Month: November 2012

Spark Networks Q3 Financial Results

Posted on November 14, 2012

SparknetworksMARKETWIRE – Nov 13 – Revenue increased 25% YOY, to $15.9M, hitting its highest level in nineteen quarters and average paying subscribers grew 29%, to ~266K, setting another all-time high. Christian Networks segment powered that growth, with an 84% increase in revenue, driven by an 89% jump in average paying subscribers. Net loss was $1.7M, or $0.08 per share, compared to a net loss of $238,000 or $0.01 per share, in Q3 2011. During Q1 of 2012, Spark Networks changed its financial reporting to include data on two newly-defined operating segments. The two new segments are Christian Networks and Other Networks. Christian Networks consists of ChristianMingle.com, ChristianMingle.co.uk, ChristianMingle.com.au, Believe.com, ChristianCards.net, ChristianDating.com, DailyBibleVerse.com, and Faith.com. Other Networks consists of Spark.com and related other general market sites.

The full article was originally published at Equities, but is no longer available.

See all posts on Spark Networks

At OkCupid, Being An Atheist Is A Date-maker

Posted on November 14, 2012

Okcupid logo aktualniWASHINGTON POST – Nov 14 – In some circles, being an atheist is a strike against you. But at OkCupid, including the word “atheist” in a first message to another user was more likely to garner a reply than any other religious descriptor except Christian. “Mentioning your religion helps you, but, paradoxically, it helps you most if you have no religion,” co-founder Christian Rudder wrote on the site’s blog. OkCupid was founded by Rudder, Sam Yagan, Chris Coyne and Max Krohn. In the 1990s, while still Harvard math majors, they created SparkNotes, a series of study guides that was sold to Barnes and Noble. The four launched OkCupid in 2003, and the site has since attracted ~10M users. Three of the founders describe themselves as nonbelievers in their onsite profiles.

by Kimberly Winston
See full article at Washington Post

See all posts on OkCupid

True Love Former Directors Fined $1.5 Million By NSW Court

Posted on November 13, 2012

JusticehammerAAP – Nov 13 – Three "romance robbers" from True Love Corp must pay ~$1.5M for exploiting vulnerable clients and leaving them dateless and destitute. NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe says True Love's conduct was "despicable" and he hopes "other ruthless operators" in the dating game will take note of the landmark decision against them. Zivko Dimitrijevski, the former director and his wife Helen Dimitrijevski, a former manager of TLC, have been ordered to pay compensation of $1,123,095 and banned from working in the introduction industry. Hollie Veall, a former co-director, was ordered to pay $342,050. In most cases the clients were told to upgrade their memberships, at significant cost, to meet more people and have life coaching and grooming services but didn't get anything and it turned out the prospective partners on the databases were largely nonexistent.

The full article was originally published at Perth Now, but is no longer available.

Wikimatch.com: Hotornot With Matchmaking

Posted on November 13, 2012

Wikimatch logoPR WEB – Nov 13 – Wikimatch.com is a new dating site that launched this week. Software Engineer Jason Barton developed Wikimatch.com to utilize socially collaborative matchmaking, in which people estimate the likelihood of a good match between singles. Barton says that some people compare Wikimatch to Hotornot.com because of the voting aspect. He chose to concentrate on content, leaving the site’s appearance thin on visual appeal.

See full article at Wikimatch

Special iDate Pre-Conference On January 16, 2013 In Las Vegas

Posted on November 13, 2012

Idate2013 logoWEBWIRE – Nov 13 – At the 10th Annual iDate Internet Dating Conference in Las Vegas Mark Brooks will provide a 3 hour pre-conference for dating startups, covering: business models, revenues, dating software selection, marketing, latest business trends, mobile & other issues. The event takes place on January 16-18, 2013 at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

See full article at Webwire

New Social Discovery Startup: Mirror

Posted on November 13, 2012

Mirror logoPR WEB – Nov 12 – Mirror is a new social discovery platform. When users sign up, they create a frame. A frame is a short profile; a snapshot of who that person is. All Mirror users are verified by email and SMS. Mirror Media, Inc. is a privately-held company and is headquartered in New York City.

The full article was originally published at Equities, but is no longer available.

See all posts on Mirror

Teligence – Fact Sheet

Posted on November 13, 2012

Teligence logo

Teligence
builds social networking technologies, using all modes of
communications including text, pictures, voice, and video, to connect
people for friendship, dating and fun.

Teligence
products:

  • Livelinks
    (LLK) –
    flagship brand for Telligence dating services. Chat & flirt for
    straight singles. Callers can exchange messages and connect live.     
  • Interactive
    Male     (IML) – For casual encounters for gay males.     
  • RedHot
    Dateline     (RDL) – Place for erotic phone chats.     
  • Vibeline
    (VBL) –
    Chat for straight African American singles.
  • FonoChat
    Latino     (FON) – Chat for straight Latino/Hispanic/Spanish-speaking singles.
  • Lavender
    Line     (LBL) – Chatline for women only.
  • Guy
    Spy     –
    Internet-based dating and social networking service for men who like
    men.

History:

2010 (December) – Launch of GuySpy iPhone app
2010 – A significant leap for Teligence – development of the “Next generation” of social networking platforms
2007 – Focus on mobile development
2006 – Entering the Mexican market with Malevox, a Mexican version of Interactive Male, and Livelinks. Launch of Lavender Line, first lesbian brand
2004 – Launch of Fonochat, a Hispanic/Latino product, available to North American customers only, and Guiding Line, a free horoscope and paid psychic line
2002 – Launch of Vibeline, a niche product catering to African American singles
1999 – 4th product launched – RedHot Dateline (previously Casual Dateline)
1997 – Development of Teligence own hybrid IVR system that allowed them to customize and build their own technology vs. using other service providers
1994 – US market expansion, first TV advertisement
1990 – Teligence founded by Rob Madigan, and operated with 3 chat line products Livelinks, Interactive Male and Tango Personals

Internet Dating Jobs Listing Update – November 2012

Posted on November 13, 2012

Internet dating jobs logo OPW – Nov 13 – New iDating jobs listing is live on the Internet Dating Jobs blog.

Below see a couple of this month's most interesting offers:

____

From our esteemed Courtland Brooks clients:

POF.com
   Android Developer

Global Personals USA (Webdate, Fling, WealthyMen)
   Affiliate Manager

GuySpy
  iOS Developer

MeetMe Corp
  Director of Product Development, Growth

____

HowAboutWe
  Editorial Director

Match.com, Chemistry.com, People Media
  Director, West Coast Advertising Sales – SF

Parship.de
  Art Director

SpeedDate
  Lead Product Manager / Director of Product

Zoosk
  VP, Business Development

To see more open positions go here.

Do you have an idating industry job offer which is not included? Please, send it to petra@courtlandbrooks.com and we will add it to the list.

The Question Of Internet Dating Standards

Posted on November 12, 2012

LIST-OF-RULESOPW – Nov 12 – There's a general consensus that it would be a good idea for the Internet dating industry to assert a set of standards on itself, before governments around the world take more initiative and impose them.  Here's a few standards that are worthy of your attention.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Australia has this set of guidelines.

A group of leading German Internet dating services agreed on a set of best practices called the Spin Kodex to help consumers distinguish rogue from reputable services.  They use the Federal Association of the Digital Economy to handle complaints.

And more recently, Jackie Elton (Christian Connection) has led the charge in the UK to build a set of standards under the Association of British Introduction Agencies.  Its a work in progress and they're planning on launching it early next year.

What do you think. Your comments please?