Category: Match.com

Finding Love Online

Posted on February 19, 2005

BERKSHIRE EAGLE — Feb 14 — The stigma attached to online dating has waned, many say, although it is still approached with caution. Some say interest in it has diminished as well, as more singles return to the old-fashioned face-to-face dating scene.  Still, within 30 miles of Pittsfield, Match.com, a high-profile dating service, has 34 screen pages of men seeking women and 34 pages of women seeking men.

Mark Brooks: People are starting to be surprised when their friends ‘aren’t’ using online personals. 

Online Dating Rekindling Love

Posted on February 16, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE — Feb 14 — "A lot of services said, 'Hey, put in your $25, pull the handle and get your partner,' " said Joe Cohen, chief operating officer for Match.com, a leading online personals site. "It's not that simple. "People were turned off because expectations were raised so high," he added. "Web sites could only under-deliver."  To revitalize the industry, some dating Web sites are refocusing on users who want serious relationships.  "This market is saturated," said Nate Elliot, an analyst for Jupiter Research. "You have all the online dating sites you're ever going to need." Lorna Borenstein, vice president and general manager of Yahoo Personals, said her business hasn't slowed, as some other companies' has. She attributes the continued growth to Yahoo's giant reach and several new features in the personals area.  FULL ARTICLE @ YAHOO

Mark Brooks: New/startup online personals companies should either shoot for a very targeted niche, or secure $5 million+ of marketing funding.

Love Growing Strong On Web

Posted on February 14, 2005

USA TODAY — Feb 14 — The industry has grown so fast that Hitwise foresees a shakeout. Says Mark Brooks, who runs Online Personals Watch, "I think we're moving into the first stages of maturity."  So companies are trying, like the most desperate bachelor in the bar, to stand out. Those who market love on the Internet are increasingly wooing customers by giving personality and compatibility tests.  For the strongest players, the cyberspace dating game remains lucrative. In December, for instance, eHarmony attracted $110 million from two venture-capital firms. "What kind of metrics must eHarmony have shown the VCs to get $110 million?" asks Brooks.  JupiterResearch says online-dating revenue hit $473 million in 2004, up from $396 million in 2003. <On background checks>…"That's a solution looking for a problem," complains Jim Safka, the new CEO of rival Match.com. But some competitors grudgingly admire the marketing strategy. "It was brilliant," says Nelson Rodriguez, CEO of LoveAccess.com. "You try to legislate into law your business model."  True's CEO Herb Vest warns: "If a person is married or a criminal, they best go somewhere else." True says it intends to prosecute married people who masquerade as singles.  "We don't think of ourselves as an online-dating service," says Greg Forgatch, CEO of eHarmony. "We're all about helping people get married and get married well."  Yahoo has launched Personals Premier, a $35-a-month service with advanced searching and matchmaking and a personality test. IMatchup.com has unveiled a handwriting-analysis feature.  Niche sites proliferate.  "I'm not promoting Cupid.com anymore; I'm pitching DesMoines.Cupid.com," says Cupid.com CEO Eric Straus. 

Online Dating Losing Steam, But Not for Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 13, 2005

WASHINGTON POST — Feb 12 — Hopeful singles still flock to online dating services such as Match.com, owned by InterActiveCorp — the company reported a 9% increase in paid subscribers in Q3 2004 over Q3 2003.  Revenue was up 3%, to $49.7 million, but operating income was off 37%, at $2.8 million. The drop was due to higher marketing costs and other expenses needed to attract customers.  Jupiter Research forecasts that the online dating market will increase 9% in 2005 to $516 million.

eHarmony Celebrates Marriages

Posted on February 13, 2005

PRNEWSWIRE — Feb 11 — eHarmony today announced it will send exclusive wedding gifts to couples who meet and marry through eHarmony.  The first gift will be a Heart Bowl from Tiffany & Co.

Mark Brooks: Nice touch.  Match.com just announced their new site featuring successful singles at success.match.com.

Looking For Love in Cyber Places

Posted on February 13, 2005

BANKRATE — Feb 11 — Internet dating is by far the most common, and least expensive, matchmaking method. There's something for everyone, from AmericanSingles.com, Match.com and Yahoo! Personals to the more specialized.  With fees starting at $10,000, single men can use Selective Search and receive the "white glove treatment." Staff members are all former corporate recruiters and the company uses the same executive-search model as headhunters to find women to introduce to the men. "If you think about a traditional dating service, it's flawed in the sense that it's such a limited pool to pick from," says Adler.

Mark Brooks: See the future.  Well heeled singles will shell out more money for higher end services online. 

Looking For Love in Cyber Places

Posted on February 13, 2005

BANKRATE — Feb 11 — Internet dating is by far the most common, and least expensive, matchmaking method. There's something for everyone, from AmericanSingles.com, Match.com and Yahoo! Personals to the more specialized.  With fees starting at $10,000, single men can use Selective Search and receive the "white glove treatment." Staff members are all former corporate recruiters and the company uses the same executive-search model as headhunters to find women to introduce to the men. "If you think about a traditional dating service, it's flawed in the sense that it's such a limited pool to pick from," says Adler.

Mark Brooks: See the future.  Well heeled singles will shell out more money for higher end services online. 

Still Single In The City

Posted on February 13, 2005

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR — Feb 9 — Some believe that because of the sheer number of people, large cities are the perfect place to meet someone special. But finding love can actually be harder in urban areas, according to a study conducted by Edward O. Laumann, professor of sociology at the University of Chicago.  Part of the challenge is that people move around more – often for jobs – so the social networks are more fragmented than in smaller towns. Becoming part of a desirable group isn’t as easy.  Chicagoans are twice as likely to meet their significant others through friends or family members as at a bar.  By the time men reach 40, they typically are interested in women who are eight years their junior.  Men outnumber women in every age group through the 35-to-39 age group.  "The majority of our members are in larger cities," explains Kristin Kelly of match.com. People who live in smaller areas must often widen their nets to a 50- or 100-mile radius.  FULL ARTICLE AT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

Bachelor in a Bubble

Posted on February 11, 2005

Aussie1NEWS.com — Feb 11 — Luke, a 29-year-old lifeguard and surveyor, encloses himself in the Match.com Love Bubble in a Sydney, Australia, shopping mall. He plans to remain inside until Valentine's Day, when he hopes publicity will have helped him nab the perfect girl.  Lifeguard Luke relaxes in his Match.com Love Bubble on Feb. 10. He's waiting for a dream girl to send him an e-mail that will coax him out for a Feb. 14 Valentine's Day date.

Mark Brooks: And the comment on News.com > "And he'll be sterile by then too."

Match.com Exhibits Historic Photos of Love Digital Billboard Near Times Square

Posted on February 11, 2005

PRNEWSWIRE — Feb 11 — Match.com will present  a dynamic photo exhibit of love and romance displayed on the 1,300 sq ft digital billboard over New York’s Port Authority terminal on Valentines Day.  Approximately 1.5 million pedestrians are expected to pass by the Port Authority terminal building on Valentine’s Day.  After Valentine’s Day, the exhibit may be viewed online at Match.com.