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May 27, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
I'm off to the International Internet Dating Convention for the weekend. Looking forward to seeing Evan Marc Katz deliver the keynote Friday night and the party afterwards. Email me if you're attending and let's connect.
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+ TrackBacks (0) | Category: Dating Events
Posted by Dave Evans
EHarmony.com Inc. this month received U.S. Patent No. 6,735,568, which describes a "method and system for identifying people who are likely to have a successful relationship." Can the elusive art of matchmaking be reduced to equations and databases?
"EHarmony, which costs $50 per month or $250 per year, doesn't guarantee a diamond ring - or even a first date. Researchers reject one in five people who complete the free questionnaire and, according to the index, aren't the marrying type." With over four million users, eHarmony is the Internet's fastest growing relationship service.
Kohonen neural networks, supervised backpropogated neural network, here's a link to the patent itself.
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+ TrackBacks (0) | Category: Dating Site | News | eharmony
Posted by Dave Evans
More info on Match.com founder Gary Kremen in WIRED.
In 1994, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers offered to invest in the online classifieds business that Match.com was part of, but the VCs wanted to merge it with Architext, which would become Excite.com. Kremen said no, because he wouldn't be made CEO of the new company. Instead, he accepted money from a group of investors led by Canaan Partners.
Match.com was sold for $8 million in 1997 to Cendant, a Connecticut consumer services company. (A year and a half later, Cendant sold it to Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch for $50 million.) All Kremen got was $50,000 and a lifetime account on the site - his login is "The Founder."
The rest of the article is about the famous domain name scandal over sex.com.
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+ TrackBacks (0) | Category: Dating Site | Finance | Rumors
Posted by Dave Evans
Note: We're not going to run every anti-(insert dating service name) page we come across but this one caught our attention.
Great Expectations (GE) claims to be the nation's premiere dating service. This page will tell you the truth about how GE operates, how it treats its customers, how much it charges, and how little it delivers.
On 2/13/04, the Kansas AG filed against the Overland Park Great Expectations. The suit seeks more than $1.1 million for more than 100 alleged violations of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act.
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+ TrackBacks (0) | Category: Dating Site
Posted by Dave Evans
The survey was conducted during June 2003 by Knowledge Networks, using its web-enabled consumer research panel, a randomly recruited and nationally representative sample of the U.S. population.
• Full report (182 pages)
• Executive Summary (16 pages)
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+ TrackBacks (0) | Category: News | Research
Posted by Dave Evans
Recognizing that almost 39 million American singles did not vote in the 2000 presidential election*, Match.com, the global leader in online dating offering the industry's most advanced and comprehensive science-based matching technologies, is launching a voter awareness and registration drive designed to mobilize the nation's singles, both men and women of all political affiliations.
Match.com's voter awareness program, called "Every Single Vote Counts," will consist of online and offline communications programs providing singles with information on why they should register to vote and giving them resources to get signed-up in their local communities. Match.com will also be conducting research on how singles perceive the issues and the Presidential candidates themselves. This data will be released throughout the course of the campaign.
Offline, Match is planning to provide voter registration information at upcoming MatchLive events for singles around the country and will host debate watching parties for singles after the Democratic and Republican National Conventions this summer.
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May 26, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
Beliefnet.com, the leading multifaith, spirituality and religion web site, announced today that it will be launching Soulmatch, a values-oriented, spiritually-attuned online dating service. Today, Beliefnet unveiled a beta version of the service and invited users to pre-register and create user profiles.
"The questionnaire tries to display each person's core values -- whether they spring from a secular ethical upbringing, a spiritual sensibility, or a religious background," noted Steven Waldman, Editor in Chief and CEO of Beliefnet. Release.
After I was asked if I wanted to to subscribe to newsletters such as "Faith-based jokes" and "Spiritual Weight Loss", the site displayed "Sorry" and wouldn't let me in. It's beta so we'll let that slide, but just for today.
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Posted by Dave Evans
Fox News story about the role of cell phones in dating, which is much more popular in the UK and Japan than the US, although that will change as more services become available which aren't tied to any one particular service.
Snip...
