Niche Dating Start-ups

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS -- Oct 4 -- Realidate helps singles meet through volunteer activities benefiting San Francisco Bay-area charities.  DatemyPet focuses on pet owners.  Asoundmatch matches music-loving singles based on a 12-question survey about music interests. "When it comes to this particular industry, size definitely matters," says Kristin Kelly, Match.com, who says the site signs up 60,000 new members daily.  "The main reason you go online is to expand your possibilities, so having a really large range of people is important. From there, you can be as broad or as narrow as you want to be. You define the pool." 

Comments

[Scott Cunning]

I think this kind of thing is definitely the way to go--if there is any value to online dating, it lies in the ability to pre-screen would-be lovers' interests before even making eye contact, literal or metaphorical.

On the other hand, the Match Ho is correct: Size matters, and in most markets, niche dating sites won't attract a big enough following to work. Cali and NY will do well with them, and depending on what the region is like and which interest we're talking about, other mid-size cities may, too.

However, I think many locales (like here in Omaha) will be a desert. Even the big four (Yahoo, Match, Cupid, and eHarmony--at least, in this market) have nowhere near enough prospects to make it worth the exhorbitant membership fees.