1. For the more senior crowd remind them that movie studios and radio stations feared that the new technology of television would decimate their business in the late ’40s and early ’50s – but it didn’t. Indeed, movies and radio are stronger than ever i.e. Avatar’s $1.3B performance to date, and many radio stations draw more listeners each day than television stations. Like Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez did and transistioned from movies and stage to TV in the ’50s – they need to think of digital media as a great new opportunity, not a threat.

2. If they don’t take advantage of the opportunity, sooner or later someone else definitely will. That “someone” may be a young entreprenuer that sees a new and better way to create meetings, networking and buy/sell opportunities within an industry. Or it might be savvy senior exec who just lost their job due to the economy and knows enough about business and technology and now has enough time on their hands to start with a fresh approach for their industry….sooner or later it definitely will happen with, or without your client.

– Mike

I agree with you that the benefits include the following that you mention:

* Extending the Meeting
* Including More People
* Improved Interaction
* New Formats

Our main pushback has been loss of control. In part we find that this is also a generational objection. The second major objection we have faced has been the idea that digital participation will diminish the physical presence at meetings, around with the current economic models are built.

I would appreciation any ideas readers could share on how they have overcome these sales challenges.