NY TIMES — Jan 13 — Markus Frind, a 29-year-old Web entrepreneur, developed software for his dating site, PlentyofFish, that operates almost completely on autopilot, leaving Mr. Frind plenty of free time. On average, he puts in about a 10-hour workweek. Mr. Frind operates the business out of his apartment in Vancouver, British Columbia, and has net profits of about $10 million a year. According to comScore Media Metrix for November 2007, PlentyofFish had 1.4 million unique visitors in the United States. In December, the site served up 1.2 billion page views. PlentyofFish does not need a support structure to handle members' subscription and billing issues because the service is entirely advertising-based. Its tagline is: "100 percent free. Put away your credit card." Its success demonstrates that many consumers will tolerate, and even embrace, advertising when a site offers a free service for which others charge membership fees. FULL ARTICLE @ NY TIMES
“he says he has net profits of about USD10 million a year.”
net profits? or only revenue?
revenue == income (by ads)
earnings == income less operating & other costs
net profits == earnings after taxes, depreciation, etc
See PoF Media’s tax declaration to check that.
“Among Plenty of Fish’s volunteers were 120 who last year evaluated more than 100,000 images each. ”
How many are they? More than 300 persons? Are they employees without salaries?
“that many consumers will tolerate, and even embrace, advertising when a site offers a free service for which others charge membership fees.”
Regarding text_based and keyword_targeted advertising, I have my brain (and eyes) well trained to NOT see/read any of those Ads!!!
E.G. It is more than two years that I use GMail and I have not payed any attention to ads appearing every time I read an email, nor clicked anyone!!! I think a lot of persons do the same.
The owner did not say any word about the performance of The Plentyoffish Relationship Chemistry Test (POFCT). It measures “five broad dimensions of personality that are each essential for building a romantic relationship”
See this pic, it can be read “100% Free Personality ReAlationship Chemistry Test”
http://img123.imageshack.us/my.php?image=realationshipyv6.jpg
ReAlationship instead of Relationship
Who is/are the brain/s behind the POFCT?
Kindest Regards,
Fernando Ardenghi.
Buenos Aires.
Argentina.
ardenghifer@gmail.com
“he says he has net profits of about USD10 million a year.”
net profits? or only revenue?
revenue == income (by ads)
earnings == income less operating & other costs
net profits == earnings after taxes, depreciation, etc
See PoF Media’s tax declaration to check that.
“Among Plenty of Fish’s volunteers were 120 who last year evaluated more than 100,000 images each. ”
How many are they? More than 300 persons? Are they employees without salaries?
“that many consumers will tolerate, and even embrace, advertising when a site offers a free service for which others charge membership fees.”
Regarding text_based and keyword_targeted advertising, I have my brain (and eyes) well trained to NOT see/read any of those Ads!!!
E.G. It is more than two years that I use GMail and I have not payed any attention to ads appearing every time I read an email, nor clicked anyone!!! I think a lot of persons do the same.
The owner did not say any word about the performance of The Plentyoffish Relationship Chemistry Test (POFCT). It measures “five broad dimensions of personality that are each essential for building a romantic relationship”
See this pic, it can be read “100% Free Personality ReAlationship Chemistry Test”
http://img123.imageshack.us/my.php?image=realationshipyv6.jpg
ReAlationship instead of Relationship
Who is/are the brain/s behind the POFCT?
Kindest Regards,
Fernando Ardenghi.
Buenos Aires.
Argentina.
ardenghifer@gmail.com
you personally, might not click on any ads…but there are teenagers who love ads like these…and they will definately click on them.
you personally, might not click on any ads…but there are teenagers who love ads like these…and they will definately click on them.
I love this story. PlentyofFish is a great dating web site. Markus Frind knows exactly what he is doing with Plenty of Fish. Most people do not want to pay alot of money for a web site. Some people do not want to pay anything to meet someone. He has a simple web site that has grown by mass word of mouth. Now it has become advanced and used by everyone. I would definitely advertise and be an affiliate on there as well. I have been a member of his web site for many years. I spoke to Markus last online virtual dating conference for about half an hour. You can tell that he is an expert marketing strategist and business genius. It was extremely informative listening to him talk online. I hope that he writes a book on his story and company. It is just as interesting as how Craigslist got started and quite huge. It is amazing how he become such a big web site with other ones that are household names. I hope that I can learn a thing from him for my business. 🙂
MARK F. STOLERMAN
RUSHDATER@AOL.COM
http://singles.meetup.com/1609
http://socialnetwork.meetup.com/703
http://singles.meetup.com/972
I love this story. PlentyofFish is a great dating web site. Markus Frind knows exactly what he is doing with Plenty of Fish. Most people do not want to pay alot of money for a web site. Some people do not want to pay anything to meet someone. He has a simple web site that has grown by mass word of mouth. Now it has become advanced and used by everyone. I would definitely advertise and be an affiliate on there as well. I have been a member of his web site for many years. I spoke to Markus last online virtual dating conference for about half an hour. You can tell that he is an expert marketing strategist and business genius. It was extremely informative listening to him talk online. I hope that he writes a book on his story and company. It is just as interesting as how Craigslist got started and quite huge. It is amazing how he become such a big web site with other ones that are household names. I hope that I can learn a thing from him for my business. 🙂
MARK F. STOLERMAN
RUSHDATER@AOL.COM
http://singles.meetup.com/1609
http://socialnetwork.meetup.com/703
http://singles.meetup.com/972