OPW – It can be tough running a dating service / app. The Courtland Brooks team can help you. We've been working for and with dating and matchmaking and social discovery services for an era.
For the price of a marketing manager you can get access to our seasoned team of online dating professionals. See Testimonials here. See pricing and service overview. Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com or simply book an opening call here.
DISTRACTIFY – Hinge has added a “Signals” feature (a beating heart icon) to highlight users who consistently engage in high‑quality behavior, including thoughtful browsing, messaging, and follow‑through. It is designed to identify people who are less likely to ghost. The badge cannot be bought; it is earned through profile completeness, verification, regular use, and positive interaction patterns, and eligibility is reassessed periodically.
LTR – Mark Brooks shares key lessons from three years of influencer marketing for dating and social connection businesses, along with examples of integrations for brands like Christian Filipina, Filipina Visa, Positive Singles, and BiCupid. He explains why influencer marketing – especially YouTube – can outperform or complement paid ads by transferring trust, telling stories, normalizing app usage, building brands, and creating compounding evergreen value. Mark outlines a strategy focused on micro-influencers, long-term monthly partnerships (not one-offs), hybrid compensation models, and cross-posting to channels like Instagram and TikTok. He then introduces the Courtland Brooks Influencer System scorecard, detailing best practices such as short on-screen links, unique landing pages, clear calls to action and offers, QR codes, top-of-description links, story relevance, preserving creator personality, avoiding the word “sponsor” in favor of “partner,” and encouraging personal sharing.
[**See the video here on YouTube**]
The January LTR was kindly sponsored by HubPeople, LeadThink and Courtland Brooks
OPW – An update to the online dating jobs listing is live here.
Below, see a couple of this month’s most interesting offers:
HubPeople – CRM Manager
Bumble – Associate Director, Performance Marketing (User Acquisition)
Hinge – Director of Product, Growth
Match Group – Senior Director of Social Media (EMEA)
Matrimony – Sales Head
Muzz – European Marketing Lead
Overtone – Head of Communications
Social Discovery Ventures – Head of Marketing (Mobile)
Tinder – VP, Business Development
Do you have an idating industry job offer that is not included? Please, send it to tips@onlinepersonalswatch.com and we will add it to the list.
EINPRESSWIRE – Mike Sherrill, co-founder of Machine Zone and creator of Game of War, invested in Singapore-based dating startup Spark. Spark is focused on helping users move from online matches to real-world dates through curated, bookable experiences. The company has ~3,500 users in Thailand and is expanding across Southeast Asia.
DATING NEWS – EliteSingles will shut down on April 30, 2026, giving users only a few days’ notice before all accounts, matches, and messages are permanently deleted. The closure is tied to ongoing financial trouble at its parent company, Spark Networks, which has been going through insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings despite recent restructuring efforts. Other Spark platforms like Christian Mingle and JDate are still operating for now, but their long-term outlook is uncertain.
DEALSEEK – According to a 2026 DealSeek survey of 1K U.S. singles, inflation is making dating more expensive. Many people are going on fewer dates and sticking to tighter budgets, usually under $75–$100. Low-cost ideas and financial honesty are now seen as attractive, while overspending and showing off wealth are turnoffs. At the same time, money pressure is changing behavior, with many singles misrepresenting their finances, trying to date higher earners, or even ghosting over financial issues.
FINSMES – Bumble Inc. has secured a $475M loan from STORY3 Capital Partners and other lenders. The company will use the funds, along with cash it already has, to refinance its existing loan.
STARTUPTICKER.CH – noii has launched in Germany, starting with its first event in Stuttgart, followed by expansion to Munich and Cologne. Originally launched as a video speed dating platform in 2022, noii shifted fully to offline dating events in 2025 after strong demand for real-life interactions. The model is already working in Switzerland, where noii hosts up to 15 events per month across six cities with ~2K participants.
