Online Dating Insider » Rumors

Stylemepretty Matching up with Dating Sites?

David Evans — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:21:34 +0000

I hear that StyleMePretty wedding blog is possibly going to announce some sort of deal with a dating site. Not much to go on but it’s from a trusted source. Wedding websites are a logical extension for some dating sites, lots more money to be made in weddings than dating site subscriptions.

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Problems at FriendFinder and Penthouse

David Evans — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:18:31 +0000

It’s been a while since we’ve heard a juicy rumor.

Valleywag says:

What’s going on over at FriendFinder Networks, nÃ©e Penthouse Media Group? Apparently the effort to migrate into an online publishing and social networking powerhouse is being hampered by developers dissatisfied with working conditions and an inability to hire new staff â€” even though supervisor Anthony Previte threatened he could replace the disgruntled employees at a whim, according to a tipster.

This could affect the planned $250 million IPO. Then again, consider the source. Still, makes for a juicy Friday rumor.

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What is OKCupid Announcing Today?

David Evans — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:23:28 +0000

After getting teasers from the company last week, I’m refreshing TechCrunch every few minutes because OkCupid is scheduled to make an announcement there today. I’m sworn to secrecy about the few details I have, looks like I’ll have more to share later on today when OkCupid CEO Sam Yagan and I talk.

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Fueling the Rumor Mill: Dating Site Background Checks

David Evans — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:42:15 +0000

It’s come to my attention via several people, that a major dating site is going to announce a background check initiative, expect big news later on in the week.

Speaking of safety, check out TrustPlus (blog). The reputation management company launched into private beta on September. I wrote about them a year ago when I saw their demo at a local web startup event. I’ve helped several companies built similar systems, interested in hearing what people think.

I’m off to what I hope will be an interesting dinner with several companies who have successfully deployed Facebook applications.

background+checks, Safety

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Rumor: FriendFinder Acquired for $1 billion

David Evans — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:05:53 +0000

TechCrunch is pushing a rumor that FriendFinder was acquired for more than a billion dollars. What a windfall for founder Andrew Conru if it’s true. Just a few months ago people were saying that Friendfinder (and parent company Various, Inc.), was not a palatable acquisition target due to the nature of the some of the business units (Adult Friend Finder in particular). More as the story unfolds.

Last nights TechCrunch party was a blast, ran into people I knew 12 years ago, several clients and I got to finally meet Michael Arrington.

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eHarmony to Target Christians?

David Evans — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:56:28 +0000

Notasinner wrote in to say that he has heard rumors that eHarmony is going to focus more on the Christian dating market. Given the background of eHarmony founders, I don’t see how that is possible, and I would think international expansion would be top of their ToDo list.

I’ve been underwhelmed with the dating industry’s foray into the Christian market, save for a few early sites that have been successful on a small scale, but haven’t been able to take full advantage of the enormous number of Christian singles and lack of quality sites catering to their needs.

Is Christian dating the next big market for dating sites? Sign up a network of mega-churches, filter people based on faith, tie in social networking and you have yourself a nice business.

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Friendster Scores Another Social Networking Patent?

David Evans — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 20:54:40 +0000

Mashable thinks another social networking patent has been awarded to Friendster. Supposedly the patent, filed on August 25th 2006, was issued on March 6th 2007. Friendster already has several social networking patents.

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What Happened to Vintacom?

David Evans — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:41:48 +0000

An anonymous tipster wrote in asking:

You should ask why Vintacom has only one person left from management and why Websourced ceased to exist? The only person left at Vinta is Mike Baldock and a couple of IT people. All have gone on to better (non THK) opportunities.

I haven’t exactly been a fan of the recent THK/mining/shell company goings on, seems like a lot of financial activities in play where we won’t know the real outcomes for quite some time.

More on the Think acquisition of Vintacom and it’s sale of Vintacom to a mining company.

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Troubles at New Jewish Dating Site?

David Evans — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:28:56 +0000

From the rumor mill: Word is filtering back from iDate that a new Jewish dating site has not been paying affiliates for while and they are considering shutting down due to financial problems.

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True.com’s Pert Advertising

David Evans — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 16:45:11 +0000

The marketing hypocrisy at True.com continues. Really, this is the last time I’m ever going mention it. Who am I kidding, True is the dating service the entire industry loves to hate on. But secretly want to score with their models.
Herb Vest is obviously no longer in control of the company. There is not way the king of safer dating would have approved this ad, which features a blonde woman playing with her nipple. This is the company touting background checks and dating site labeling legislation?
I’m waiting to hear back from the President of Psychology Today, whom I contacted to ask his thoughts on his brand being associated with nipple-tastic True.com. True and PT make strange bedfellows, know what I mean?

Technorati Tags: marketing, partnerships

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