OPW — June 15 — If you want to start your own internet dating service you have two choices:
1. Build your own software and start from zero members, in which case your site won’t convert and you’ll need to spend a lot of money building your database to critical mass.
2. Or, use a white label service to set up your brand on an existing network. Low up front costs and headaches, and your site converts from the getgo, but you get typically 50% of the revenues. Not bad when you consider how much software development and customer service would cost you. Some services will even allow you to copy over your members (the members that you have generated) from their network once you reach a critical mass of users. But you’ll have to negotiate this up front.
White label services make sense if you’re a mega-affiliate wanting to build some brand quity, or are a newspaper or radio station, or entrepreneur wanting to try something new, etc.
Not all white label networks are created equal. WorldFriends Networks is strong in Asia only. Others are focused mainly on the UK. Some pay 30%, some 60%. I interviewed the C-levels and/or senior managers at DatingCentral, DIY Dating, EasyDate, LoveAccess, White Label Dating and WorldFriends Networks. Infinity Personals and Vintacom will join in later. Seven companies, 56 questions, in 11 areas of interest; Company Overview, Userbase, Product Offerings, Customization, Payouts, User Account Portability, Application, Implementation, Partner Support, End User Customer Support, and End User Features. I asked them the questions that YOU should ask, as a prospective user/entrepreneur/mega-affiliate.
Email me at mark@onlinepersonalswatch and I’ll get the spreadsheet to you. Here’s the way to use it. Mouse-over the boxes that have a little red triangle in the corner to see the notes. Then, look at the importance field and rank the items that are most important to you. 10 is most important, 0 is irrelevant. Then look at the scoring at the bottom of the spreadsheet. You can use the spreadsheet as a decision analysis tool.
I have already added in importance rankings to get you started. With my starter rankings White Label Dating came out at 224 and EasyDate came had 165. But don’t use my rankings, create your own. Let me know how it goes, and any suggestions for improving/adding to the spreadsheet. – Mark Brooks
I submitted the review questions back to Mark Brooks and although was not best pleased with the results. I found that some of the higher scoring factors were areas we do not concentrate on as a business.
I understand what you are saying Robert and in an ideal world we would all share conversion rates etc. if it were that simple.
We have higher conversion rates on certain networks but on others it is very low due to market penetration or the socioeconomics of the groups.
I feel a scoring system is wrong and it does not help the user. If I were a cynic I would say this report weighted White Label Personals above everyone else.
I do agree that a features table would be of more value and maybe we should sit down and provide our own agreed industry chart.
I submitted the review questions back to Mark Brooks and although was not best pleased with the results. I found that some of the higher scoring factors were areas we do not concentrate on as a business.
I understand what you are saying Robert and in an ideal world we would all share conversion rates etc. if it were that simple.
We have higher conversion rates on certain networks but on others it is very low due to market penetration or the socioeconomics of the groups.
I feel a scoring system is wrong and it does not help the user. If I were a cynic I would say this report weighted White Label Personals above everyone else.
I do agree that a features table would be of more value and maybe we should sit down and provide our own agreed industry chart.
I listed the questions I wanted to have answered as a prospective cobrand partner. Which questions do you disagree with? What’s missing? Happy to add more fields. I’m reviewing it right now.
The rankings are meant for people to type in their own weightings. I’ve not made any recommendations as yet.
I’m doing a review of this spreadsheet this week so send me more feedback if you need any more tweaks. I’ve not really leaned on pushing this out yet, but will push it out next week once the review round is complete.
I listed the questions I wanted to have answered as a prospective cobrand partner. Which questions do you disagree with? What’s missing? Happy to add more fields. I’m reviewing it right now.
The rankings are meant for people to type in their own weightings. I’ve not made any recommendations as yet.
I’m doing a review of this spreadsheet this week so send me more feedback if you need any more tweaks. I’ve not really leaned on pushing this out yet, but will push it out next week once the review round is complete.
Will you be re-scoring to reflect any change/improvements you make to your spreadsheet?
You’ve “not” made any recommendations but you have listed the top 3 with YOUR scores. I think everyone should be able to see where these scores came from. Will be be publishing it, or will it remain a request only paper?
Will you be re-scoring to reflect any change/improvements you make to your spreadsheet?
You’ve “not” made any recommendations but you have listed the top 3 with YOUR scores. I think everyone should be able to see where these scores came from. Will be be publishing it, or will it remain a request only paper?
I’ve collected revisions from the reviewed companies and am working on a revised spreadsheet this weekend. A short form of the analysis will be available on the web. The long form will be available by request.
