BIA/Kelsey is launching their flagship event, Interactive Local Media 2009 (ILM:09), where the local online media community gathers to learn what’s working, make connections and do deals. The conference will be held in the historic Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles from 9-11 December.

Currently, the admission is discounted $400 if you register by 20 November. This is a great event to attend if you are looking to expand your current platforms for your domains, network, or simply become educated on the new strategies and technologies effecting the online local space.

The internet continues to evolve into a local space as consumers continue to embrace the internet for their shopping needs. Additionally, this is the biggest growth area projected and untapped for small business advertising.  

Mobile advertising seems to be the main topic of this conference. It is a huge wave hitting the local industry as consumers continue to use their cellphones and other mobile devices to access the internet. The Mobile keynote speaker will be Google’s Surojit Chatterjee.

Featured speakers at the conference are listed Here.

The Kelsey Group will be launching the “Drilling Down on Local 08″ conference on 30 April-2 May 08 in Seattle, Washington.  The Kelsey Group is the leading provider of research, data and strategic analysis on directories, small-business advertising, online local media, vertical market advertising and mobile advertising.   This will be an outstanding conference to attend if you have the opportunity.  Here is the link to sign-up.

In a recent report released by the Kelsey Group, it is forecasted that interactive advertising revenues will grow from US$45 billion in 2007 to US$147 billion globally by 2012.  This is a great market to embrace that has exponential growth in the years to come. 

There are many domainers that are not fans of the geo domain industry, and do not believe it will amount to anything.  Many feel it is only a small niche of the domain industry.  I forecast that it will become the domain industry in the near future as the market evolves.  Nothing stays the same, especially on the internet.  $147 billion by 2012 should paint a clear picture of this evolution that is occuring on the internet.  Even the most generic name wants to be local.  It is now mandatory that you deliver local information on generic domains.  Consumers expect nothing less, and the online market validates this statement.  

For you non-believers out there who do not believe in the geo domain industy, read the topic highlight the Kelsey Group will be discussing.   Leveraging Geodomains.  The proof is always in the pudding.

Drilling Down on Local ‘08 is The Kelsey Group’s 14th conference since 1997 devoted to interactive local media and local online commerce. Session highlights include:

    –  Remaking of the Los Angeles Times (Online)
    –  The Revolution in Classifieds
    –  Microsoft in Local
    –  Localizing National Verticals
    –  Leveraging Geolocation: Phone, Wi-Fi and GPS
    –  Vertical Breakout Sessions: Real Estate, Travel, Auto, Events
    –  The Online City: Close Up on Seattle
    –  Leveraging Geodomains

(via PRnewswire.com)