Match.com, launched Match Mobile last year, which allows singles to view profiles and photos of other singles on their cell phone display screens and then send chat requests to begin flirting via text message.
The mobile service, which currently has 67,000 profiles — 69 percent male and 31 percent female — appeals to a younger demographic, according to McDermott.
"It's more of a 20-something product than a 40-something product," she said. "Mobile phone dating was for us a way to reach out to a community of single people who feel comfortable texting."
About 80 percent of Match Mobile members are 34 and under, while only 60 percent of overall Match.com members are in that age group.
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May 25, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
According to this article in the San Diego Union Tribune, Gary Kremen, the 40-year-old bachelor who founded Match.com is living large near San Diego. He has weaned himself off drugs, began an exercise regimen and found a steady girlfriend.
Since he founded the popular dating site in 1993 with $2 million in venture capital, Kremen has been on the winning side of $80 million in court judgments and settlements, including $15 Million last month from Network Solutions, over the legendary sex.com domain name dispute.
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+ TrackBacks (0) | Category: Rumors
Posted by Dave Evans
AmericanSingles.com, one of the largest online communities for singles, launched today a unique, interactive technology that helps individual members determine if a mutual attraction exists with another member.
The patented technology, called Click!(TM), takes much of the guess work out of online dating, by providing added confidence to initiate contact with other singles. While viewing profiles that meet members' individual preferences, members are asked "Think you'd click?" with the option to answer "yes," "no," or "maybe." When two mutual "yes" choices are made, AmericanSingles alerts both members and encourages them to contact one another. "Maybe" selections are e-mailed to members at a later date, presenting the opportunity for them to reconsider. If a member answers "no," that response is kept private. Release.
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Posted by Dave Evans
30 Million dollars for 18 million email addresses, on annual sales of $25 million. Someone help with this, what's it all mean?
Monster Worldwide (MNST) said it's buying Tickle, a 5-year-old San Francisco-based company that's drawn members by offering psychological and personality tests. Internet surfers may be familiar with that pop-up advertisement of Einstein's IQ test. The site, while being cast as a career assessment service, looks more like an online version of Cosmopolitan magazine, with its bevy of questions and surveys.
No matter. Monster found it attractive enough to pay $29.5 million in cash and 1 million of its shares for Tickle's membership of 18 million active users. There's another $40 million that could be paid out over three years, conditioned upon Tickle meeting certain financial hurdles. The 1 million shares were worth roughly $24 million on Monday, when the transaction was announced.
On the acquisition news, Monster's stock fell 2 percent to $23.82 in Tuesday morning trading. Release
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+ TrackBacks (0) | Category: Dating Site | News
Posted by Dave Evans
According to a new report from the Online Publishers Association, consumer spending on online content grew to nearly $1.6 billion in 2003, an increase of 18.8% over 2002.
The organization’s “2003 Paid Online Content U.S. Market Spending Report,” conducted in partnership with comScore Networks, found that Personals/Dating sites reaped the most revenue, with U.S. consumers spending $449.5 million on Personals/Dating content in 2003, up almost 50% from 2002.
The top three paid content categories, Personals/Dating, Business/Investment and Entertainment/Lifestyles, accounted for 64% of total online content spending in 2003, up slightly from 62.6% in 2002. Online Personals/Dating remained the leading paid content category in 2003, accounting for 28.8% of all paid content spending. The Personal Growth category grew by 104.5% from $44.3 million in 2002 to $90.7 million in 2003. Download full report.
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Posted by Dave Evans
LOS ANGELES/EWORLDWIRE/May 24, 2004 --- With the popularity of Internet dating soaring, a new dating site stands out from the rest. MarriedSecrets.com touts itself as the only dating website specifically designed for married people.
Due to the anonymity of online dating, it has never before been easier for people to find each other both anonymously and with little effort. MarriedSecrets.com makes it especially easy for individuals who are looking for some relationship outside of marriage to find other likeminded people. The site is meant to serve those people who want to stay married, yet meet some quality people for discreet hook-ups for whatever reason. Release.
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May 24, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 2004--Cherish.com, a premier online dating site, today announced it is officially launching. To date, Cherish has become one of the largest free dating sites on the Web.
