PR NEWSWIRE — Nov 8 — JDate recently unveiled a newly re-designed website featuring a clean, contemporary look; improved navigation and functionality; streamlined registration and one-click login. Click!(TM) — When two mutual "yes" choices are made, designating interest, JDate alerts both members and encourages them to contact one another. Video Instant Message (IM) and Chat Rooms. New Hot List Menus — for JDate members to keep track of other members they're interested in.
Category: JDate
JDate(R) Updates it’s Profile
PR NEWSWIRE — Nov 8 — JDate recently unveiled a newly re-designed website featuring a clean, contemporary look; improved navigation and functionality; streamlined registration and one-click login. Click!(TM) — When two mutual "yes" choices are made, designating interest, JDate alerts both members and encourages them to contact one another. Video Instant Message (IM) and Chat Rooms. New Hot List Menus — for JDate members to keep track of other members they're interested in.
A Guide to Dating Sites for Niche Interests
SEATTLE TIMES — Oct 30 — There are the shopping-mall dating sites (Match.com, Yahoo! Personals), then there are the boutiques. JDate.com; Jewish singles community. Engage.com; a social networking site where your friends set you up. DateMyPet.com; hookup for yourself and your pet. Teamdating.com; girl-friends join to meet guy-friends go out in a group. Fitsingles.com; for people who like to run, hike, kayak, cycle and do pull-ups in doorways. DegreeDate.com; for the educated. SingleParentMeet.com & SingleParentsMingle.com; first you've got to impress your date – then your date's kids. Chemistry.com; uses an eHarmony-style compatibility test – rejection can take weeks instead of minutes. SpiritSingles.com; new-age site where spiritual integrity trumps the shallow pursuit for hot babes. Riiigghhht.
The full article was originally published at Seattle Times, but is no longer available.
Man Sues Online Dating Service After Being Rejected
NBC4 NEWS — Sept 20– Soheil Davood claims his paid subscription to JDate.com, billed as "the world's largest Jewish singles community," guaranteed that he would find "high-quality, successful Jewish personals without wasting precious time." The subscriber, who is a co-defendant in the case, made sexual remarks during the chat, claimed to work for the nation's largest lingerie manufacturer, and told Davood that "she might have found her man in the plaintiff," the suit states. When the plaintiff called, he "received a taunting automated message telling him that he was rejected." Davood is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for "serious psychological injury."
The full article was originally published at NBC4, but is no longer available.
Mark Brooks: It's unfortunate this user was left at the alter. He can't possibly have any legal standing. Online dating sites are a vehicle for search and communication. We can vet for bogus profiles and inappropriate pictures, but not much more. TRUE.com has, however, taken the vetting process one step further by performing background checks to check if users are felons or are married.
Spark Networks Reports Q2 Results
PR NEWSWIRE — Aug 30 — JDate revenue increased 9%. Also among the highlights of the company's quarter was the acquisition of MingleMatch, which added ChristianMingle, BlackSingles Connection and LDS Mingle, among others. EBITDA for Q2 2005 was $368,000, compared to an EBITDA loss of $3.1 million in the same period last year. Revenue was $15.5 million, a decrease of 2%, compared to $15.8 million for Q2 last year. The company reported a Q2 net loss of $859,000, compared to a Q2 net loss of $4.1 million last year. Q2 2005 revenue for AmericanSingles was $7.3 million, a decrease of 16%. Average paying subscribers for the company totaled approximately 215,600, a decrease of 6%. (Jdate 68,100, a decrease of 3% / AmericanSingles 109,000, a decrease of 18%). Direct subscriber acquisition cost was $31.11, a decrease of 23%. (JDate $13.82, an increase of 90% / AmericanSingles $41.30, a decrease of 23%).
Mark Brooks: It's good to see the acquisition costs diminishing. Looks like American Singles is finding it's balancing point between growth and profitability.
Feeling That Click With Culture
LA DAILY NEWS — June 4 — While general online personals and dating sites have been around for years, a new online dating niche has emerged and is seeing surging growth in the LA area: Sites catering to ethnic groups. With an estimated 600,000 Iranians and 400,000 Armenians in LA — the largest populations outside those countries — the sheer size of the communities is fueling much of the growth. "I found this to be a great way to try to find Armenians. It brings the whole community together," ," a business owner said. That's the philosophy of Said Amin, CEO and founder of World Singles which runs IranianPersonals.com (120,000 members, 1/3 in LA), HyeSingles.com (16,000 members, 2/3 LA), and ArabLounge.com. JDate accounted for nearly 25% of Spark Networks' $65.1 million in revenues in 2004, and its online dating service has grown so large that it is rolling out premiere offerings to try to continue to attract and retain customers. In early May, it launched Joe's Club in LA in which provides personalized matchmaking at dinner tables of eight people, for an annual fee.
Mark Brooks: Culturally specific niche sites are some of the strongest. World Singles will also have an incredible word of mouth ad base in LA. Would be a good acquisition target. www.qiran.com is another site that was brought to my attention.
JDate Hosts Fundraiser to Benefit ORT
PRNEWSWIRE — June 1 — JDate is hosting a summer penthouse party, in Beverly Hills, Tuesday, June 21. All proceeds from the event will benefit ORT (work for the advancement of Jewish people through training and education). "As part of our mission to strengthen the Jewish community, we utilize the strength of JDate's 600,000 members to support non-profit organizations," stated Joe Shapira, JDate co-founder and Chairman.
Spark Acquires MingleMatch
PRNEWSWIRE — May 23 — Spark Networks announced that it has completed the acquisition of MingleMatch. MingleMatch's brands will join Spark Networks online personals communities led by AmericanSingles® and JDate®.
Mark Brooks: MingleMatch runs 21 dating sites: Adventist Singles Connection, Asian Singles Connection, BBW Personals Plus, Black Singles Connection, Canadian Personals, Catholic Mingle, Christian Mingle, Deaf Singles Connection, Greek Singles Connection, Indian Matrimonial Network, Interracial Singles, Iranian Singles Connection, Italian Singles Connection, Jewish Mingle, Latin Singles Connection, LDS Mingle, Military Singles Connection, Muslim Matrimonials Network, Prime Singles, Single Parents Mingle, UK Singles Connection
Spark Networks Reports Q1 Results
PRESSE PORTAL — May 5 — Spark Networks reported Q1 2005 results. Revenue for the first quarter of 2005 was up 10% to $16.5 million. Net income was $2 million, compared to a net loss of $3 million. EBITDA for Q1 2005 was $3 million, compared to EBITDA loss of $2.2 million in the same period last year. JDate revenue was $6.5 million, up 10%. AmericanSingles revenue was $8.1 million, down 5%. Average paying subscribers was 222,700, up 7%. JDate had 70,400, up 3%. AmericanSingles had 121,600, up 4%.
The full article was originally published at Spark website, but is no longer available.
The Jewish Mother Stereotype: Fact or Fiction?
PRNEWSWIRE — Apr 18 — Are Jewish mothers really that meddlesome when it comes to dating? According to a JDate poll, approximately half, of the over 600, respondents said, "yes, they are." Of those who answered, "yes," half said they found her behavior endearing while the other half wished she would stop. In honor of Jewish mothers, everywhere, JDate is searching for 'JDate Mom of the Year.' From now through April 30, 2005, mothers of JDate members can visit JDate.com to enter to win dinner for three (for mom, her son or daughter and his or her JDate).
Mark Brooks: JDate owns the Jewish focused online dating market. JewishFriendFinder is a competitor. Anyone know of any others?