Category: POF

Increase Online Trust

Posted on March 9, 2007

Trust_webMASTER NEW MEDIA — Mar 8 — At the end of 2006, Time magazine decided that its person of the year was "You". Yes, You. All the You’s that create and rate content on sites such as MySpace, Wikipedia and YouTube. In Web 2.0 the issue of trust has moved away from the people that run the site towards the people that populate it. The issue of "Can I trust this site?" still exists, but the new issue, "Can I trust the people on it?" is now equally important. The main difference now is that content is being generated by anyone and then being rated by anyone. How can you be sure that what other users write is true? To ensure site visitors continue to trust your site, you need to ensure users are who they say they are. You can:

  • E-mail an activation link
  • Send a text message with an activation code
  • Send the activation code to a home or business address
  • Only allow site visitors access to content/functionality if recommended by a registered user (LinkedIn, the online career network, does this)
  • Show people you know their IP address when they’re logged in
  • Collect users’ credit card details
  • Allow users to rate a person
  • Set up a reference system to highlight respected members
  • Have real time face-to-face interaction ( e.g. Skype on eBay)

Original article by Mark McElhaw published on March, 2007 as "You Who? – Trust in Web 2.0" on Webcredible. FULL ARTICLE @ MNM 

CommunityNext Final Panel Video

Posted on March 1, 2007
Image7_1WEBPRO NEWS — Feb 23 — Guy Kawasaki moderated a panel of some innovative web community founders at the CommunityNext Conference, and the video is fascinating. It's not often I get a 1 hour video and watch it all the way through, but I've already watched this one twice.

1. Akash Garg of hi5
2. Sean Suhl of Suicide Girls
3. Max Levchin of Slide
4. James Hong of HotorNot
5. Markus Frind of PlentyofFish
6. Drew Curtis of Fark


Most of these guys said that marketing was of little value to them (gasp). They said the viral things that really made them successful was an accident. Sure you can come up with a great idea, but the real truth is that if your company is doing something cool, people will talk about it.

CommunityNext Final Panel Video

Posted on March 1, 2007
Image7_1WEBPRO NEWS — Feb 23 — Guy Kawasaki moderated a panel of some innovative web community founders at the CommunityNext Conference, and the video is fascinating. It's not often I get a 1 hour video and watch it all the way through, but I've already watched this one twice.

1. Akash Garg of hi5
2. Sean Suhl of Suicide Girls
3. Max Levchin of Slide
4. James Hong of HotorNot
5. Markus Frind of PlentyofFish
6. Drew Curtis of Fark


Most of these guys said that marketing was of little value to them (gasp). They said the viral things that really made them successful was an accident. Sure you can come up with a great idea, but the real truth is that if your company is doing something cool, people will talk about it.

Match.com Has Around 15 Millions Boomers as Regulars

Posted on February 27, 2007

Matchcom_18_9SENIORS COPIE — Feb 27 — Match.com has around 15 million boomers as regular goers, and the global figure of boomers using an online dating service increased by 350% in six years. There are also eHarmony.com, Lavalife.com and Plentyoffish.com, all of which offer Boomer-friendly s ervices. Match.com has built the largest online dating site in America, and maintained its dominance in recent years in part by aggressively marketing to singles over 50 and divorcees. ~1.7 million of its 15 million members are 45 to 59. (Sun Florida Sun-Sentinel, "More and more boomers turn to online dating services", 02/18/07)

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

Match.com Has Around 15 Millions Boomers as Regulars

Posted on February 27, 2007

Matchcom_18_9SENIORS COPIE — Feb 27 — Match.com has around 15 million boomers as regular goers, and the global figure of boomers using an online dating service increased by 350% in six years. There are also eHarmony.com, Lavalife.com and Plentyoffish.com, all of which offer Boomer-friendly s ervices. Match.com has built the largest online dating site in America, and maintained its dominance in recent years in part by aggressively marketing to singles over 50 and divorcees. ~1.7 million of its 15 million members are 45 to 59. (Sun Florida Sun-Sentinel, "More and more boomers turn to online dating services", 02/18/07)

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

Male/Female Quantcast Ratios of Top Dating Properties

Posted on February 27, 2007

MalefemaleOPW — Feb 26th — Here are the male/female ratios, most popular age range, and proportion of visits from 'regulars' and 'addicts.' Ranking courtesy of Hitwise. Ratios, age range and addiction levels courtesy of Quantcast. '100' represents the 'internet average.'

1 Singlesnet 
Male 112, Female 88, age 45-54, 91% of visits from regulars and addicts LINK
2 Yahoo Personals
Male 114, Female 85, age 45-54, 78% regulars and addicts LINK 
3 RUET
Male 116, Female 83, age 45-54, 77% regulars and addicts LINK 
4 Match
Male 100, Female 99, age 45-54, 94% regulars and addicts LINK
5 eHarmony
Male 73, Female 125, age 25-34 and 35-44, 95% regulars and addicts LINK 
6 Plentyoffish
Male 112, Female 87, age 45-54, 98% regulars and addicts LINK
7 Mate1
Male 97, Female 102, age 45-54, 74% regulars and addicts LINK
8 Blackpeoplemeet
Male 94, Female 105, age 35-44, 96% regulars and addicts LINK
9 Manhunt.net
Male 177, Female 24, age 35-44, 99% regulars and addicts LINK
10 Adam4Adam
Male 170, Female 31, age 35-44, 99% regulars and addicts LINK
11 American Singles
Male 120, Female 89, age 45-54, 82% regulars and addicts LINK
12 Gay.com
Male 171, Female 30, age 35-45, 96% regulars and addicts LINK
13 Hot or Not
Male 122, Female 78, age 18-24, 95% regulars and addicts LINK
14 MSN Match
Male 103, Female 97, age 45-54, 71% regulars and addicts LINK
15 Cupid
Male 110, Female 89, age 45-54, 95% regulars and addicts LINK

