Category: Outlets – New York Times

E-Dating Bubble Springs a Leak

Posted on December 11, 2004

NEW YORK TIMES — Dec 12 — Many early adopters are moving on to the next big thing, which looks a lot like the last things on the dating front: bars, real-life matchmaking services, setups arranged by friends.  "Do I want to spend all these hours at my PC or out having fun and meeting people?"  While most women interviewed complained that too many men just "window shop" online and are unwilling to consider any but the prettiest faces.  Online dating seems to have lost its buzz among its own Generation 1.0. "In the last five years, it’s become so mainstream," said Sherrie Schneider, an author of "The Rules for Online Dating," who remains a great champion of the practice. "Every single woman in my neighborhood is on Match.com. It’s like brushing your teeth.  And sometimes it’s just as exciting."  NY TIMES

Mark Brooks: What’s next?  Even social networking is getting old.  Online personals are still the most efficient way to meet compatible local singles…with the minimum of embaressment.  www.wingwomen.com is a fun idea.

Proctor & Gamble and MySpace

Posted on December 4, 2004

NEW YORK TIMES — Dec 3rd — PROCTER & GAMBLE, the country’s largest advertiser and an eager pursuer of new marketing methods, has begun an experimental promotion for its Secret Sparkle deodorant using music stars’ personal profiles on a social networking Web site. Under the deal, the MySpace.com home page features a profile of the singer Hilary Duff accompanied by logos for Secret Sparkle, an extension of the Secret brand that went on sale a year and a half ago. Those who view Ms. Duff’s profile can try to win an iPod in the "Secret ‘Discover the Secret Strength of Today’s Hottest Rising Music Stars’ Sweepstakes," and sign up for more information on Secret Sparkle, other Procter & Gamble products or Ms. Duff. The promotion will feature a succession of other artists and their MySpace profiles. NY TIMES

Mark Brooks: Unbelievable. I just checked the Alexa rank for MySpace and nearly fell out my chair. MySpace, underdog ‘underground’ social networking site appears to have more traffic than Friendster now! Friendster vs MySpace

Meeting Site Stands Nearly Alone

Posted on October 4, 2004

NY TIMES–In nearly every Internet category imaginable, successful sites have triggered copycats, sometimes by the dozens. But Meetup, which has helped more than 30,000 groups organize meetups remains virtually without competition. Meetup has signed up two million users who rely on it to help find people with similar political or business interests or hobbies. Meetup, based in New York, was created in 2002 and attracted financial backing from Draper Fisher Jurvetson and eBay’s founder, Pierre M. Omidyar, among others. NY TIMES

Meeting Site Stands Nearly Alone

Posted on October 4, 2004

NY TIMES–In nearly every Internet category imaginable, successful sites have triggered copycats, sometimes by the dozens. But Meetup, which has helped more than 30,000 groups organize meetups remains virtually without competition. Meetup has signed up two million users who rely on it to help find people with similar political or business interests or hobbies. Meetup, based in New York, was created in 2002 and attracted financial backing from Draper Fisher Jurvetson and eBay’s founder, Pierre M. Omidyar, among others. NY TIMES