OPW – Aug 23 – We could really use a couple more reviewers for InternetDatingScience.com (IDS). Care to help? It would entail reviewing a paper a month, and summarizing it for IDS, the sister site to OPW. Write us at petra@courtlandbrooks.com.
Month: August 2011
Interview with Steve Pasternack, CEO of SugarDaddie, 7orbetter and MeetAtTheAirport
OPW INTERVIEW – Aug 23 –
You’ve got an interesting background I understand. What did you used to do?
I was a Bonds trader. I worked on the New York markets exchange. I was a trader for 18 years.
What prompted the change?
In 2001 things were changing financially for the markets and my 18 years on the trading floor were starting to take their toll, so I decided to move back to Florida. At that time all the .coms were collapsing. It wasn’t the best industry to be in. I was looking for something different when I heard something from Ron Jeremy, a new way to make some money. The idea made me think of my multi-millionaire friends in NY and my friends in Florida and how I could put these people together through a dating site, make everyone happy.
Why would you encourage people to meet at the airport?
There are so many reasons. For example, say you’re flying to a new city, you can arrange to meet someone at the airport and they can be your tour guide, companion, possible romantic fling. It’s exciting flying somewhere and meeting someone new. The airport is actually a good place to meet a complete stranger. They have had gone through security and proven their ID, proven they are not carrying any weapons.
For 7OrBetter.com… Do you know how many guys are 7 or better in the USA?
Obviously men in general are not 7 or better, that is not the average size. However, there are 1000's of men out there that are 7 or better and it can be difficult for them to find a woman who can accommodate their size. There are also women that require a guy that is a bit larger.
What’s your male to female ratio, are there more guys than girls?
It’s generally about 50:50.
Sugardaddie.com, is your most frequented property. There's some controversy surrounding the sugardaddy concept. Is it really just prostitution? What’s your thoughts?
That’s a question I always get asked and sometimes it’s difficult to explain. If a woman is charging by the hour/day then that’s a business transaction and that’s prostitution. But if it’s part of an ongoing relationship in which the guy is taking care of the woman, not necessarily helping her financially but always taking her on trips etc then that’s a legal relationship. Some say it’s the same as a marriage, where the husband pays for everything and the wife doesn’t have to worry about anything. It’s because of the age difference and the fact that the man takes care of the woman that raises an eyebrow but apart from that it’s just the same as any other relationship.
Do you have any plans to launch more dating sites?
I’m always looking for ideas but at the moment I just have the 3 sites.
See all posts on SugarDaddie.com
See all posts on 7OrBetter
See all posts on MeetAtTheAirport
The Attraction-Similarity Model and Dating Couples
INTERNET DATING SCIENCE – Aug 23 – Internet Dating Science, a new service by Courtland Brooks, summarizes the best academic papers so you can improve your idating site, and help users make better connections.
Study: The Attraction-Similarity Model and Dating Couples: Projection, Perceived Similarity, and Psychological Benefits
Authors: Marian M. Morry, Mie Kito and Lindsey Ortiz; all of University of Manitoba
Are we really attracted to people who are similar to us? Or do we, instead, find similarities with those to whom we are attracted? The authors of this article report on three studies. Their theory states that attraction leads to finding and, sometimes inventing, a sense of similarity between two dating people. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that psychological benefits are related to the perception of similarity between two people who are dating.
Dr Brenner: Based on this information, you should:
1. Not over estimate the appeal of matching systems that predominantly emphasize similarity as this will likely be insufficient in creating a connection between prospective dating couples.
2. Watch for member fatigue or burnout on marketing or matching or communication systems that emphasize similarity. Repeated experience with feeling as though your system is miscalibrated and untrustworthy is likely if they are not attracted to the people who your system says is similar to them.
3. Consider that attraction is a key element in how much your members will feel an affinity for other members on your site, which in turn leads to more member retention and less member churn.
4. Be mindful that understanding what your members' find attractive is an element of helping them to find a dating connection and satisfaction with your site.
Redemption Clock for eHarmony Is Ticking
REUTERS – Aug 23 - Two of eHarmony's main backers stand to gain extra leverage over the company when redemption rights from its last financing round kick in — an unusual development in the venture capital business. The rights come into play after November 5 for Technology Crossover Ventures and Sequoia Capital, which invested when eHarmony raised $110M in 2004. The firms will have the right to require eHarmony to buy back their preferred shares in four quarterly installments.
Young Gays Are More Comfortable than Straights Finding Love Online
LA WEEKLY – Aug 22 – Despite an exaggerated stereotype that gay men are online looking only for sex, most are actually looking for something more serious. According to OkCupid's in-house analysis of ~3.2M users, 45% of gay people have slept with five or fewer people (vs. 44% for straights), and 98% have slept with fewer than twenty (vs. 99% for straights). Among gay men, the quality of guys available online is allegedly a lot higher, as far more people feel comfortable using the Internet as matchmaker.
by Amanda Lewis
The full article was originally published at LA Weekly, but is no longer available.
CEO of City-Date.ru to Speak at the iDate in Moscow
WEBWIRE – Aug 23 - Maria Degtyar, the CEO of City-Date.ru will discuss the business of Speed Dating in Russia at the 8th annual European Dating Industry Conference (iDate) in Moscow. City Date is the event management company providing speed dating and matchmaking services in Moscow.
Dating Site Launches at UCLA
DAILY BRUIN – Aug 22 – DateMySchool.com, a dating site aimed exclusively at college students launched this week at UCLA. The free site follows a format resembling similar social sites, with a profile page and an option to message other users.
by Yanting Li
See full article at Daily Bruin
Cupid Buys Brazilian Dating Sites
STOCK MARKETWIRE – Aug 22 - Cupid has taken over several Brazilian online dating sites for a total of $0.75M. The sites include AondeNamoro.com, a traditional online dating site, and SolteirosComFilhos.com, a dating site for single parents. The combined sites have 1.4M members.
Marry for Love, Not Money, China Tells Gold-digger Brides
DAILY TELEGRAPH – Aug 21 - With divorce rates soaring, the Chinese government is now trying to stop women marrying for money, rather than love. "There are more and more girls who want to marry rich men and improve their financial position. It has been a notable increase," said Wang Zhiguo, a consultant at Baihe, a Beijing-based matchmaking website. "It is an unhealthy trend and the government is now trying to restrict it." There were 2.68M divorces last year.
by Malcolm Moore
The full article was originally published at Vancouver Sun, but is no longer available.
Match.com Ordered to Prove it Screens for Sex Offenders
NBC LOS ANGELES – Aug 21 – A LA Superior Court Judge said he wants proof that Match.com is living up to its screening promises. Match.com was sued in April by Carole Markin, who said she was sexually assaulted by a man she met on Match.com. She later found out the man had prior sexual battery convictions. If Match.com provides proof of an operable system being used, the lawsuit would likely be settled.
See full article at NBC Los Angeles
Mark Brooks: S2verify.com and Backgrounchecks.com are the background check providers in use by TRUE and Match.com.