eHarmony clearly has more guys than girls. Given the raunchy TRUE advertising, one would expect a higher representation of males than the 116 scored here.  I think this is because TRUE is using their raunchy advertising in male oriented spots, and also, the edgy ads still manage to attract women.  American Singles scored higher with a 120 for males. The gay sites and PlentyofFish have the highest addiction levels. Yahoo Personals, TRUE, and Mate1 scored a little low for user engagement. All in the 74-78% range. – Mark Brooks

Male/Female Quantcast Ratios of Top Dating Properties

Posted on February 27, 2007

MalefemaleOPW — Feb 26th — Here are the male/female ratios, most popular age range, and proportion of visits from 'regulars' and 'addicts.' Ranking courtesy of Hitwise. Ratios, age range and addiction levels courtesy of Quantcast. '100' represents the 'internet average.'

1 Singlesnet 
Male 112, Female 88, age 45-54, 91% of visits from regulars and addicts LINK
2 Yahoo Personals
Male 114, Female 85, age 45-54, 78% regulars and addicts LINK 
3 RUET
Male 116, Female 83, age 45-54, 77% regulars and addicts LINK 
4 Match
Male 100, Female 99, age 45-54, 94% regulars and addicts LINK
5 eHarmony
Male 73, Female 125, age 25-34 and 35-44, 95% regulars and addicts LINK 
6 Plentyoffish
Male 112, Female 87, age 45-54, 98% regulars and addicts LINK
7 Mate1
Male 97, Female 102, age 45-54, 74% regulars and addicts LINK
8 Blackpeoplemeet
Male 94, Female 105, age 35-44, 96% regulars and addicts LINK
9 Manhunt.net
Male 177, Female 24, age 35-44, 99% regulars and addicts LINK
10 Adam4Adam
Male 170, Female 31, age 35-44, 99% regulars and addicts LINK
11 American Singles
Male 120, Female 89, age 45-54, 82% regulars and addicts LINK
12 Gay.com
Male 171, Female 30, age 35-45, 96% regulars and addicts LINK
13 Hot or Not
Male 122, Female 78, age 18-24, 95% regulars and addicts LINK
14 MSN Match
Male 103, Female 97, age 45-54, 71% regulars and addicts LINK
15 Cupid
Male 110, Female 89, age 45-54, 95% regulars and addicts LINK

eHarmony clearly has more guys than girls. Given the raunchy TRUE advertising, one would expect a higher representation of males than the 116 scored here.  I think this is because TRUE is using their raunchy advertising in male oriented spots, and also, the edgy ads still manage to attract women.  American Singles scored higher with a 120 for males. The gay sites and PlentyofFish have the highest addiction levels. Yahoo Personals, TRUE, and Mate1 scored a little low for user engagement. All in the 74-78% range. – Mark Brooks

2007 Wharton Tech. Conference Features Leading Business Figures

Posted on February 26, 2007

WtcBUSINESS WIRE — Feb 1 — The 11th Technology Conference will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Friday, February 23rd. Speakers include Rob Carter the CIO of FedEx, Al Nugent the CTO of Computer Associates, Frank Abagnale Jr. of  'Catch Me If You Can.'  Also, Keith Rabois the VP Business Development of LinkedIn, Markus Frind the CEO & Founder of Plentyoffish.com, and Art Chang, President & Founder, Tipping Point Partners on Web 2.0 technology. FULL ARTICLE @ BUSINESS WIRE

2007 Wharton Tech. Conference Features Leading Business Figures

Posted on February 26, 2007

WtcBUSINESS WIRE — Feb 1 — The 11th Technology Conference will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Friday, February 23rd. Speakers include Rob Carter the CIO of FedEx, Al Nugent the CTO of Computer Associates, Frank Abagnale Jr. of  'Catch Me If You Can.'  Also, Keith Rabois the VP Business Development of LinkedIn, Markus Frind the CEO & Founder of Plentyoffish.com, and Art Chang, President & Founder, Tipping Point Partners on Web 2.0 technology. FULL ARTICLE @ BUSINESS WIRE

Playing With Matches

Posted on February 23, 2007

UserlenlyleonardoDAILY PRESS — Feb 22 –I'd like to see a law pass endorsing arranged marriages. In the meantime, I'll study the personal ads. I've bookmarked online dating sites like eHarmony and Perfect Match. Singles begin their adventure by filling in a few blanks. This brings them a handful of leads with names like "Goodtime Gertie." To view a more refined assortment, they must fork over some cash. But here's an exception: PlentyofFish.com is free.

Mark Brooks: I'm working on a study of the success story sections of the top 30 dating properties. JDate is strong with 195 complete with pictures.