--- title: "Daily Buzz: Why You Should Experiment With New Tech Now" id: "50586" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-why-you-should-experiment-with-new-tech-now" published_at: "2020-07-22T00:37:23+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T03:44:31+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/07/22/daily-buzz-why-you-should-experiment-with-new-tech-now/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/07/22/daily-buzz-why-you-should-experiment-with-new-tech-now.md" excerpt: "Discounts and extra time actually make the pandemic era perfect for trying new tools. Also: Why you should keep using the chat feature during virtual presentations." taxonomy_category: - "Learning" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Digital Transformation" - "Technology" - "Virtual Meetings" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Director" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: Why You Should Experiment With New Tech Now Perhaps you’ve felt a little shell-shocked by the pandemic’s impact on the economy and the broader world. Maybe you’re not thinking about making big changes due to the uncertainty floating about. But this would be the wrong strategy, [argues Entrepreneur contributor John Boitnott (opens in a new tab)](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/353501) , who says that there’s more room for a bolder digital transformation now than ever. Part of the reason? Discounts abound, making experimental opportunities easier to swallow. “Cost may have been a factor in your earlier decision to delay a digital transformation,” he writes. “However, many companies see the current health crisis as an opportunity to help out potential customers and simultaneously attract a wider audience for their digital solutions. Many companies are offering their digital tools, apps and platforms for free or at a vastly reduced price.” Also a benefit, he notes? You likely have a lot of extra time to put things out there and kick the tires. “Back when it was business as usual, you might have hesitated to implement new tools in case something went wrong or downtime diminished your customer experience,” he adds. “During the health crisis, however, you can grab this opportunity to test various digital tools and take the digital plunge.” ### Use the Chat Feature in Your Virtual Meetings > Should you enable chat during your [#association (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/association?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > ‘s next virtual meeting? [https://t.co/vjQx99k66h (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/vjQx99k66h) > [#ASAE (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASAE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Amanda Lea Kaiser (@AmandaLeaKaiser) [July 20, 2020 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/AmandaLeaKaiser/status/1285181428687409153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **You might not know what to do with the chat feature** when hosting a virtual meeting. Will it distract participants, or will it help them make deeper connections and learn more about the subject? Stick with the chat feature and your members will begin to appreciate it, [says Smooth the Path’s Amanda Kaiser (opens in a new tab)](http://www.smooththepath.net/2020/07/16/to-chat-or-not-to-chat-at-your-virtual-presentation/) . “Virtual attendees are experiencing a chat learning curve,” she says. “Watching the presentation and simultaneously participating in the chat is a learned skill. Long-time attendees find that even a high-speed chat stream doesn’t overwhelm them anymore; if anything, it energizes them.” ### Other Links of Note **Looking for meaning in the work you do?** Jeffrey Cufaude of Idea Architects [breaks down some questions you should ask yourself (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ideaarchitects.org/2020/07/meaning-means-three-questions-for-more.html) as you try to find it. **Who are you marketing to?** [Create a persona (opens in a new tab)](https://blog.hootsuite.com/buyer-persona/) to better target your ideal audience, suggests a recent post from Hootsuite. **A new look: Spotify has announced** the global launch of video podcasts on its platform. *TechCrunch* [has the story (opens in a new tab)](https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/21/spotify-launches-video-podcasts-worldwide-starting-with-select-creators/) . (piranka/E+/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) [Michael Hickey](https://associationsnow.com/author/michael-hickey/) Michael Hickey is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/michael-hickey/) Tags: [#Digital Transformation](https://associationsnow.com/tag/digital-transformation/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) [#Virtual Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/virtual-meetings/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [VideoAmerican College of Emergency Physicians: ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation ProgramSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-college-of-emergency-physicians-acep-geriatric-emergency-department-accreditation-program/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents Practical AI-How Associations Are Putting It To WorkJanuary 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/01/29/associations-now-presents-practical-ai-how-associations-are-putting-it-to-work/) - [PodcastWhy Associations Must Rethink Learning and Community TogetherMarch 26, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/26/why-associations-must-rethink-learning-and-community-together/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2020%2F07%2F22%2Fdaily-buzz-why-you-should-experiment-with-new-tech-now%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !