OPW INTERVIEW - Mar 8 - Elena's Models is unusual in the Premium International Dating (PID) space because it charges a flat monthly membership. Most PID sites charge per communication. As the world gets smaller, I believe there will be more of a call for PID services, and so this is an interesting space for us to review from time to time. Elena Petrova is the CEO/Founder of Elena's Models. Here's her story, and overview. - Mark Brooks
What is Elena's Models founding story?
After I moved overseas to join my husband in 1998, I came across a lot of websites talking about Russian women. I found their opinions surprising. This is why I started my first website womenrussia.com. In 1999 I wrote a book called "101 Tips How To Marry a Foreigner", talking about international relationships. Russian Cosmopolitan picked my book and included it in their review, and I started to receive enormous amounts of requests from Russian and Ukrainian women who wanted to try international dating. This is how Elena's Models came to life. I already had profiles of my friends on womenrussia.com and men kept asking me if the women were real or models. So I renamed womenrussia.com to Elena's Models.
How is Elena's Models different from other companies in the Premium International Dating segment?
Elenasmodels.com works very much the same as any dating site for people seeking partners locally. We encourage direct communication and exchange of contact details between members. Most other sites within our market segment moved to pay-per-letter model.
Also we try to bridge cultural gaps the best we can. We offer a lot of facts about current daily life in Russia and Ukraine on our blog for men.
How do you charge members?
We charge a one-off membership fee.
- On the lowest level (3-month Gold, $129) it allows a member to contact 50 women
- The next level (3-month Platinum, $259) removes all limits
- The next level (Ultimate) includes some personal assistance services such as interviews with women they wish to visit, VIP Dating Coaching Program, profile reviews, etc.
What's next for Elena's Models?
We have some exciting plans in the pipeline. A new niche dating app is under way, under different branding and pricing structure. When the test site for the new App is completed, we will be seeking a funding to support its ongoing development. We believe our 17 years of online dating expertise and successful monetization make us a solid partner for those interested in investing in our new venture.
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