In a marketplace where many online dating sites are geared toward men, Cherish.com is offering free lifetime memberships to women. Starting this month, male members will be charged $19.95 for their participation.
Founder Pat Martin used his personal experience in the online dating world to create Cherish.com. "Cherish provides a fun and safe environment for online dating. The site was designed with women's concerns in mind, which I believe will benefit our female as well as our male members," stated Martin.
Cherish.com has also re-designed the look of the site, which uses advanced search technology to match key characteristics among members. One unique feature Cherish offers members is the ability to define who has access to their profile.
Two prominent dating experts have been brought on board to assist members in their search. Dr. Lauren Durant, a licensed clinical psychologist and relationship coach, will provide content on the site and address dating from the female perspective. Her seminar, "A Good Man is NOT Hard to Find" has helped many women find dating success.
David Wygant, one of the world's premier dating authorities, will provide content on the site and give dating advice from the male perspective. For more than nine years, he has advised actors, celebrities, multi-millionaires as well as everyday people on how to transform the quality of their lives through meeting that special someone.
"Cherish.com offers something truly different. David Wygant known, as 'The Ultimate Wing Man,' and Dr. Lauren Durant will provide our members with insight into the world of successful online dating. We are excited both have joined the Cherish family," stated Martin.
The Cherish.com community is operated by Cherish, Inc. and is part of the WebSourced, Inc. group of Internet properties. Cherish.com is backed by CGI Holding Corporation (OTC: CGIH.OB).
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Posted by Dave Evans
PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 2004--eHarmony, the Internet's fastest growing relationship service, today announced the launch of an extensive new research initiative into marital satisfaction. eHarmony has established a new category in the highly competitive online dating field by the quality of its research into the human dimensions required for successful marriage. Following the recent issue of eHarmony's first patent, J. Galen Buckwalter, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and vice president of research for eHarmony, is now directing the research department in the largest study of marital satisfaction ever conducted.
"eHarmony has the only patented system that matches couples based on scientifically proven research," explained Dr. Buckwalter. "We are aggressively pursuing new studies into relationship satisfaction to continue to improve every aspect of eHarmony's Compatibility Matching System(TM). We know that our system works, but we also recognize that the growth of the company and the enthusiasm of our users provides us a rare opportunity to study relationships in ways that no one else in the field can."
The comprehensive new study will follow selected users from the time they are initially matched by eHarmony.com until they walk down the aisle ... and beyond. "We are excited to expand our groundbreaking research into relationships," said Neil Clark Warren, Ph.D., founder of eHarmony. "A distinguished panel of psychology experts enables us to conduct the most successful research into dating, marriage and relationships, expanding the industry's collective pool of knowledge and the effectiveness of eHarmony's matching, which has already produced thousands of happy marriages."
The most recent study, to be presented by Steven Ross Carter, Ph.D., senior research scientist for eHarmony, at the American Psychological Society in Chicago on May 27, 2004, shows that couples matched by eHarmony's Compatibility Matching System(TM) report greater satisfaction in their marriages than similar married couples married for the same length of time who met through other means. The research project, completed in January 2004, involved 1,347 married couples.
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+ TrackBacks (0) | Category: News | eharmony
May 21, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
TOKYO — The National Association of Juvenile Guidance Counselors said Thursday that starting June 1, 112 counselors and other volunteers will monitor the contents of online dating services to prevent minors from falling victim to crimes, particularly juvenile prostitution.
If a counselor finds minors under the age of 18 using online dating sites, they will alert the minors by email. The counselor will contact the operators of online dating sites if they fail to confirm the age of users or display no legal age to use their services in accordance with the law regulating online dating sites. News Item from Kyodo News.
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Posted by Dave Evans
BUSINESS WIRE- Userplane, a pioneer in applying instant messaging to support live communications in the enterprise, today announced that it is providing its Userplane Instant Communicator™ audio/video instant messaging solution to SocialTree.com, a social networking online community. Read the entire release.
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May 19, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
According to Miami Today, Date.com has leased 2,000 square feet in the area.
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May 18, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
mylovezone
From the Industry Standard...
Outstanding opportunity awaits a resourceful, dynamic entrepreneur.
