ST. LOUIS – With a half year behind us and the fourth quarter still to go in 2009, Patrick Carleton has his schedule full as the executive director of Associated Geos with the administration of all the various new domain issues and projects.

In this edition, we get an assessment from Carleton on 2009 so far and sat down with him for a comprehensive interview that includes more details on the 2010 GeoDomain Expo®, which was just announced to take place in New Orleans in April 2010.

Associated Geos: You’ve just announced the location and date of the 2010 GeoDomain Expo. Can you expand a bit on the decision-making process for the planning of this one? What do you anticipate the focus to be on at next year’s expo?
Patrick Carleton: Associated Geos is thrilled to announce that NewOrleans.com will be hosting the 2010 GeoDomain Expo on April 28, 2009 through May 1, 2010. This also happens to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the famous New Orleans JazzFest.

The biggest difference between this upcoming expo and the previous ones will simply be in the planning. Instead of having just six weeks to set the agenda, we now have a full eight months to plan themes, get top-notch speakers and establish the type of programs that will be beneficial to all in the GeoDomain realm.

The evolution of issues discussed at San Diego’s expo in April 2009 is sure to be expanded upon in New Orleans. The expectation is that this expo will be the best ever.

AG: Because of the rapid changes in GeoDomain themes and a possible shift from tourism to localism, what type of site changes do you think the typical GeoDomainer should be pursuing right now?
PC: Video seems to be hot right now. In working with the newer sites, many of them are adding video to the mix. This allows the domains the opportunity to expand into the local markets more readily through video news, features and local business interviews.

AG: What questions or themes are you finding coming up again and again in talking with GeoDomainers?
PC: I would say again that the expansion into local content issues for GeoDomains. This includes news, movie times, the weather, job boards and more precise local targeting. Also, more sites are partnering with their local municipalities and convention and visitor’s bureaus.

Collaboration – especially with other GeoDomainers on initiatives – has also been more important than ever to Associated Geos members this year.

AG: What is Associated Geos doing right now to create even more advantages for members?
PC: We’ve expanded internal forums, which facilitate communications among the members. This has become a really valuable advantage for those who have reached out into the association.

We’re also working to expand advertising partnerships, which our members can opt into, and we keep moving toward a member-operated non-profit structure. As there have been many rumors circulating, I feel this interview is a great venue for communicating that the latter is a major initiative we are working diligently toward completing.

AG: What has been the biggest change in communication for GeoDomainers in the wake of the social networking revolution?
PC: Many members have had great success in registering or buying the account name of their city on social networks such as Twitter and expanding their reach through as many of these types of relevant sites as possible. RSS, which syndicates updates and published works automatically, has also been successful in conjunction with social networking.

AG: Is the economy looking up? How is that going to help GeoDomain sites in the fourth quarter of 2009?
PC: To the positive, there has been a short-term bull market in stocks. There is more optimism in the air, and in the last year, businesses have become leaner and less wasteful. However, it is difficult to predict the future at this macro level.

For GeoDomains, which have remained strong throughout, there is growth ahead especially as more local innovations are translated into advertising revenue.

AG: Branding remains one of the top priorities of GeoDomains. What branding or marketing insights have excited you recently?
PC: Scottsdale.com just did a promotion where they wrapped a hybrid taxi with their logo for use as a rolling billboard around town. NewOrleans.com also did something similar. I think they called the cars “frick and frack”.

Also, another site is exploring the old-fashioned advertising method of billboards. It’s a mix of creative marketing and reliable outlets that make for a great overall plan.

AG: In talking to GeoDomain Web operators, what benefit do you hear of the most in their relationship with Associated Geos?
PC: There are many member benefits and each one uses them differently. Some benefit from opting into the great advertising partnerships we have established.

Others are getting a big SEO bounce from having the Associated Geos “footer” on their site. At the GeoDomain Expo, we have as a benefit an additional day of sessions that only our members can attend.

Being able to share and communicate with other members (and having a more formal affiliation) is still the No. 1 one advantage. Still, it is up to individual member sites to work these relationships in a positive and productive manner. It is its own ecosystem now.

AG: What interests do you have outside your work with the association?
PC: Right now, one of my hobbies is unpacking boxes in our new home (ugh!). I’m also building a home network with a 4-terabyte server running on open source applications to house all my family photos, store movies and save downloaded TV programs that we actually care about (no more expensive cable!).

I enjoy playing tennis and I love the outdoors (especially fishing and waterfowl hunting). Dove season starts on the first of September!