A few years ago I helped build a high-end matchmaking system for a prestigious client. For inspiration, we looked at ASmallWorld, which someone told me was a VIP social network where people like Paris Hilton would post notes like “Can my dogs catch a ride back to the US on someone’s private plane?” Fast forward to the present. Last month I was invited to an ASW event here in Boston. After putting aside my initial skepticism about any group who wants me as a member (See Groucho Marx), I found the group to be fascinating, worldly and urban.

While browsing the ASmallWorld webiste I found a job posting for Kelleher International, a prominent matchmaking company. They are seeking matchmakers and the base pay is only $31,000. That’s a pretty low number for such a prestigious matchmaker.

Funny thing is that right as I was browsing the job posting, I received a phone call from someone asking me to refer them to a matchmaker. I pointed them to the Matchmakers and Offline Dating Services report, which I have been selling for several years. It’s a great overview of the “offline” side of the relationship market, incredibly useful for people researching matchmakers and it’s not prohibitively expensive, especially if one is contemplating spending several thousand dollars on the matchmaking process.

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Matchmaker Janis Spindel is featured in this month’s Fortune Magazine. Male clients pay $50,000 + marriage bonus and Spindel has a database of 12,000 women. 1,000 relationships, 800 marriages an zero divorces. That’s an amazing track record and I’m in the wrong side of the relationship business.

Related posts:

1. Matchmaker Should Have Taken the Stairs
2. 3rd Annual Matchmaker Conference Review
3. Looking for a Matchmaker?

Question for matchmakers — what kind of insurance do you carry to protect your business? Is there a specific insurer that is matchmaker and/or dating site friendly, who understands the specific risks you face? Also, what type of corporate structure have you implemented? LLC, S or C corp? This could be a great example of leveraging the wisdom of the crowd for a answer I need asap. Leave a comment or contact me.

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1. Dating Site Insurance
2. Matchmakers & Traditional Dating Services Report
3. How tough is it to switch dating sites

A reader writes in:

I read your post this morning about the Think/Together Deal and have several questions that maybe you can answer or post about.

• Where does this currently leave Vinticom? Are they still owned by Think?
• Is Vinticom still trying to sell themselves? What’s Vinticom’s status?
• Any information about Vinticom’s financials would be interesting.
• What’s the status of Together/Right One? Where they bought by the ‘Chicago Group’? If yes, what was the purchase price and details on the acquisition including but not limited to multiples, etc.
• Is this ‘Chicago Group’ looking to purchase another dating company now that the deal with Think did not go through?
• It would make sense for the Chicago Group to just purchase Vinticom and not involve itself with the Adult sites. Why would they bother with purchasing the Adult sites? Why is Think not willing to separate these 2 transactions.
• How does Together plan to merge the online/offline dating world now that their deal with Vinticom did not happen?

Besides spelling Vintacom incorrectly, these are good questions. If Terry or Paul could chime in publicly that would be great.

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Julie Ferman, a Member of the Board of Directors of The International Association of Dating Websites, is co-producing the Professional Matchmakers & Introduction Services Worldwide Conference, September 28-30, 2007, at Sheraton Suites on the Hudson, in the New York City area.

The Conference brings together a network of professinals and experts, business owners, marketing agencies, and service providers. More details available at www.matchmakersconference.com.

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Minneapolis matchmaker Kailen Rosenberg has launched her own relationship site, the Elite Love Registry. Known for 15 years as one of the nation’s top relationship experts, Kailen is attempting to create a safe on line dating experience for healthy love relationships.

The serice is a cross between an dating site and a country club. All members are hand-picked, which means this site is all about quality, not quantity. The only way to become a member of The Elite Love Registry is through a three-step personal interviewing process with a Love Architect (ugh!).

The service has a high-touch feel to it, which is certainly lacking from most traditional dating sites. It will be interesting to see what kind of people show up on the site, most are selected via radio, television and newspapers personalities around the nation. Now thats a unique way to select suitable singles, and cheap too. “Give us a list of all your hot, rich, eligible friends” will certainly fill up quotas in certain area codes.

If you prefer country clubs to dive bars, Elite Love Registry may be right for you.

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I just got a call from a Match Platinum matchmaker. I signed up late last week to see how long it would take them to call back and find out more about the service.

Match is promoting the Platinum service to Match and non-Match customers. The idea being you get matched with Match members first, then on to others who only exist in the Platinum database, like a traditional matchmaker.

The idea is that lots of people will sign up for Platinum without necessarily being a member of Match.com.

I wonder how people will react to spending up to $3,500 to get matched with people in the Match database? I would hope for that kind of money I get the Platinum matches first.

Let’s not forget, June 2004 is the last time Match tried to launch a personal introduction service. Five in-person Introductions who meet your physical, personality and circumstantial requirements, over the course of six months for a one-time fee of $495.

Seems like prices have gone up. There are three levels of service to Match Platinum:
6 months for $1,500
12 months $2,500
12 months + more exposure (dates) $3,500

The matchmakers were headhunted and I believe are located in the Dallas area.

Marketing is limited to the Match home page and Dallas-area radio spots, expanding soon.

Chemistry.com announced last summer they were hiring matchmakers.

Nelson at LoveAccess and Robert Fisher both have attempted to launch matchmaking-type services on top of online dating sites, with mixed results.

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