Previous “president” title not important.
What we offer:
This is an amazing opportunity for a person whose ability to generate a great deal of money is surpassed only by their wit and personal integrity. Our online company is built and ready to roll. It has a fully functioning online dating site that is currently “live” and accepting new members (our official launch date is May 9, 2004). You will be working directly with a noted celebrity whose endorsement is contracted. Our legal representation is excellent. Current staff includes 2 full time employees, contract workers and IT support. The working environment is open and relaxed.
Education requirements / Experience:
- Experience in top-level management position with small start-up companies.
- Experience in guerilla marketing.
- Internet related experience.
- Trend forecast abilities.
- “Been there, done that” will be a great advantage.
- Business development experience.
- Education: MS preferred, BS/BA required.
Job Requirements:
- Aggressive style and high-energy personality.
- Managing financials, human resources and budgets.
- Managing the product/services strategies of the company.
- Ability to write business plan and deliver to plan.
- Computer/Internet savvy.
- Strong marketing skills, especially guerilla marketing.
- Strong business development skills.
- Solid sales ability. Pitching skills.
- Full P&L responsibility.
- Strong leadership and organizational skills.
- Working with the board to determine the overall strategy.
- Hands on position. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get down to business.
Compensation:
Compensation will depend on the experience, knowledge and related skills. The
compensation package includes base salary, monthly bonus, stock option plan and
benefits. We offer a competitive benefits package including medical insurance, paid
vacation and holidays. We will prefer candidates who will take equity stake in lieu of
cash compensation (indicate this in your application).
The qualified candidate will report directly to the Principals.
Unfortunately, we do not offer a relocation package at this time.
Contact:
Submit an impressive resume by e-mail only info@mylovezone.com
Include the word “President” in the subject box. No phone calls. No agencies.
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Posted by Dave Evans
Animal Attraction, an online dating and special events community for pet lovers, celebrates its official full-scale “launch” today, Tuesday, May 18, 2004. The press release states that Animal Attraction blends the top-grossing online business category with a growing $30 billion pet products, services and lifestyle industry. The site also features pet care information from the Humane Society of The United States and information on Animal Attraction “meet-ups” and Animal Attraction-hosted events across the country.
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+ TrackBacks (0) | Category: Dating Site
Posted by Dave Evans
Fusepoint Managed Services (fusepoint.com) announced on Tuesday that it has been selected by online dating service Lemontonic as its Web hosting and managed IT services provider. Under the agreement, Fusepoint will manage Lemontonic's entire IT infrastructure, hosting and managing the Web site and all its messaging, e-commerce and database applications. Fusepoint will host Lemontonic's infrastructure out of its data center facility in Toronto, Canada. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Lemontonic's financials are here.
Fusepoint recently announced a second round of institutional financing, securing an additional US$10 million from lead investor M/C Venture Partners.
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+ TrackBacks (0) | Category: Technology
Posted by Dave Evans
SingleShots has sent out the May Issue of their newsletter, The Contact Sheet. Last week they teamed with PersonalTrainers.com for their inaugural Social Circles workshop helping people learn how to get more out of their online experience by improving their profiles.
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Posted by Dave Evans
There are 13 openings as of today. A few choice options:
Manager, Business Development
Sr. Mgr, Strategic Planning
Sr. Director, Public Relations
Analyst, Strategic Alliances
Read more at CareerBuilder.com.
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May 17, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
This event marks the launch of the Singles Industry Trade Association - The Single Source for the Singles Industry. CEO's and senior executives from leading companies in the industry will gather for this two day conference and networking event.
