FORBES -- Feb 14 -- There are about 92 million singles the U.S., says Match.com CEO Thomas Enraght-Moony. Match.com is an online dating leader, with networks in 37 different countries and with roughly 15 million users. Enraght-Moony talked to Forbes.com about why online dating is now widely accepted.
Q: Are the people who use the service in the U.S. much younger or older than in other markets?
A: Our sweet spot is people in their late 20s into their mid to late 30s. The 50-plus is our fastest-growing segment.
Q: Who do you worry about the most? eHarmony.com? Singlesnet.com?
A: This is just a short list of people that I worry about. We're in 37
different markets, and every market that we're in there's a list of
competitors.
Q: How is the money made in your business? Is it all subscription-based revenue?
A: We're about 95% in subscription revenues. Last year, we did $349
million in revenue and $78 million in profit, which is up about 24%
over the prior year.
Q: Are people finally comfortable with saying they use online dating services like Match?
A: I think people on Match today are very comfortable talking about it.
It's a big change from 12 years ago, and that's part of the success
we've had.
Q: Have the social networks hurt business?
A: Those services
are great for keeping in contact with the people they already know.
But, if they want to expand their possibilities or are interested in
meeting people outside their social circle, they come back to Match.
Late last year, we launched an application for Facebook. It's called
Little Black Book at Match.com.
Q: What's the next big offering in terms of technology or expansion?
A: We're rolling out a mobile platform, we're figuring out how to work with Facebook and MySpace.
From http://www.forbes.com/leadership/2008/02/14/valentine-dating-online-lead-cx_mk_0214match.html
"There are around 92 million singles in the U.S. There are 3 million people that actually pay in the category in the U.S. today."
Great and Godd News!!! The market remains enormous!!!
"When Chemistry.com was in beta, we were giving people 10 recommendations. They were coming back to us saying they wanted it cut down to five, or even three."
or even three? They cannot do that, its matching algorithm is not precise to reach that level.
"We're just at the cusp of starting to roll that out internationally. "
Chemistry is a complete fiasco due to:
- low percentage of persons reaching first_meeting (meet in person)
- after first meeting; in some persons attraction reduces its level OR worse even morphs / metamorphoses to rejection!!!
Is Chemistry going to publish any credible Scientific Paper?
"... Last year, we did $349 million in revenue and $78 million in profit,...."
$78 million in profit? or earnings?
revenue == an amount of money regularly coming in
earnings == revenue less operating costs (direct costs, administrative costs, selling&advertising costs, salaries, depreciation, etc)
profits == earnings less taxes
From http://www.iac.com/index/news/press/IAC/press_release_detail.htm?id=8988
For Q4 2007
"Revenue growth was driven by a 14% increase in revenue per subscriber. International subscribers grew 11%, while worldwide subscribers grew 1%. Flat Operating Income Before Amortization is primarily due to higher marketing costs compared to the year ago period. Operating income for the current period reflects amortization of non-cash marketing of USD3.9 million and an increase of USD0.6 million in the amortization of intangibles."
Anyway IAC's common shareholders lost USD 0.50 per share!!!
The interview seems quite honest, but I think Match reached its operating ceiling.
He did not say anything about:
- Future Legislation for the Industry
- Match high end matchmaking
- Background Checks
- Quality Norms like ISO 9001:2000.
Kindest Regards,
Fernando Ardenghi.
Buenos Aires.
Argentina.
[email protected]
Posted by: Fernando Ardenghi | Feb 15, 2008 at 01:32 PM