Connecting Singles Online - Making Believers Out of Doubters
Connecting singles online is a booming industry. There are currently over 800 internet dating sites with active members. Small sites boast up to 700,000 members and the larger sites have attracted millions. So, what's the big deal with online dating?
I Just Don't Know....
Internet dating allows singles to meet online. Sites match singles based on different criteria such a personalities, likes, and lifestyles. Once a person joins a site they can begin to search for their own matches.
Connecting singles online is one of the internet's most competitive industries. The big players like Match.com and eHarmony can have up to 60,000 new members signing up every day. These sites are projected to generate over $800,000 in 2009.
The phenomena began about 10 years ago when people first started to utilize the internet's communication capabilities. Email and IMing made it easy to chat with people around the globe and opened the doors to meeting people you would never cross paths with in real life.
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After a slow start and many rumors of online predators the concept of online dating took off with a bang. Within 5 years people were beginning to see that they could actually make a love match online. It was practically hassle free and offered a certain sense of anonymity making connecting singles online a fun and safe process.
In 2005 the industry made a huge advance when online chat was introduced. Once added to a site, singles online could have live conversations in real time with potential matches. This was the year rapid growth was seen on internet dating sites. Over 26 million singles signed on to find their true love and connecting singles online became a booming business.
Okay...I'm Convinced
We know internet dating is huge. The real question is why it became so popular with people from all walks of life and all age groups. It seems there is no limit to the types of connecting singles online. Experts say there is a simple answer to this question - everybody who is looking for love has most likely been shot down, humiliated, or had their feelings hurt. Internet dating placed a safety net between potential dates and allowed them to begin a relationship in an open manner.
"People are ready to commit but don't know how. Online dating functions like a matchmaker. The village matchmaker used to match couples based on socioeconomic status and other similar criteria. Today's sites match couples based on personality and interests," says Jay Young, an author who writes about the industry.
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There are big sites with millions of members and niche sites which focus on specific interests. Singles online can choose which type of site will work the best for them or choose to post on both. KIKIDEE has a profile on both Match.com and tattoosingles.com. She responds to people each day on both sites and feels it gives her more of an opportunity to meet someone who will be compatible with her eccentric lifestyle.
Jay Young notes that in the beginning singles online were worried about safety and it had a "nerdy" reputation. Security issues have been addressed and sites now educate members in staying safe. And as for the nerdy label? Take a look online and see the many different personality types looking for a match.
There are still doubters out there, but every day many of them meet someone who found love and friendship online. It doesn't take long before the doubters decide to try online dating. With the security built into the sites now, there is really nothing to lose and everything to gain.
The success of online dating sites for connecting singles online is proof that doubters have been
turned into believers...dating believers!