Monday, 14 June 2004
Time: 1:00 - 2:30pm
Topic: Professional Matchmaker Committee Organizational Meeting
Coordinator:
Kailen Rosenberg
President
Global Love Mergers
Time: 2:30 - 4:00pm
Topic: Ethics Committee Organizational Meeting
Coordinator:
Robert J. Dombkowski
Chairman
SITRAS
Tuesday, 15 June 2004
Topic: Welcome and SITRAS Overview
Coordinator:
Robert J. Dombkowski
Chairman
SITRAS
Time: 9:20 - 10:00am
Topic: Singles Industry Insights
Speaker: TBA
Time: 10:00 - 11:00am
Topic: Online Dating: Executive Roundtable
Moderator: TBA
Time: 11:00 - 11:45am
Topic: Feeder Businesses: Converting, Retaining, Earning
Speaker: David Evans President
Rest of schedule
Event info
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Posted by Dave Evans
The Internet Dating Conference (Nice 2004) event covers the Internet Dating and Social Networking industry. Topics included will be the business management and marketing of Internet Dating and Social Networking websites that target the Europan Union. It will be held on July 15-16, 2004 at the Nice Acropolis Congress and Exposition Center in Nice.
The 2 day Internet Dating Conference will spend also adequate time focusing on both online and traditional forms of European marketing in order to increase singles-related traffic and conversion rates. Only experts on the topic that have experience with Social Networking, Online Dating and European Marketing will present at this event.
Covered at this event will be issues with online dating for specific E.U. countries, which will include language and cultural issues involved with attracting and retaining singles. Additional discussions palnned for the event:
Non-English Based Website Design and Functionality
Social Networking Issues Varying from Country to Country
Mobile Telephone Dating and Wireless Online Dating for Europe
Payment Processing Within the E.U.
and many others.
Read more.
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Posted by Dave Evans
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?
Form a Trade Association for the Online Dating Industry. Just about every other category of business in America has an association that fights for its rights. Why not the online dating industry?
Network with your fellow dating website owners and managers. Here’s your chance to work together with other companies in your industry. Opportunities to acquire other dating websites (or be acquired) will also be available.
Promote online dating as the world’s premiere method for meeting a romantic partner. The national news media will be invited, and expected to cover this event. While online dating receives frequent media coverage, often it is negative and reports on extremely isolated horror stories. The National Association of Dating Websites will aim to portray online dating in a more favorable light.
WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE?
Friday, May 28 (open to the general public, news media, and online dating industry
7pm – Exhibits of major dating websites open.
7:30pm – Keynote Address by Evan Marc Katz, author of I Can't Believe I'm Buying This Book - A Commonsense Guide to Successful Internet Dating," which is America's hottest book on online dating.
9pm – Midnight – Dance Party.
Saturday, May 29 (open to dating website owners/managers only)
9am-Noon – Networking meeting of the online dating industry. A Trade Association will be formed. Attendees will be given the opportunity to introduce themselves.
Noon – Lunch (no-host) in hotel restaurant for further networking.
WHAT IS THE COST?
$50 per person to attend all sessions and the partt.
Please note: Exhibit Space also available. Dating websites that wish to exhibit at the convention will receive a 6 foot table and chairs, at a cost of $500. Larger exhibit space available at additional cost. Exhibitor staff admitted free to all sessions (limit of 10 per exhibit). Exhibitors will also be promoted to the news media.
WHO IS SPONSORING?
American Singles Education, Inc., the world’s largest non-profit singles organization. American Singles is the only organization that sponsors events for romantic eligibles worldwide, on six continents. A list of events sponsored by American Singles over the past 26 years is available upon request. We publish Possibilities for Romantic Eligibles, California's only magazine for singles.
WHAT ABOUT THE HOTEL?
The Holiday Inn Golden Gateway is just steps away from the California St. Cable Car turnaround and has fantastic views of the city and the bay. Club Interlude Lounge is located on the lobby level. Brand new exercise room, outdoor heated pool. Abundant shopping, dining and entertainment choices, all within walking distance. 499 Guest Rooms with 5 suites. 26 floors. Rental Car desk. Distance from San Francisco International Airport is 14 miles. Taxi fee is $30-$40. Shuttle Fee is $14 on Super Shuttle. We have reserved a block of rooms at the hotel at the rate of only $99 per room, an excellent price.  To reserve a room, call  415/441-4000 and ask for the Internet Dating Convention rate.
DIRECTIONS TO THE HOTEL
From San Francisco Airport take Hwy 101 north, which becomes Van Ness Ave. Follow Van Ness Ave. north to hotel at 1500 Van Ness, between Pine and California St. From North Bay take Hwy 101 south across Golden Gate Bridge; Lombard St. east; right on Van Ness. From East Bay take Hwy 80 (Bay Bridge) to Hwy 101 N to Van Ness. There is a large parking structure at the hotel at additional cost.
