Online Personals Watch: News on the Online Dating Industry and Business

How Dating Apps Master the Art of Marketing Matchmaking

CAMPAIGN - According to Data.ai, dating app global downloads have increased 173% from 293M in the H1 2017 to 799M in the H1 2022. Global consumer spending on dating apps increased 320%, from $643M to $2.7B. "Dating apps give singles 'the paradox of choice' - when we have too many choices, we end up not making any," says Violet Lim, co-founder and CEO of Lunch Actually Group, the largest dating agency in Southeast Asia. Lunch Actually differentiates itself from others by focusing on handpicked matches and real dates rather than casual dating. Other apps, including Coffee Meets Bagel, are entirely dedicated to helping daters find serious relationships. Coffee Meets Bagel continually celebrates their #CMBcouples - couples who have met and formed serious relationships on the app - and this continues to drive word of mouth. Bumble has seen success with campaigns like 'It Starts With Hello' that ran in the Philippines and Singapore. The campaign was driven by the insight that some women might be overwhelmed by the idea of starting the conversation on Bumble, so the campaign encourages them to overcome their hesitation by making it as simple as typing 'hello'.

See full article at Campaign

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Q&A With Violet Lim of Lunch Actually

AUGUSTMAN - Having been in the market for 17 years, Lunch Actually - a dating agency - boasts having highly compatible and a quality list of single people waiting to be paired up. And all of which is done with complete privacy.

Q: How did Lunch Actually come about?
A: I started Lunch Actually with my then-boyfriend-now-husband Jamie Lee in 2004. At the time, I noticed many of my colleagues were single and not dating. It was rather puzzling for me as they were attractive and eligible people; I realised that it is because they were working really long hours. When I came across the concept of lunch dating, I was immediately attracted to the idea because lunch was 'short, sweet and simple'. I decided to quit my job and start a new career as a modern-day matchmaker.

Q: Talk us through the process of getting a date via the agency.
A: First, we will invite potential clients to our office to find out more about their profile and preferences. After that, we will offer them a membership package, and do some ID and background check. Based on their profile and preferences as well as our assessment, we will proceed to find their first match. Once the match is approved by both parties, we arrange the date and book the restaurant. After the date, we will contact both parties again to get their feedback. Our dating packages start from RM2,000 upwards ($1800).

Q: What are some of the main criteria individuals look for in a partner?
A: According to our 2020 Annual Dating Survey, for men age (68%), body type (62%) and religion (35%) are the most important things. Meanwhile the top three qualities for women when it comes to men are: income (66%), age (49%) and education (43%).

Q: How does Lunch Actually standout from other dating agencies or apps?
A: Unlike many local matchmakers who are often a one-man or one-woman service, Lunch Actually to-date has a presence in five countries, 80+ full-time associates and 17 years of matchmaking experience – making us the one of the oldest dating services in Asia, with a proven success record.

by Aaron Pereira
See full article at Augustman

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How Tinder and K-dramas Changed Dating Preferences in Singapore

CNA LUXURY - Mar 23 - After 17 years, Lunch Actually is still playing Cupid. Founded in 2004, Lunch Actually is the brainchild of 41-year-old Violet Lim. In her early 20s, Lim was working as a management associate in a bank when she realised that most of her peers, though successful, were single. At the age of 24, Lim took the plunge and left her job to start Lunch Actually together with her now husband, Jamie Lee. To date, it has arranged ~140K dates and matched ~ 4,500 happily married couples. The company has also established offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand. Thanks to dating apps, people have become more open to engaging an external party to help them find love, Lim shared. "The trouble with dating apps is that there are all sorts of characters." Lunch Actually started off as a service to match singles for a lunch date but is now offering coaching services. It launched its own dating app, LunchClick, in 2015 which is meant only for serious daters. Last year, the company also launched the Lunch Actually App, which helps its clients to set up appointments with consultants, view their matches, arrange dates, submit their feedback, and chat with dating coaches. Most recently, the company tapped into livestreaming. Lim has witnessed firsthand the changing preferences of Singaporeans. Interestingly, the Korean drama fever has had some effect. More people now are more concerned about physical appearance. "It could also be a result of Korean dramas, or just TV dramas in general," shared Lim. "Or it could be because of dating apps. On dating apps, the first thing you see is a person's photo."

by Melissa Stewart
See full article at CNA Luxury

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Lunch Actually: Hearts Grow Fonder Amid Covid-19 Isolation