I’ve collected revisions from the reviewed companies and am working on a revised spreadsheet this weekend. A short form of the analysis will be available on the web. The long form will be available by request.
Mark, do you intend to delete all of my posts? I will have to repete myself now, the information in the chart is inaccurate and people are advised to view each affiliate programme for themselves!
Mark, do you intend to delete all of my posts? I will have to repete myself now, the information in the chart is inaccurate and people are advised to view each affiliate programme for themselves!
I have been working with DateApp.com for about two years. That’s until I started getting worried in August 2007 about commissions not being paid out. I repeatedly emails and phoned John Cataldi and received assurances from him that I would be paid “soon”. It’s now mid-October 2007 and I have yet to be able to contact him again? Anyone else having troublew with their DatePApp.com affiliate account or white label service?
You can contact me through http://www.DateApp-sucks.com
I have been working with DateApp.com for about two years. That’s until I started getting worried in August 2007 about commissions not being paid out. I repeatedly emails and phoned John Cataldi and received assurances from him that I would be paid “soon”. It’s now mid-October 2007 and I have yet to be able to contact him again? Anyone else having troublew with their DatePApp.com affiliate account or white label service?
You can contact me through http://www.DateApp-sucks.com
I have met Mike in Spain and cannot speak more highly of him. I would recommend Bone Fish above all others as not only was he available on the phone but he personally spent 4 hours with me in Gibraltar a few months ago. Highly recommended.
I have met Mike in Spain and cannot speak more highly of him. I would recommend Bone Fish above all others as not only was he available on the phone but he personally spent 4 hours with me in Gibraltar a few months ago. Highly recommended.
Hello, Mark;
Very interesting commentary @ onlinepersonalswatch.
I wish to start a most unique dating service in multiple
countries (over several months) and am always looking
for objective critiques such as you offer.
We want to link all of our (yet to be formatted)
dating sites to our promotional gift store featuring
our hot new logo; i.e., logo t-shirts, sweatshirts,
posters, mousepads, coffee cups, etc.
Presently, we’re looking at DIYdating features as
well as Easy Date LTD.
Do such private label companies allow up to 10
similarly themed sites (w/cloaked URL) to be run by
one-and-the-same Client?
I own a media company and we are expanding a
new media-property theme into the ‘pre-configured’
dating world.
I look forward to your response, as well as
receiving the spreadsheet you offer.
Best of upcoming holidays,
David Keller
Akron, OH USA
Hello, Mark;
Very interesting commentary @ onlinepersonalswatch.
I wish to start a most unique dating service in multiple
countries (over several months) and am always looking
for objective critiques such as you offer.
We want to link all of our (yet to be formatted)
dating sites to our promotional gift store featuring
our hot new logo; i.e., logo t-shirts, sweatshirts,
posters, mousepads, coffee cups, etc.
Presently, we’re looking at DIYdating features as
well as Easy Date LTD.
Do such private label companies allow up to 10
similarly themed sites (w/cloaked URL) to be run by
one-and-the-same Client?
I own a media company and we are expanding a
new media-property theme into the ‘pre-configured’
dating world.
I look forward to your response, as well as
receiving the spreadsheet you offer.
Best of upcoming holidays,
David Keller
Akron, OH USA
David,
Have you already been in touch with our team regarding your project?
We can certainly be totally flexible with clients. Get in touch with our guys and start the discussion.
You can find the enquiry link at http://www.easydate.biz
David,
Have you already been in touch with our team regarding your project?
We can certainly be totally flexible with clients. Get in touch with our guys and start the discussion.
You can find the enquiry link at http://www.easydate.biz
Dear David
WDP would seem to be able to solve all of your problems and needs relatively easily.
Can you mail me or Tim and w’ll do our best to advise
Dear David
WDP would seem to be able to solve all of your problems and needs relatively easily.
Can you mail me or Tim and w’ll do our best to advise
Thank you for all the information.Especially the one about the affiliate elite review.
Thank you for all the information.Especially the one about the affiliate elite review.
David,
http://world-dating-partners.com/contacts.html
Could you leave your email and number and mark for my attention so I can contact you to further discuss your requirements.
Alternatively just tka e alook around our site and drop us a line at your leisure.
Tim
David,
http://world-dating-partners.com/contacts.html
Could you leave your email and number and mark for my attention so I can contact you to further discuss your requirements.
Alternatively just tka e alook around our site and drop us a line at your leisure.
Tim