PR NEWSWIRE — Mar 6 — TRUE surveyed its members (502 responses) to learn whether singles would rather meet a lifetime partner or just a spring fling during Spring Break 2007. 30% wanted a spring fling, 29% chose casual dating, 24% wanted a long-term relationship, 16% wanted to find just a friend, 2% wanted to find someone to marry. 86% were open to dating someone long-term after meeting them during Spring Break. FULL ARTICLE @ PR NEWSWIRE
Mark Brooks: TRUE has been disparaged in the online personals community for it's racey advertising. It does seem at odds with it's position as a scientifically based dating site…which kinda implies that it's focused on helping people find long term serious relationships. Sex + LTR. The fact is, racey adds convert will. Click throughs are higher and conversions are stronger, in general. Hence, TRUE is being agressive with it's ad spends. The post here mentions that they spent $52 million Jan-Nov last year.
What strikes me about many TRUE ads is that they’re trying their darndest to be sexy … but they often don’t really succeed (IMHO). Instead, they feel sadly comic, as if they were parodies of ads that target 19-yr-old males.
What I find offensive about the True ads is they tend to show up on sites that cater to teens and pre-teens. I’ve seen them on sites where my children tend to visit! What’s that all about!
It looks to me like they’re just preparing youth to step into pornography. A youth can set his mind to staying away from pornography, but then they’re bombasted with racey True ads taunting them with breasty, seductive poses and phrases.
It’s amazing what a business will do for the money. Porn is big business and I often wonder if True isn’t trying to cash in on that market with their near-porn ads.
Nannette