WEBIT PR — Nov 14 — The online dating industry should beware of grouping all gay communities together as it shows a lack of understanding for the complexities, nuances of and niches of the market, according to Ross Williams of WhiteLabelDating.com (WLD). WLD, which provides the backend system requirements for brands and individuals to start their own online dating communities, has seen a 300% growth in same-sex relationships websites. Recent additions include sites like: TheGayExchange.co.uk, GayDatingGroup.co.uk and MeTarzanYouGay.co.uk. "The gay community is often an afterthought in the online dating business and this results in poorly marketed, generic gay offerings. A one size fits all approach is often not appropriate," said Ross Williams. FULL ARTICLE @ WEBIT PR
Category: All Gay
Lesbian Sites On Bone Fish
PR LOG — Nov 5 — Bone Fish, a white label dating provider, revealed that gay networking and lesbian dating is on the rise and at present the strongest converting niche network in the online dating sector. The lesbian network currently boasts 12.5% conversion rate. BoneFish now boasts over 1,500 homosexual sites (out of a total of 14,000 dating/adult portals across all platforms), and 501 sites that are specifically aimed at the lesbian market. FULL ARTICLE @ PR LOG
NeoCom Media and WhiteLabelDating.com To Launch Gay.co.uk Dating
PRESS RELEASE — Oct 16 — NeoCom Media, together with WhiteLabelDating.com, are launching online dating services on Gay.co.uk, a high end lifestyle site. Dating Gay.co.uk is set to go live at the end of October. NeoCom Media owner Chris McEldowney decided to add dating services to Gay.co.uk after the success of his adult dating site Adult.Chat.co.uk, which launched in February 2008. WLD will provide the backend systems and management services for the site as well as the full access to its gay members. FULL ARTICLE @ OPW
Manhunt Sees Record Numbers After Crash
NY PRESS — Oct 15 — Manhunt, the online "dating" resource in NYC for men looking for a hookup, recorded three times as many new memberships than usual on Sept. 29 when the stock market fell 700 points. We know that during recessions that "cheap" entertainment usually does well—TV, movies, etc.—but the guys at Manhunt think their "cheap entertainment" is even more of a bargain. For the same price as a movie ticket, you can get a month of online cruising that may just end up with hot coupling.
The full article was originally published at NY Press, but is no longer available.
Gay.com Has Been Offline More Than It’s Been Online
QUEERTY — Oct 15 — PlanetOut's Gay.com spent untold sums of cash revamping its infrastructure in the past few months. Except ever since the gay hub debuted the new version of its site at the beginning of the month, Gay.com has been plagued by downtime. By our rough science, it's been offline more than it's been online. Gay.com sent an apology letter to members stating they were adjusting their hardware configurations and software code and fixing the bugs that have resulted in unplanned system outages. FULL ARTICLE @ QUEERTY
Gayness Is A Sexual Orientation, Not A Political One
LA TIMES — Aug 28 — Manhunt.net is one of the most popular gay websites in the world, with 1m registered members in the U.S. alone and 400,000 unique visitors a month. As its name implies, it's a site where many gay men go to find casual sexual encounters.Two weeks ago, news emerged that Jonathan Crutchley, the co-founder of Manhunt.net, had contributed $2,300 to the presidential campaign of John McCain. Uproar ensued. "I believe McCain will be a better commander in chief than Obama, who also opposes gay marriage," Crutchley wrote on a website that covers the online personal ad industry. That explanation might not please every gay activist, but there are gay people of all races, income levels, occupations, body types and, yes, political beliefs. FULL ARTICLE @ LA TIMES
Manhunt.net: eBay For Men
OUT MAGAZINE — Aug 11 — In 1993, 2% of gay men found their first male sexual partner online. In 2003 the number was 61%. Manhunt.net seems to be the most efficient place for gay men to find sex. Manhunt, founded in Boston in 2001 by Larry Basile and Jonathan Crutchley, has now ~1m members, and 400,000+ uniques a month and brings in $2.4m+ per month, not counting ad revenues. According to Compete.com, Manhunt users spend 40 minutes on the site per visit (twice Facebook or MySpace). Gay urban life has always been a meat market, and cruising has always been a form of consumption. Yet cruising, unlike shopping, requires a buyer to also make himself a seller. Selling yourself online requires to create a pornographic profile. Michael W. Ross of the World Health Organization believes that such dissociation increases the likelihood of their engaging in risky behavior. Dan Savage, author of the sex column "Savage Love" and editor of Seattle's The Stranger newspaper, says, "Manhunt is a tool. Big, bad Manhunt doesn't make guys drag themselves to the webcam and take all those pictures of their dicks." Two recent studies indicate that men who have unprotected sex are equally likely to do so with partners met online or offline.
“’If he’s out there, he’s on here’ is only a slight exaggeration.” “Manhunt is the 21st century gay bar and you can’t stop progress” – Out Magazine September 2008
The full article was originally published at Out Magazine, but is no longer available.
MyPartner.com Launches Facebook App
WINDY CITY TIMES — July 17 — Matchmaking service provider myPartner.com is now offering a gay dating application, gaymatch.com, on Facebook. myPartner was established in 2004, originally offering one-on-one matchmaking services exclusively to gay men. In 2007, the company increased its availability by broadening its services to include on-line dating. FULL ARTICLE @ EDGE BOSTON
Finalists Chosen To Compete Tor America’s Gay Bachelor Title
PRESS RELEASE — July 7 — The five bachelors that will compete for this year's America's Gay Bachelor 2008 title were publicly announced today by the gay matchmaking site myPartner.com, the contest's sponsor. The five finalists were chosen from a pool of 51 contestants by more than 35,000 votes cast online at myPartner.com. The finalists will appear in San Diego for final judging by a panel of celebrity judges at the contest's star-studded finale held at W San Diego on July 17 during San Diego's Gay Pride Week.
RadarLounge.com Launches
PR.COM — July 5 — RadarLounge.com launches a gay online dating community where men connect with men and the nightlife in their city. Benefits of being a member includeincentives such as reduced or no cover charge discounts, special event invitations, front of the line privileges and drink specials. FULL ARTICLE @ PR.COM