Comments on: How to build a dating site http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2004/10/how_to_build_a_dating_site/ Online Dating Industry Consulting & Commentary Tue, 22 May 2012 18:46:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: David Evans http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2004/10/how_to_build_a_dating_site/comment-page-1/#comment-15 David Evans Sun, 07 Nov 2004 21:55:45 +0000 http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2004/10/how_to_build_a_dating_site/#comment-15 The majority of new sites address niche markets, and for good reason. Little room exists for new personals services targeting the general market. Of course there are always superior service ideas bouncing around but few ever gain enough momentum and capital to emerge a true contender. I was talking with someone last week who threw out that $10 million in marketing is what it took to get to the 100,000 paid subscriber mark. This is a number worth looking into. 18-25 market is pretty saturated and most of that crowd don't want to pay to connect to people unless the service is unique and offers them something more than Friendster. Millionaires are going to be a high-maintenance play. It takes someone like a Janice Spindell to cater to their needs. Translating offline levels of customer service to online is going to be difficult. Customer service, a common shortcoming with most services, is another area of focus a new startup would be wise to pay attention to. To you point, I would say that the EU market is saturated pretty well sewn up by a small handfull of players. The majority of new sites address niche markets, and for good reason. Little room exists for new personals services targeting the general market. Of course there are always superior service ideas bouncing around but few ever gain enough momentum and capital to emerge a true contender.

I was talking with someone last week who threw out that $10 million in marketing is what it took to get to the 100,000 paid subscriber mark. This is a number worth looking into.

18-25 market is pretty saturated and most of that crowd don’t want to pay to connect to people unless the service is unique and offers them something more than Friendster.

Millionaires are going to be a high-maintenance play. It takes someone like a Janice Spindell to cater to their needs. Translating offline levels of customer service to online is going to be difficult. Customer service, a common shortcoming with most services, is another area of focus a new startup would be wise to pay attention to. To you point, I would say that the EU market is saturated pretty well sewn up by a small handfull of players.

]]> By: Bill http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2004/10/how_to_build_a_dating_site/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Bill Thu, 04 Nov 2004 20:57:43 +0000 http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2004/10/how_to_build_a_dating_site/#comment-14 David, That's a great quick summary of starting a dating website. I have a very strong, successful business background and am developing plans to enter the dating services industry. My entry today is both a comment and a question: One element I might add to your comments would be to choose a specific niche to target and relate it to the brand you'll be creating. You say most of the niche players don't have the money to properly market their sites...what if they did? You also say you'd market to the masses, but would you really try to be everything to everybody or would you develop a specific niche with an appropriate branding strategy? If so, what do you (and others reading this post) think is the best overall target market for new players in this industry? 18-25 year olds? Seniors? Millionaires only? Focus on Global connections from USA to Europe? Website as the focus of your business or personal attention the focus with the website as a tool? David,

That’s a great quick summary of starting a dating website. I have a very strong, successful business background and am developing plans to enter the dating services industry. My entry today is both a comment and a question: One element I might add to your comments would be to choose a specific niche to target and relate it to the brand you’ll be creating. You say most of the niche players don’t have the money to properly market their sites…what if they did? You also say you’d market to the masses, but would you really try to be everything to everybody or would you develop a specific niche with an appropriate branding strategy? If so, what do you (and others reading this post) think is the best overall target market for new players in this industry? 18-25 year olds? Seniors? Millionaires only? Focus on Global connections from USA to Europe? Website as the focus of your business or personal attention the focus with the website as a tool?

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