PRESS RELEASE — Nov 30 — Date.co.uk has launched its new SMS
Billing feature. Members will now be able to subscribe for a 24 Hour
Membership Pass through their mobile phone. The new Pass is available
for £3.
Category: SparkNetworks
Spark Networks Introduces Facelink
MARKET WIRE — Oct 14 — Spark Networks launched Facelink, a dating site search tool. On Facelink singles search by using free text to find others with shared passions, values and beliefs more easily. Facelink's proprietary dating search presents users with previews of potential matches' profiles. Users then link to one of Spark's 20 participating dating sites to read potential matches' complete profiles and view photos.
The full article was originally published at MarketWatch, but is no longer available.
Date.co.uk Gets A Makeover
PRESS RELEASE — July 23 — Date.co.uk, an online community for UK singles owned and operated by Spark Networks, has launched its newly revamped site. In addition to Date.co.uk's features including chat and 'Think You'd Click®', the new site now offers 11 ways to search for that 'special one' and a new range of communities where members can share interests, stories and dating experiences.
Niche Dating Sites Help Picky Singles Find Love
CANWEST — June 15 — "Online dating, back when it originally was taking off, was a large one-size-fits all mentality," says Michael Carter, president of Passions Network, a New York-based company with 110 niche sites. "Every day there are new sites out there that are focused on specific niche markets – it seems to be all the buzz." "The underlying concept is that it should be easier to break the ice with people if you share something in common," he says. About 10,000 Canadians belong to Christian Mingle, 26,000 to JDate and 12,000 to Black Singles, says Gail Laguna, VP of corporate communications for Spark Networks, which runs JDate, Asian Singles Connection, Deaf Singles Connection and Military Singles Connection, along with nearly 30 others.
The full article was originally published at Vancouver Sun, but is no longer available.
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Spark Networks Q1 ’08 Financial Results
MARKETWIRE — May 1 — Spark Networks (AMEX LOV), home to JDate, American Singles to name a few just announced their Q1 results to investors. Overall revenue is down 6% over the prior quarter, but due to lower operating costs and continued growth from JDate, Spark still saw an increase in net income of $1.6 million dollars. They also repurchased 801,000 outstanding shares. CEO Adam Berger: "JDate.com grew for the third straight quarter following last year's price increase and we continued JDate's international expansion with the launch of JDate.co.uk for the United Kingdom. In addition, we accelerated our ad sales initiative, increasing advertising revenue 30% over the prior quarter."
The full article was originally published at CNN Money, but is no longer available.
JDate Sparks Romance In The UK
MARKET WIRE — Apr 29 — JDate, the online community for Jewish singles, launched a sister-site in the UK. Already available in Hebrew, English, and French, JDate.co.uk is designed specifically for the UK market. With nearly 300,000 Jewish residents, the UK is home to the fifth largest Jewish population in the world.
The full article was originally published at CNN Money, but is no longer available.
Let’s Say You Want To Date A Hog Farmer
NY TIMES — Apr 27 — A growing number of people have found love on dating sites that pair members based on a specific shared interest or background, like Nerdsatheart.com, DateMyPet.com, STDmatch.net and Veggielove.com. "Singles are increasingly eager to narrow the audience and really target their needs," said Mark Brooks, a consultant who keeps his own blog, OnlinePersonalsWatch.com. "It's the same reason why Procter&Gamble makes so many detergents. We are all drawn to things that cater to our very specific desires." According to Hitwise there are now 1,378 U.S. dating sites, up from 876 three years ago. Mr. Brooks estimates that 44% of those sites in the U.S. are niche sites, up from 35% in 2006. Large companies like Match.com, eHarmony, Yahoo Personals and SinglesNet.com have the general market cornered, Mr. Brooks said, "the only real entrepreneurial opportunities left in the online dating world lie in the niche market." FarmersOnly.com has attracted 90,000 members so far, 50,000 in the last year alone. One month's membership costs $15.95. Mr. Brooks said the most successful niche sites pair people by race, sexual orientation or religion. The 20 most popular dating sites this year as ranked by Hitwise include JDate, Christian Mingle and ChristianCafe.com, Manhunt, Love From India, Amigos, Asian People Meet, and Shaadi. "A few years ago, a company called Spark Networks was putting major funding into its general dating site, American Singles," Mr. Brooks said. "But when executives saw that the Jewish market was huge and relatively untouched, they switched gears and ratcheted up JDate." FULL ARTICLE @ NY TIMES. Also in THE LEDGER
JDate Named Official Honoree In 12th Annual Webby Awards
PRESS RELEASE — Apr 24 — JDate, the dating site for Jewish singles, has been selected as an Official Honoree for the Social Networking category in the 12th Annual Webby Awards. Called the "Oscars of the Internet" by the New York Times, the Webby is the leading international award honoring excellence in Web design, creativity, usability and functionality.
The full article was originally published at CNN Money, but is no longer available.
Spark Networks Establishes Open Market Stock Buyback Program Of Up To 1,000,000 Shares
CNN — Mar 10 — Spark Networks, a provider of online personals
services, has established a repurchase program for the purchase of up
to 1,000,000 shares of Spark Networks Common Stock. Purchases will be
made in the open market by a broker.
Money And Relationships: It’s Love 3.0
REPORT ON BUSINESS– Feb 14 — Unlike Facebook and MySpace, whose values are based largely on their potential to generate future revenues, online dating sites are making millions from user fees and advertisers now. For Vancouver-based PlentyofFish.com, the emergence of love 3.0 has generated what its creator Markus Frind admits is a global cash machine. More than 600,000 people log on to his site every day. Online dating has become a billion-dollar industry; companies that own a portfolio of sites, such as Spark Networks, are ringing up revenues of between $15-million (U.S.) and $18-million every quarter.
The full article was originally published at The Globe and Mail, but is no longer available.