More Signs Of Online Dating Decline
I have blogged about my Google Trends lookup to see how online dating is doing. And it is not just my impression, but the point that some industry experts share
It is not a secret that Loventer.com is supported by the dating services that pay us for each referred subscriber.
So, I have decided to make a competition research of similar websites that are ranked in the top Google search engine results unlike Loventer.com.
You can see some research results below, but you know the main conclusion that really impressed me is that Loventer’s competitors are like those dating services – most are simply abandoned places with no updates since 2005-2006.
Once actively promoted – I think at that time they were likely good income sources to their owners - they are no more actively maintained.
Well, with that decline statement repeated in a few blog posts I ask myself why we are in this industry yet if there are all those new iPhone trends and toy buzz industries with good potential?
In my opinion, dating industry is the industry that will last longer than all those trends as it is based on some human instincts and nature. And it is a real fun to follow its development – no matter if it is on the rise and decline.
|
Competitor |
directoryofdating.com |
onlinedatingmagazine.com |
|
Features |
Reviews, directory, LOTS of reviews, add to favorites |
News, reviews, promotions, articles, directory, stats, videos, advertise, cartoons, sponsor, games |
|
Quantcast |
19800 |
16800 |
|
Founded |
2 + 5 mo |
4 + 10 mo |
|
Alexa |
248 380 |
132 666 |
|
Y! Links |
9 860 |
9 624 |
|
Technorati |
77 reactions |
421 reactions |
|
G6 mo |
495 mentions |
369 mentions |
|
G3 mo |
293 mentions |
147 mentions |
|
G Saturation |
156 pages |
1670 pages |
|
Organic Traffic |
1437 top keywords |
427 top keywords |
|
PPC Traffic |
Yes |
No |
|
E-mail/ RSS |
Yes |
Yes |
Dating Sites with Social Features
Engage.com… I come across this dating service with increasing frequency.
How new dating sites are started these days?
Most dating sites launching these days are a clone of Match.com or a stock deployment of a dating script. Engage looks and functions differently than any dating site I’ve ever used. They have packed an incredible amount of social features into the new site. The site is highly transactional, combining dating and social networking, the true essence of social dating.
I guess one of the key reasons is financing. If you read the above post I refer to entirely you will see that Engage.com have invested in much more than social features of their website.
These are two sides of the coin. You choose and play big if you can afford that or you go small way and expect results according to your efforts and investments…
Engage.com prefer to play big. Do you want to follow their way? Then your starting point should be somewhere here
But I do not think that Engage.com is 100% success project. They virtually need to compete with both: dating sites started years back with no social features and social sites that enjoy millions of unique visitors and do not focus on dating, but in fact they are the place where thousands of dates arranged (myspace, facebook, etc).
Deaf Singles Connection Dating Service Review
I have made an attempt to make a review of online dating service similar to ones you find on this site and on hundreds of others.
My experience – it is not an easy task to review dating services as there is next to nothing to write about. Standard set of features, interface and profiles… How do those services co-exist in that abundance?
Deaf Singles Connection dating service under review is a part of Spark Networks® Limited – the company that runs a number of other niche dating services like:
BlackSingles
Single Parents Mingle
ChristianMingle.com
Catholic Mingle
BBW Personals Plus
Asian Singles Connection
And many more…
First thing that strikes me is the amount of profiles – a search of a female aged 25-34 returns 1000’s profiles. Yes, Deaf Singles Connection members come from worldwide, but it still surprises. And this is the only thing that attracted my attention.
Website interface is simple and reminds interfaces of any other Spark Networks service – they all obviously share the same platform. And the company is likely to have other costs to focus on I guess – marketing.
One can easily create a free profile and start website browsing. But free membership is certainly limited:
- free photo personal profile
- free photo album
- free browsing
- free matching
- live chat and IM
- post on message boards
Spark’s Network Information:
Spark Networks Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spark Networks, Inc., an
American Stock Exchange Company (AMEX: LOV).
Spark’s Network of sites generates a good amount of traffic:
• 38 million registered users
• 4.75 - 5 million unique monthly visitors
• 200-300 million monthly page views
Do you believe these guys have great future? You have a chance to get a piece of them