions, store hours, staff schedules

See Multi-Store Management for more details.

Best Practices​

Content Organization​

Use Tags:

  • Tag content by category (promotions, products, seasonal)
  • Filter by tags when building layouts
  • Quickly find relevant content

Name Clearly:

  • Use descriptive names: "Summer Sale 2024" not "image123.jpg"
  • Include dates for time-sensitive content
  • Add version numbers if you iterate

Archive Old Content:

  • Remove outdated promotional content
  • Keep historical content for reference
  • Clean up unused content monthly

Layout Design​

One Layout Per Display Type:

  • Create "Store Front" layout template
  • Create "Break Room" layout template
  • Duplicate and customize as needed

Consistent Areas:

  • Keep content areas in same positions
  • Use same area names across layouts
  • Makes switching layouts seamless

Test Before Deploying:

  • Preview layout before assigning
  • Check on actual display if possible
  • Verify all content loads correctly

Scheduling Strategy​

Plan Ahead:

  • Schedule promotional content in advance
  • Set up holiday schedules early
  • Review schedule weekly

Don't Over-Schedule:

  • Leave some flexibility for urgent updates
  • Don't schedule every minute of every day
  • Allow default content to show sometimes

Coordinate with Team:

  • Share schedule calendar with content creators
  • Set deadlines for content submission
  • Review schedule in team meetings

Troubleshooting​

Content Not Appearing on Display​

Check:

  1. Is content associated with the display's layout?
  2. Is the layout assigned to the display?
  3. Is the display active and connected?
  4. Is content within a scheduled time block?

Solutions:

  • Verify layout assignment in display settings
  • Check that content area has content assigned
  • Ensure schedule includes current time
  • Refresh display connection

Content Appears on Wrong Display​

Check:

  1. Which layout is assigned to the display?
  2. Is the layout shared across displays?
  3. Are store assignments correct?

Solutions:

  • Verify display is using correct layout
  • Create separate layouts for different displays
  • Check multi-store settings

Playlist Not Rotating​

Check:

  1. Does playlist have multiple items?
  2. Is duration set for each item?
  3. Is display active and connected?

Solutions:

  • Add at least 2 items to playlist
  • Set duration (minimum 5 seconds)
  • Check display connection status
  • Try reloading display

Schedule Not Activating​

Check:

  1. Is current time within schedule block?
  2. Is schedule assigned to display?
  3. Are day/time settings correct?

Solutions:

  • Verify schedule time blocks include now
  • Check timezone settings match display
  • Ensure schedule is enabled
  • Review schedule assignment

Next Steps​