Scott Roberts has won the GeoDomainer.com contest that concluded today. He won a $695 conference ticket to the GeoDomain Expo in Chicago 10-12 July. There were many participants in this contest and I would like to thank each of them for their participation. Additionally, I hope to see all of you at the expo in 10 days.

This was not the standard contest you see held in the domain industry. In order to have a chance at winning the ticket, participants had to submit an essay on their goals in the domain industry and how they feel the AssociatedCities.com GeoDomain Expo would help them in accomplishing their goals. Even though only 1 person won the $695 ticket, I think several participants ended up winning by outlining their goals and now having a map to accomplish them.

Again, Congratulations Scott Roberts! GeoDomainer.com and team are happy to help others in attaining their goals. This is Scott’s winning essay.

2008 GeoDomain Expo Contest Essay ? Sponsored by GeoDomainer.com
Scott Roberts

Trading time for money. As a business model, it has limitations. I’m an IT consultant, so I can increase rates or add staff, but those are essentially the only options I have to grow my business. I’m not complaining; servers, workstations, switches and routers have been a great career for over ten years. But I want more. I want a business that will generate revenue without requiring someone’s physical presence. I want a business that can be leveraged into ever larger projects. I want a business that excites me again.

A little history is probably in order. I bought a few domain names as far back as 1997. Unfortunately, I didn’t see the massive potential of geographic and generic domains. Then around 2005 I became aware of the hidden industry known as domaining. I made up my mind to get into this business and began to read and learn. I started buying names I thought had potential. It took time for plans to come together, but on July 1, 2007 I started my own IT consulting business with flexibility as a primary goal. Now nearly a year later, I can devote two to three days a week to domaining and web development.

I’ve never wanted to rely on parking revenue, so my immediate goal is to develop and launch one website. It’s a modest but very achievable goal. I learn best by doing, so it’s important to get this first project completed. One operational site will create a kind of human inertia, paving the way for future goals.

Over the medium term I want to develop additional websites, while continuing to learn about the industry. For long?term success, I think it’s important to have a firm grasp of advertising sales, web analytics/testing and industry trends just to name a few topics. Ultimately my goal is to own a true media company, with a diversified portfolio of web properties.

The 2008 GeoDomain Expo can help me achieve these goals in several ways. By meeting and talking with industry veterans I can gain valuable insight about which domain to launch first. Making a wise choice at this stage will jump?start my development efforts. Also, from my background as an IT consultant I can attest to the value of knowing colleagues who can provide advice when needed. These connections can be priceless at times, and I enjoy the give and take of people helping people.

The speakers and sessions at the GeoDomain Expo look great for learning a tremendous amount about the industry, including details that may not be easily found online. I’m especially interested in the sessions on local advertising sales, technology and GeoDomains in the news. Beyond that, I’m sure I would learn answers to questions I didn’t even know enough to ask!

Finally, I think just being at the GeoDomain Expo would be a tremendous motivation to me. Meeting industry leaders, listening to speakers and watching a live domain auction would be the best way I can imagine to start a new career as a domain developer.