Month: March 2008

OPW INTERVIEW — Mar 8 — Last week we introduced OmniDate as a way to make your site stand out from the crowd. This weeks it's time for Mike K's Handwriting Analysis. Do you believe in personality profiling? How about handwriting analysis? I really think there's a strong correlation with certain character traits and handwriting. Here's what Mike has to say. – Mark Brooks

Your company provides online handwriting analysis to people to help them find the perfect mate.  How exactly does that work?
A visitor to my website, HandwritingProfiles.com, registers, and is given a 16 question online handwriting analysis assessment test. The text takes about 10 minutes. We ask them to write out a handwriting sample of about 1-2 paragraphs in length.  They then read and answer online questions based on the handwriting sample they created.  For each question, we provide three possible answers, each with pictures of samples. The test-taker chooses the picture which is most like their handwriting sample. For example, the first question asks about handwriting size. The test taker rates their sample as small, medium or large based on comparing to the pictures we provide.   

So they finish the 16 questions and then what happens?
First, the user is given an overview of how handwriting assesses compatibility. It tells them about compatibility, which traits within the handwriting are being evaluated and what compatibility traits can be shown through handwriting analysis. Then, for only $4.99, they can purchase the complete assessment and compatibility profile. The first feature is a self assessment. It contains a 5 – 8 page report about their personality and their compatibility traits. It also rates 4 specific compatibility traits on a scale from low to high. These 4 traits are introverted/extroverted, sexual interest and energy, emotion expression, and finally, emotional maturity.   

Then the user is given an email invitee link so they can invite friends or lovers to take the test. Once their friend or their significant other takes the test, that individual’s information is stored in the Handwritingprofiles.com database. Using a compatibility algorithm that I created, we compare the two analysis results and tell the test-takers how compatible they are.   

How would this be used on dating sites?
The compatibility algorithm I created has 141,000 unique combinations when comparing 2 people. This occurs because within the 4 key traits, there are multiple possibilities. What I would like to do is license out the algorithm and test to online dating sites, which would then be able to instantaneously produce a compatibility outlook based on how the 4 traits of person A compares to the 4 traits of person B.   

Some of our readers will wonder, is handwriting analysis really scientific?
First of all, handwriting analysis is a branch of psychology. So it’s not going to be a mathematical equation like, x + y = z. But like all branches of psychology, research and case studies show expected behavior trends.  Handwriting analysis research has shown that there are clusters of traits in one’s handwriting that represent a certain personality trait or psychological disposition. In studies, people with clear personality traits have provided handwriting samples. Then correlations have been derived between particular handwriting traits and particular personality traits.   

Do you see a credibility issue? How do you overcome that?
In Europe, handwriting analysis is more widely accepted, but in the US the majority of people do want to know more about the validation behind it. So the way I overcome that is through example. I give the test to hundreds of people I have never met, often at trade shows and singles events.  I then tell them what the test shows about them. People have been amazed at the accuracy. I did this at IDate and the success was remarkable. Personally, I am certified through the National Society for Graphology and I’ve been studying and performing handwriting analysis for about 15 years.

How would a dating site use your product to increase their revenue or attract new users?   
If you were the CEO of a dating site, I would offer the handwriting analysis matching system as a fun and enlightening product to differentiate themselves from the competition and to make the site more sticky. It also creates PR value. I would offer the compatibility analysis as a premium service so people who have paid for the analysis will quickly see how they match up to others who have paid for the service. This too would be a differentiator as well as a revenue stream.   

For a larger site, we would be open to licensing an exclusive offer. We could also do a revenue share or a flat fee for a year, with an option to renew. At this point, we are open, as it depends really on the goals of the company to which I am talking.