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

Matchmaker.com's 'Wait, before you go...'

OPW -- Sep 5 -- I just had a conversation with Tara. Matchmaker.com is running a SmartAgent.com live attendant that's not that live. When you leave the home page the attendant pops up to coerce potential members back. Here's how my conversation went.

Tara Says: Hey wait, don't leave! Your soul mate may be waiting inside, so just this once we'd like you to create your profile absolutely free! :)  Just Click Here.

Tara Says: Please type 'HI' or 'HELLO' in the space below to let me know you are there...

Tara Says: This is a limited time offer available through this chat only. Click Here to get access to thousands of available singles near you!

You: What does matchmaker do that is different from match.com?

Tara Says: It is possible to find your soul mate on Matchmaker.com. Click Here, what have you got to lose?

You: HELLO

Tara Says: Hi and thanks for chatting with me... Click Here to complete your FREE registration and find the perfect person out there for you!

Tara Says: Have you read our success stories? There are so many great stories of people finding love through Matchmaker.com.

Tara Says: Register today and begin the exciting journey toward finding your true love! You can Click Here to Register Now, or I can answer any questions that you may have.

Tara Says: It's risk free, so there's nothing to lose.

Tara Says: Would you like the link back to the registration page?

Tara Says:  To enjoy this last minute offer, Click Here and fill out the page!

Tara Says:  Would you like to take advantage of this last-minute offer?

{NOTE: The seven IM's above came through in about 15 seconds.}

You: Wow you type fast Tara

Tara Says: I am just a fast typer :)

You: How many members are on Matchmaker?

Tara Says: You are so over the bar scene, you're tired of being the third wheel, or you're ready to settle down. Whatever your reason, we're here to help.

Tara Says: Just Click Here and start today!

You: Whoa, slow down Tara, I can't read that fast.

Tara Says: Matchmaker.com has millions of high quality singles as members which means the more people we have in our database, the more chances you have to find someone special.

You: How long has matchmaker been in business?

Tara Says: Sign up right now for FREE, and in seconds you can be browsing through Matchmaker.com searching for people that you want to meet.

You: I'm considering using a Matchmaker, or just using Match.com, but came across mm, what's the best thing about mm?

Tara Says: No gimmicks, no catch... just browse through our website to see that we have millions of satisfied customers.

You: Sure, sure, but why do YOU like mm?

Tara Says: Okay great. Click Here and fill out the page in order to take advantage of this great offer.

You: What side of the light do your mushrooms grow on?

Tara Says: Why not start now? It's risk free, so there's nothing to lose...

You: My mushrooms might not like it.

Tara Says: This limited time offer may not be available tomorrow, so please Click Here and sign up today.

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Date.com Partners With Enlaso

MARKET WIRE -- May 9 --  Date.com and ENLASO, a provider of enterprise language solutions, partners to localize Date.com's network of dating sites into numerous languages. Date.com, Matchmaker.com and Amor.com will be translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and German. Before the end of 2009, Date.com plans to have its dating sites available in 18 languages to better accommodate its growing subscriber base from outside the US and to assist it in marketing itself internationally.

The full article was originally published at Marketwire, but is no longer available.

Paid Dating Sites Discover Local Spam

THE PARADIGM SHIFT BLOG -- Dec 5 -- Paid dating sites have now all adopted the strategy I created 3 years ago and taken it to the extreme. Check out google searches like garrison dating. Date.com  Matchmaker.com take the top spots. Followed by match.com, AmericanSingles, Meetic and Match.com UK.  Matchdoctor and others have started retooling their entire sites to try and rank high for local queries. Its like everyone just caught on in the last couple of months.

The full article was originally published at The Paradigm Shift, but is no longer available.

Avalanche LLC (Date.com) Acquires Matchmaker.com

PR NEWSWIRE -- Feb 27 -- Avalanche LLC, a company owned and operated by the founders of leading online dating site Date.com, has acquired Matchmaker.com which will share a technical platform with Date.com. Said Meir Strahlberg, President of Avalanche LLC and CEO of Date.com. "Through this acquisition, we are looking forward to breathing new life into the site and reinvigorating the brand."  Matchmaker will continue to operate as a separate entity, and will become a destination for the marriage-minded single. Date.com will continue to be a home for the more casual dater. 

CampusHookUp.com; Internet Dating Gets a Foothold on Campus

BOSTON HERALD--Is the computer replacing the kegger on college campuses? "I guess we've all been reared on the Internet,'' said Mandeep Singh, 21, a biology major at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-founder of Matchup.mit.edu, a Boston-based, college dating Web site. Using the Internet to meet people is just another progression for us.'' Two years ago, two Wesleyan University sophomores launched WesMatch.com. Now the duo is expanding beyond their Connecticut campus to dozens of colleges with CampusMatch. There's also CampusFlirts.com, CollegeLuv.com and Matchmaker.com/college connection. And the competition can get heated, as shown by two Harvard-based dating sites. The founders of www.connectU.com are suing the creators of the very popular www.thefacebook.com, claiming one of its founders ripped off their idea.