Now that I am committed to attending the GeoDomain Expo in San Diego next month, I want to make a few suggestions about what I’d like to see on the agenda to get the most out of the conference. There are many changes that have taken place in the geodomain business, and I think this is going to be an important conference.

There are a lot of successful websites doing a variety of things, and I think it will be great to hear about the various tactics that are working and aren’t working.

Here are a few suggestions for discussions:

– Socia Media – How are some of the biggest brands integrating social media tools into their websites? Are sites using discussion forums, Twitter/Digg/Facebook/StumbleUpon icons, comment submission, and/or other tactics? Are their particular companies that geodomain websites can work with cost effectively (such as Pluck)?

– Newpaper Model – Although most geodomains are used for tourism, have any small businesses jumped into the newspaper/media industry to provide relevant news content? Do they use content writers, professional journalists, amateur writers who are readers, or syndicated content?

– Fresh Content – How are geodomain owners keeping their websites updated regularly with relevant content? Who is responsible for creating and adding the content?

– Ad Sales – For non-local geodomain owners, how are advertising sales made locally?   What strategies are working and what aren’t working? What is the key to advertising sales if you don’t live in the area?

– Search Engine Strategies – Google/Yahoo can be the key to a site’s thriving or failure.   What is the best way to get rankings for your primary city keywords, site links, and long tail keyword results – and ensure that they are kept? Are there good link exchange strategies that I can employ?

– Event sponsorships & Memberships – Where should the geodomain owner spend funds in the local community?   Should the geodomain sponsor sporting events, cultural activities, or make contributions to local charities? Is the local Chamber of Commerce or the Rotary Club a necessary membership?   How about others?

What else have I missed that should be discussed?

For the last few weeks, well before the questions about the Expo arose, I’ve been trying to figure out if I will attend the GeoDomain Expo. Don’t get me wrong, I had a fantastic time at the GeoDomain Expo in Chicago last year.

The issues I am trying to resolve are multi-faceted. I’ve flown across the country 4 times since January (and I dislike flying), I am trying to preserve cash because my domain sales are down, I will need to be in Burbank for a week soon after the show, and I have three weddings to attend in May. All of this has made me second guess whether I will attend the show I need to attend.

Anyhow, I’ve been exchanging emails with a number of Associated Cities/Geos members as well as a few geodomain owners who are not part of the organization.   Just about everyone I know and correspond with in the geodomain business has confirmed with me that they are attending.

It’s not that the panels are a whole lot different than other conferences, it’s the people who attend the show. Most of the most successful private geodomain owners attend the GeoDomain Expo, and almost everyone I spoke with in July was more than willing to sit down and give advice. There was no hollow “here’s my card, call me” BS.   There was a lot of “here’s what we did to make it work” type of conversations, and “how can we help you generate revenue?”

While my geo websites aren’t making a ton of money yet, primarily because I haven’t been actively seeking clients in Lowell and Burbank, I have seen traffic grow considerably, as well as interest in the websites from businesses in those cities. I have taken advice from the show and applied it to my sites, and that has helped fuel their growth.

After much internal debating, I’ve made a decision about the show.   I have to be there. Flights will be booked today, and I look forward to seeing my friends – I know I have a whole lot to share with them from what I’ve learned this past year.