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR THE CONVENTION?
Send your check to American Singles, 205 Mark Twain Ave., San Rafael CA 94903. For more information, call 415/479-3800 or email richgosse@comcast.net.
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Posted by Dave Evans
Judging by the kids on their website, 52 Card Pickup is targeting hipsters with sub-par social skills. The list of party ideas is more about a how to use the cards in case you didn't know how to pass decks out at the door at your singles event. Note to the founders, drink coasters would have been much cooler, but we still think the idea is neat.
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Posted by Dave Evans
Another profile editing service has launched today. Amazing Profiles is brought to you by the folks at SpecialityMatch Network. SpecialityMatch also owns TryInternetDating and My Country Match, where "down-to-earth singles adults" connect. Similar to other profile enhancement services, Amazing Profiles will "enhance" your photo for $30 and conduct a Power Interview for $34.95.
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Posted by Dave Evans
Match has rolled out a Flash game called Pick That Line as part of their online speedmatching service. The idea is to correctly unscramble a come-on phrase before the timer runs out. Beware, you'll end up a Momma's Boy if you don't pay attention. What is the benefit of this game? I feel like I just lost 10 minutes of my life that I'll never get back. There are many other more compelling ways to grab the attention of someone thinking about trying online speed dating, thats for sure. You can play the game here.
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May 12, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
Snip... Personals/Dating, Business/Investment and Entertainment/Lifestyles - accounted for 64.0 percent of total online content spending in 2003, up slightly from 62.6 percent in 2002. Online Personals/Dating remained the leading paid content category in 2003, accounting for 28.8 percent of all paid content spending. U.S. consumers spent $449.5 million on Personals/Dating content in 2003, up a robust 48.8 percent from 2002.
The 2003 Paid Online Content U.S. Market Spending Report can be found at the Online Publishers Association Web site at www.online-publishers.org.
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May 10, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
Nestled between The U.S. Parking Garages Industry and The U.S. Carpet Cleaning Industry you'll find The U.S. Dating Services Market Report
This newly updated 3rd edition Marketdata study is a fascinating analysis of one of the oldest professions—matchmaking. “Introduction services” are riding a wave of popularity, fueled by the proliferation of dating-related reality TV shows. This little-researched market is a now a $1.08 billion business in the U.S., as online dating services have skyrocketed in popularity since 2001. The Web has revolutionized this business and has brought affordable and convenient matchmaking to the masses. Dating website revenues grew 40% last year and Europe is the next untapped market. Off-line chains, print personals, singles publications, and radio datelines are all struggling, hurt by the booming dating websites. The exception is hot niche markets like speed dating. More...
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May 7, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (NYSE:RRD) has been awarded a new contract with IAC/InterActiveCorp (Nasdaq: IACI), the world's leading multi-brand interactive commerce company. Under the agreement, RR Donnelley will provide the companies of IAC comprehensive and fully integrated solutions to meet print and print-related needs totaling more than $100 million. Link.
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May 4, 2004
Posted by Dave Evans
Tidbits for now from InterActiveCorp Q1 2004 results. Full report is here.
Match.com was named the world’s most popular dating site by industry-leading independent measurement firm comScore Media Metrix. In January 2004, Match.com personals sites, which include uDate.com, had 29.6 million unique visitors – nearly three times as many as its nearest rival.
Personals had a $2.8M Operating Income, a 369% gain.
Revenue growth in Personals was driven mainly by growth in paid subscribers, which increased 32% to approximately 1 million, offset partially by 9% lower revenue per subscriber. Excluding the results of uDate, which was acquired on April 4, 2003, paid subscribers grew 23%. The international business contributed 25% of paid subscribers in Q1, versus 15% in the prior period. Repeat subscribers grew nearly 100% over the prior year, a strong testament to the significant role the business plays in making personal connections in the lives of consumers. Personals margins increased primarily due to lower domestic marketing spend, margin improvement from international operations and the inclusion of uDate results.
...continue reading.
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