Match.com Europe’s #1 in Online Dating

Posted on December 4, 2004

LONDON — In its first report of pan-European Internet behaviour, independent measurement firm comScore Media Metrix ranked Match.com as the leading online dating site in Europe. According to comScore data, Match.com sites drew nearly four million visitors in October, over 60% more than its closest competitor. #1 Match.com sites 3,960,000 uniques, #2 Ilove.de 2,404,000 uniques, #3 Meetic 2,209,000 uniques, #4 MSN Dating and Personals 1,792,000 uniques, #5 Matchnet 1,310,000 uniques PRNEWSWIRE

Mark Brooks: I just returned from a trip to the UK. The internet, online personals and speed dating seem far more popular since my last visit 2 years ago.

UK Singletons Turn To Web For Dates

Posted on December 4, 2004

YAHOO NEWS UK & IRELAND — Broadband provider PIPEX asked 2,000 men and women what they would be using the Internet for in five years time, and discovered that 9% expected to be looking for love, compared with 6% of women. With 10% of British adults currently living alone, internet dating sites could be hosting almost five million single surfers by 2009. Londoners are the most likely to log on (13%), whereas those in the North will stick to more traditional techniques (just 5% expect to be looking for love online in the next five years).

Mark Brooks: Not virgin territory but still, good territory as the Brits warm up to online dating. The British market is a few steps behind the US market.

3rd Internet Dating Conference to be Held Jan 19-20 in Miami

Posted on December 4, 2004

NEW YORK — Ticonderoga Ventures, Inc. announces the third Internet Dating Conference, to be held on January 19-20, 2005 in Miami at the Wyndham Miami Beach Resort. Internet personals, which includes both online dating and social networking, continues to be one of the fastest growing online businesses.  The 3rd Conference and expo will focus on management, technology and marketing for the industry. Speakers at this event include executives from: Love.com, America Online, Cupid.com, Friendfinder, MingleMatch, True.com, Weblogs Inc, Userplane, Trilibis, Keynote, Market Data Enterprises, ComScore, Hitwise, Relationship Exchange, DatingRev, Spring Street Networks, One Real World, Online Personals Watch, Look Better Online, Did-It.com, SoHo Digital, Trufina and RevShare.

Mark Brooks: I'll be presenting on the most notable OnlinePersonalsWatch listed news in 2004.  See you there.

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

Elfster – Secret Santas Head Online

Posted on December 4, 2004

CONTRA COSTA TIMES — Two years ago, there was Friendster. At the beginning of the year came Catster for cats and Dogster for dogs. Now there's Elfster — to link elves with elves? Sort of. Computer programmer Peter Imburg of Oakland created the Web site to organize high-tech Secret Santa gift exchanges.

The full article was originally published at Contra Costa Times, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: It's amazing the breadth of spin-offs and copycats Friendster has inspired. Tired of Friendster? Try http://www.fiendster.com.  fyi… http://www.everyonesconnected.com was one of the few precursors to Friendster and part of Jonathan's (Founder) inspiration set.

October 2004 Comscore Rankings

Posted on December 4, 2004

Reuters — In October, eHarmony had 3.2 million uniques and was the fifth most-visited online dating site behind such providers as Yahoo Personals, which had 6.2 million uniques, and the Match.com, which had almost 5.5 million uniques, according to comScore Media Metrix. 

eHarmony and Friendster Launch Online Personals Matching System

Posted on December 4, 2004

BUSINESS WIRE — Nov. 30 –Friendster and eHarmony announced an exclusive partnership. The companies will jointly launch a co-branded matching service that will combine eHarmony’s patented Compatibility Matching System(TM) with Friendster’s vibrant 13-million member community to help Friendster members find love and long-term relationships.

Mark Brooks: So that’s how Friendster will make money! Nice move. Friendster gets a cut of eHarmony’s premium membership revenues without alienating their avid userbase. Still, MySpace has an even more avid, but slightly younger userbase. I wonder who they’re talking to?

Cupid.com Acquires #1 Speed Dating Company

Posted on November 23, 2004

NEW YORK, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ — Cupid.com, a leading online dating service, today announced its acquisition of PreDating, America's largest speed dating company. PreDating is the leading provider of speed dating events for single professionals in the U.S. and run local events in more than 70 cities around the country. "There's no turn downs and no pressure at these events. We searched for the perfect singles event and PreDating is it!," commented Mark Brooks, Cupid.com's VP Marketing & Business Development.

Mark Brooks: I joined Cupid to make this happen.  An industry first.  ;-)  No other online dating site has integrated singles events into their offerings like this.  Match dumped their events division recently.  It's far more efficient just to focus on one event format that plays into online dating.  Match actually used my club http://www.ace-club.com as part of their inspiration set.  Ooops.  ACE is very unwieldy.  Works fine as a little club.  It's a pig to scale.   

Phillipines Chosen as Launchpad of Friendster’s Cell Phone Service

Posted on November 23, 2004

INFOTECH — 11/21 — Friendster will soon launch its first mobile service in the Philippines to test the concept of merging the biggest online social networking service with mobile phone technology. The mobile service will soon be rolled out in other countries. Founded in August 2002 by Jonathan Abrams, Friendster has had an unprecedented growth in the number of its registered users. To date, it has 13 million users worldwide.

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

Mark Brooks: But how will Friendster make money? How about some additional services for US users? MySpace is stealing ground from you Friendster.

Lonely Expats Turn to Online Dating

Posted on November 23, 2004

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE — Membership at the largest online dating site in Europe for expats, Expatica Date has doubled in the last year to about 5,000 posted profiles with 350 paid memberships. The number of singles has risen more than 8% in the last 10 years, according to the 2003-04 GMAC Global Relocation Trends survey. The number of Internet users worldwide is expected to top one billion by 2005.

Mark Brooks: Less marriages, more divorce, less kids, older first time marriages, more singles…the institution of marriage isn’t looking so strong all of a sudden. No wonder online dating is doing so well?! Next step, expats, Europe, the world! Hey, Match just launched in Japan!