Category: Uncategorized

PR WEB — June 23 — DatingDr.com offers new personalized internet dating profile makeover services aimed towards 'hip' internet daters. RELEASE @ PR WEB

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES — June 20 — Meetro has a new spin on social networks: tapping into location Wi-Fi hotspot info to link Wi-Fi users.  "Imagine you were at a convention, in an airport or just hanging out, and wanted to meet people," said Paul Bragiel, 27, co-founder and chief executive of Meetro. "Meetro can help make that happen. Meetro pops up and tells you who's around."  He plans to "monetize" Meetro, which has eight employees, by licensing software to city Web pages, conventions and other businesses that want to put people together locally. 

The full article was originally published at Chicago Sun-Times, but is no longer available.

MARKETWATCH — June 18 — MySpace.com has attracted 18.5 million members from the coveted 16-34-year-old demographic.  It’s drawing 2 million registered users per month, according to Chris DeWolfe, CEO.  Chris Gorog, Napster’s CEO, said that MySpace was the "bellwether for where the industry is going," referring to how Napster might get its music services out to millions of potential subscribers by using the social-networking techniques deployed by MySpace.com.  FULL ARTICLE @ MARKETWATCH

BANGOR NEWS — June 16 — I always assumed that whatever lying occurs on online personals sites is more like fudging the truth.  An old college pal was lied to, big time, and he wasn't sure what to do.  One woman was different. They chatted and seemed to hit it off and her profile picture was cute. He was intrigued. Then Rich suggested they meet – and she shut down. Finally she confessed the photo on her profile was actually a photo of her friend.  She wasn't anywhere near as attractive.  Rich wanted to give her leeway.  What to do? 

The full article was originally published at Bangor News, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: Poor girl…poor guy.  This is an extreme case but this sort of thing happens all the time; average looking people posting photos of themselves when they were 5 years younger and 10lbs lighter.  I like LookBetterOnline.com as a partial solution to this problem.  They take great (up to date) pictures and put a date stamp on the pictures.  Not glamor shots, but pictures of people in their best possible light.  Let's face it, most users put up really bad pictures…and that's not good for business.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS — June 16 — The uninhibited UK Big Brother housemates have thrown themselves enthusiastically into speed dating – with naughty nurse Makosi bagging two smooches in just one night.  Anthony romantically described his action-filled time with Makosi: "Me and Makosi was just bish, bosh!"

Mark Brooks: Alas…bish, bosh has not made it into the UK dictionary yet…but you know what it means I’m sure.  London speak for ‘they got on rather well.’

LACROSSE TRIBUNE — June 15 — Wisconsin Singles Inc., aka Renaissance for Singles, a Wisconsin-based dating service will pay nearly $12,000 in fines and change the way it does business as part of a settlement with the Wisconsin Attorney General’s Office.  It will partially refund 18 Wisconsin consumers who filed complaints.  The dating service did not advise them properly of the organization’s cancellation policies, the length of time they would have to wait before receiving their first match and the terms of contract expiration, refunds and renewals.  FULL ARTICLE @ LACROSSE TRIBUNE

DECATUR HERALD REVIEW — June 13 — Speed dating has gained popularity in larger cities and is starting to emerge in Decatur.  Jan Gist-Niesman, owner of Just One More, decided she wanted to help singles connect by running speed dating events. "Did you bring your medical records with you?" she asked each man, which seemed to break the ice and got a few chuckles.  One attendee said, "if there is no spark (with a woman) the first time, then it won’t work."  Speed dating was first introduced last summer at Gregory’s Grille in Decatur.  Unfortunately, more than 30 women showed up and only two men.  Scott Jones, organizer, said more mature adults gravitate to the events.  "People need a little help meeting each other, especially in this age group (older than 30).  We are also an affiliate of Match.com, but people get caught up in that e-mail hell and never make the jump to meeting in person."  FULL ARTICLE @ HERALD REVIEW

Mark Brooks: The three big national speed dating companies are #1 Predating (now owned by Cupid.com), #2 Hurrydate (speedating in combination with online dating), #3 8 Minute Dating (Tom Jaffee’s service is ripe for acquisition)

DEUTSCHE WELLE — June 13 — For good Catholics, the search for a spouse is like looking for a needle in a modern haystack. In Germany, help is on the way with the new online dating portal http://www.kathTreff.org for Catholics interested in marriage — not just a casual flirt.  It launched in May has had 300 registrations.  It's the brainchild of a 62 year old Austrian bishop Andreas Laun. 

The full article was originally published at Deutche Welle, but is no longer available.

June 13, 2005 — When Taek Kwon (formerly City Search) takes the reins today as CEO of Friendster, he'll have his work cut out for him.  The social networking Web site was a media industry darling, while being named one of Time magazine's 50 Coolest Web sites in 2004.  "Friendster used to be the only game in town, and a lot of people copied off of that success," Kwon said. "The landscape now is that there are a lot more options, which has really changed the competitive landscape."  Friendster now boasts 16 million users. "There was a lot of investment into this segment that was eerily similar to the late '90s boom. They figured, 'We'll get a big audience and then figure out how to make money later,'" said David Card, media analyst with Jupiter Research. "But they might be realizing that just signing up users is useless."  Says Kwon, "when Friendster launched it wasn't really so much of a service as it was a platform. Now some of the other players have really taken that platform in some different directions, some interesting directions."  The evolution into topic-specific destinations left some Friendster subscribers, and possibly Friendster management, wondering: What, exactly, does Friendster do to differentiate itself?  The company is non-committal on the exact direction that will lead Friendster to big profits, or the exact group to target. Kwon listed music, education and business networking as proven themes for drawing in an audience, and noted that in the future music and video services might be a way to offer users more options. "We haven't formally made a bet on any of these strategies, but we know that's a decision that needs to be made in short order," Kwon said. FULL ARTICLE @ ABCNEWS

Mark Brooks: Some critical decisions ahead.  I'd like to see an introduction of evite-esque functionality to Friendster.  That's the direction I was working in with Jonathan in 2003.

PRWEB — June 8 — Online Personals Watch today announced a working relationship with Ticonderoga Ventures/Internet Dating Conference.  Editor/blogger, Mark Brooks will act as media relations manager for Ticonderoga’s Internet Dating Conferences and write the twice monthly "iDate/OPW Insider" which currently reaches over 3,200 online personals industry executives and associates.  Additionally, Mr. Brooks will present an overview of top wireless and mobile enabled online dating companies, along with a white paper, at the next Internet Dating Conference, July 21-22, at the Hilton San Francisco. Press who are interested in attending this event should contact Mark Brooks directly at 408-828-6886. Future Internet Dating Conferences are scheduled in Prague, Miami and Beijing.