BUSINESS TIMES - Feb 10 - "Our Annual Dating Survey in 2020 revealed that the pandemic caused singles to feel a longing for a real, meaningful connection with someone", said Lunch Actually's CEO and co-founder Violet Lim. The shift to virtual consultations and dates required training the matchmaking team and convincing clients to get on board. Revenue fell by nearly half in April during the adjustment period, but quickly bounced back to pre-Covid numbers the following month. The numbers hit an all-time high in Q4 2020. In total, Lunch Actually arranged ~800 virtual dates last year with positive feedback, and Ms Lim believes the company’s digital initiatives could be a breakthrough that will last beyond the pandemic.

by Leila Lai
See full article at Business Times

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Lunch Actually Partners With eCommerce Platform Lazada to Launch Matchmaking Series

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE - Jan 18 - Matchmaking company Lunch Actually has partnered with eCommerce platform Lazada to launch a four-part matchmaking series leading up to Valentine's Day. The campaign, titled "Match me if you can", will combine shopping and entertainment, and allows the audience to purchase various Lunch Actually services while being directly involved in interactive content delivered by dating experts through a live streaming on the Lazada platform, LazLive. Lunch Actually and Lazada will feature the journey of two singles who are trying to find a match, and viewers can either follow their dating journey, or submit their own profiles to be match with the featured bachelor and bachelorette. Lunch Actually has been operating for 17 years in five countries in Asia, including Singapore.

by Grace Ong
See full article at Marketing-Interactive

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Founder of Lunch Actually Debunks Story of Disappointed Client

THE INDEPENDENT - Sep 15 - A 49-year-old lady was unhappy with her 59-year-old blind date, since he did not live up to the hype she'd been told about him. When she expressed her dissatisfaction, Lunch Actually, the matchmaking services she hired, reportedly refused to give her a refund. Violet Lim, who founded Lunch Actually with her husband, Jamie, has taken to Facebook to set the record straight. She wrote that her client did not reject the match proposed, and that he was within the age range that she preferred. Ms Lim also refuted a few statements her client made. Ms Lim's main regret in this situation is that it has reached the media, and that her client made many hurtful comments about her match. Ms Lim said that the company will "fight on towards our big hairy audacious goal of 1M happy marriages."

by Anna Maria Romero
See full article at The Independent

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Lunch Actually - One Stop Dating Shop

BUSINESS WORLD - Mar 2 - Lunch Actually is a dating company that started in Singapore in 2004 and matches people through lunch dates. Sixteen years in the business and Lunch Actually is already in five markets - Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Thailand - and has arranged ~120K first dates and 4K marriages that they know of. Before starting Lunch Actually, founder Violet Lim confessed that it wasn't her childhood dream to become a matchmaker. "I did a summer internship at a law firm, and I was handling a case between this divorced couple. I remember feeling really sad that they could not even manage to communicate with each other directly. I soon realized that as much as I loved law, it was not my calling," she said. She then started working at Citibank as a management associate and was surprised that many of her eligible and attractive colleagues were single. Ms. Lim decided to combine her passion for helping others "find their lifelong happiness" and creating a successful business. Thus, Lunch Actually was born. In Singapore, being a member of Lunch Actually starts at S$2,500.

by Zsarlene B. Chua
See full article at Business World

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Lunch Actually Launches Elite Dating Service

VULCAN POST - May 31 - Lunch Actually branched out to launch an elite dating service in Singapore, Peerage. The term 'peerage' refers to a class of people who belong to nobility or gentry. Only singles with a minimum net worth of S$150K per year are eligible to join the pool of clients in Peerage.

by Alanna Tan
See full article at Vulcan Post

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Asian Internet Dating and Matchmaking Conferences

OPW - Apr 18 - Want to get your head around Asia? There's a couple conferences we'd like to put on your radar. But best book soon, as they're coming up fast. They're in Singapore at the amazing Marina Sands Hotel. I'm speaking at both of them.

The 1st is the GDI Singapore Dating Conference on May 13-14th, and is 250 GBP. Leaders from Paktor, Pairs, The Meet Group, Matrimony and Spark Networks will be speaking.

The 2nd is the Global Love Conference on May 15-16th, is $295, and will be more matchmaking focused. Leaders from Viola.ai / Lunch Actually, 2 Red Beans, Paktor, and the Matchmaking Institute will be speaking. (Here's a feel good $50 discount code 50OFFSG)

I hope to see you there. - Mark Brooks

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IDEA WOW + IDEA SUMMIT, in Chennai, India

OPW - Apr 9 - The Internet Dating Excellence Association World Officers Weekend happened over the weekend, and the IDEA SUMMIT happened Monday. Here's video summaries of our adventures in Chennai.

Day 1

Day 2

IDEA SUMMIT was a closed door event. It was a very full day of learning and sharing. 14 presentations were made by the CEO/Founder of Matrimony, CEO of Mamba, Chief Mobile Officer of Matrimony, CEO/Founder of Lunch Actually, CMO of Woo, CEO/Founder of Agape Match, CEO of LoveMe, MD of Insparx, Owner of SuccessfulMatch, Owner of Hubpeople, Co-founder of LoveMe, MD of Mamba, and CEO of BetterHalf.ai.

