OPW – May 15 – If you're going to go through the trouble of localizing and fully translating your site to a new language, you should consider the top languages by GDP. Here's an excerpt from the Globalization Group.
The top 15 languages account for 90% of the worlds GDP.
PR WEB – May 13 – Dating Factory has launched DatingFactory.jp, which is the first white label dating platform in Japan. The country is a strong market for online dating companies, with over 127 million people, 78.2% of which are active internet users. Localization has been a key issue for dating sites hoping to enter the market. Dating Factory aims to alleviate this problem with their unique model.
EXAMINER – May 12 – Examiner.com recently reviewed Manhunt.net on a number of factors. Manhunt used truthful advertising, a simple layout and easy registration, which the reviewer appreciated. Profile information was deemed comprehensive, with the intent of the site clearly implied. There were a few qualms with the search and matching functions due to limited sorting options and an unmanageable amount of results. Subscriptions are $12 per month or $99 per year. Overall, the site was given a grade of A-, so there may be some lessons learned from one of the leading site in the men-seeking-men market segment.
by Brian Way
See full article at Examiner
BBC – May 13 – A billboard for MaritalAffair.co.uk, drew the 4th most complaints for 2010, ranking behind ads featuring animal cruelty, abortion and global warming. The advertisement, which featured a man's naked torso with a woman's bra draped over his shoulder, read “Hello Girls.” The 420 complaints claimed the ad implied extra-marital affairs were acceptable and desirable. The claims were not upheld.
MARKETWIRE – May 12 – Spark Networks, Inc., has reported financial numbers for Q1 2011. Revenues increase from $10.5 million in Q1 2010 to $11 million in Q1 2011. Spark Networks reported an 8% sequential increase in overall revenue, the largest quarter over quarter revenue growth in 5 years. Jewish Networks saw a 2% increase in average paying subscribers, while the company's Other Affinity Networks saw a revenue increase of 35%, average paying subscribers up 26%, and ARPU up 11%.
WLD BLOG – May 12 – Vitality Publishing has officially partnered with White Label Dating to provide online dating services to its readership. Vitality Publishing sells over 1 million magazines per month, while their websites receive over 1 million unique visitors per month. (Full Disclosure: WLD is a client of Courtland Brooks)
BUSINESSWIRE – May 11 – European dating site, Meetic, has announced its earnings for Q1 2011. The company saw total revenues increase 6.5% from Q1 2010, from 43.4 million euros to 46.2 million euros. Internet revenues accounted for 97% of Meetic's revenue, posting a 7% gain from Q1 2010, while mobile revenues accounted for only 2% of revenues, posting a 14.8% decline in the same period.
ASSOCIATED PRESS – May 11 – Jiayuan.com International Ltd operates the largest online dating site in China. The company raised $78.1 million with its IPO, however the stock fell 48 cents, or 4.4%, during its first day of trading. The company priced its offering of 7.1 million American depositary shares at $11 each, with every two of these shares representing three ordinary shares of the company. Underwriters have the option to buy an additional 1,065,000 American depositary shares from shareholders, which would raise the IPO total to $89.8 million.
The full article was originally published at Forbes, but is no longer available.
OPW – May 12 – While you were at lunch the Daily Deals industry grew to twice the size of the iDating industry! Really! It stands at twice the size of the idating industry in 2011, with revenues in excess of $2.6 Billion. We (at Courtland Brooks, and with thanks to Marc Porcelli) think this industry is so important and relevant to idating that we've created a new blog so you can monitor it. This is a major new category of advertiser that fits idating like a glove. You can sign up and get your Daily Deals daily news summaries at Daily Deals Observer.
This post also appears on SocialNetworkingWatch.
ASSOCIATED PRESS – May 11 – FriendFinder Networks Inc. is anticipating $50 million in proceeds from an IPO of 5 million shares at $10 per share. This price is on the low end of the $10 to $12 expected price. The underwriters will also be given an option to purchase up to 750,000 more shares if there is excess demand. FriendFinder Networks plans to use the proceeds to pay off part of its debt.
The full article was originally published at Forbes, but is no longer available.
Mark Brooks: As society in general becomes ever more curious and open to sexual discovery, FriendFinder's stock should rise accordingly, provided the company is well run. FriendFinder is a behemoth company in a relatively small industry. Scale-wise it stands shoulder to shoulder with eHarmony, Match, and Fling. The dating industry in North America stands at ~$1.3 Billion a year revenue. (Full Disclosure: I worked for FriendFinder in 2003-2004, and Fling is a client of Courtland Brooks).