You can see the full information and line up here. Now we're working on the next event.

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Q&A With CEO of Lunch Actually Violet Lim on Class95 Radio

RADIOSINGAPORE - Mar 18 - The presenters on "People In Our Neighbourhood" radio show chatted with Violet Lim, dating expert and CEO of Lunch Actually, about what's it like playing cupid in an age where the dating scene has changed so much due to technology.

Q: Why did you decide to set up a dating company?
A: At my first job at a bank I came across a lot of different people. I was surprised that a lot of my colleagues were single. I noticed that most of my friends who were getting married met their other half at the university. So I realized that if you miss that window, it is very hard to meet somebody later on. I had this idea of "lunch dating" and I could see how it would fit into the busy lifestyle of my colleagues.

Q: How do you help people?
A: Our focus now is on how to help people maximize their chances of meeting someone. Because just sending them on multiple dates might not help.

Q: How has Tinder and other dating apps affected your business?
A: They have actually helped our business. Before, people were not as open to using dating companies as they are now.

Q: How gratifying is to see people getting married?
A: It is very gratifying. One of the reasons I left the bank was that I could not see how my work translates to results.

Q: Do you have a secret book where you write down your successes?
A: 8 years ago, I published a book called Lessons from 15000 first dates. I have a new book coming up – What Dating Apps And Algorithms Do Not Tell You.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is interested in working in the dating business?
A: Be very sure why you are joining this industry. It is very personal. Make sure this is your passion and you really want help singles find love. Understand it's not always an easy path, be a good listener, and don't be judgmental.

See full article at People In Our Neighbourhood

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Lunch Actually Launches 'Dating Success Program', a Coaching Program

VULCAN POST - Mar 5 - Singapore dating company Lunch Actually wants to help singles become their best selves to maximise their dating success. Lunch Actually co-founder and CEO Violet Lim said: "A simple tweak can make a whole big difference to a person and their dating life, but the industry has become so fixated only on arranging dates that they miss out on adding value to their clients' dating journey." The programme is customisable and personalised, with modules created based on today's dating challenges.

Some of the modules include:

• Find your unique strengths & characteristics
• Understand your past dating experiences
• How to identify red flags
• Dating trends and hacks
• How to sep up an attractive profile, use dating apps effectively

The Dating Success Program is available for 4-months, 6-months and 12-months durations.

by Melissa Chan
See full article at Vulcan Post

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Lunch Actually CEO on Dating in the Age of Tinder

VULCAN POST - Feb 1 - Lunch Actually Group's CEO recently took to the stage at TEDxNTU to share what dating apps and algorithms don't tell us, and why true love actually happens offline. She spoke about her personal experience with dating, along with what she feels about dating services in the market now.

by Melissa Chan
See full article at Vulcan Post

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AI to Change the Way We Find Romance

THE PEAK MAGAZINE - Dec 18 - In a partnership with Singapore Management University and AI Singapore, Lunch Actually is developing an AI chatbot called Viola. The aim is for it to possess the ability to send reminders of important occasions such as birthdays, suggest restaurant and activities, in the future, even dispense relationship advice. The chatbot will be fed with ~ 1.1B data points from Lunch Actually's database of feedback that it has collected over the years. The system will continue learning based on user interactions. Lunch Actually is one of the largest matchmaking companies in Southeast Asia, with ~1.4M users in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Indonesia. When the company was launched in 2004, it was very much a brick-and-mortar business, with applicants meeting a consultant before an arranged date. Later the dating app Lunchclick was born.

by Karen Tee
See full article at The Peak Magazine

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The Story Behind Lunch Actually

SOUTH ASIA GLOBE - Sep 6 - During a stint in the financial sector, Violet Lim spotted a trend in the industry: successful singles with no avenue for meeting potential partners. Most of her friends had found their partners in university, after which meeting new people became increasingly difficult. "The concept of lunch dating really resonated with me because I saw my colleagues taking a midday lunch breaks." She ran the idea past her then-boyfriend-now-husband, Jamie, and in 2004, the two decided to launch their own business - Lunch Actually, a dating service that connected busy professionals with lunch partners using traditional matchmaking consultations. The membership package would start at ~$2K. Right off the bat, Violet and Jamie landed $110K investment. Fourteen years on, Lunch Actually's platforms have expanded to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan, and acquired four competitors. It staffs of ~120 consultants and other professionals, has arranged 125K successful dates and has become a multimillion-dollar company.

by Janelle Retka
See full article at South Asia Globe

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Summarized by the IDEA team