Is there room for another dating site?

[LuckyTaxi]

So I have this code that's been laying around for 2+ yrs. It was for a classified ads but then changed to a dating site right about when Plentyoffish and okcupid surfaced. I think I might be late to the game, but competition is always good, right? Anyways, if the concept wouldnt work or there's no way in hell I can compete with the other sites, I'm just going to fold the project and work on something else. I've been working on this site on and off for the past year and I'm not even close to being done.

Project is called 23traits. It's a play on words if you will, 46 pairs of chromosomes in the human body. You tag yourself with 23 words, whether it's a physical description or an adjective that describes you. It's basically tagging yourself with anything that relates or describes you. These tags are then matched against a database of profiles. If you're logged in, it shows a percentage match you have against a particular profile.

I noticed some new dating sites entered the market within the past 6 months. I havent kept up and checked on them but I take it they didnt succeed since I havent heard much about them. Anyways, should I just give it up and start on a new project?

Remember, the site is about 90% complete. The profiles are bogus profiles I used as place holders. You can't register for an account or anything.

Site: http://code.23traits.com

 

[Crono]

Timing is crucial when trying to start a website. If you aren't on the forefront of a developing niche, you'll face a hard time breaking into the market. There's a lot of tough competition out there right now with dating sites, and while the "23 traits" aspect is a good idea, it has been done before (albeit with different names). Unless you have some genius marketing strategy and brilliant/dedicated people to help you out, I personally (not that my opinion counts for much, honestly) wouldn't go with a dating site.
A new project would be the best way to go. Keep an eye out for any newly surfacing niches out there that aren't currently serviced or are poorly serviced by the internet.

 

[Crono]

I'm not sure if it has been done, but I've been playing with my own idea in my head for the last couple of months, seeing how successful microloans have become especially in the last few years, and how sites like Prosper are extending that to the web. Microloans are also making a significant difference in helping poor people in 3rd world countries start small businesses.

I was thinking that a 0% (yes, that's right, zero percent) microloan system, a nonprofit organization, would be the next step in that process. As a Christian, I believe that you shouldn't charge people interest, but lend money freely. Now obviously, on a large scale an organization can't loan out money for free, because there are too many operating costs. But a "peer to peer" microloan system, with a website acting as an intermediary, could do it. The website could effectively pay its operating costs (credit checks, hosting, limited number of employees, etc) via advertising and/or accepting voluntary donations (but without pushing people to donate).

Obviously you would need to do institute some security checks to ensure that people don't take advantage of this, but a tiered system with varying options from high to low risk could solve that. A rewards system of sorts (most likely non monetary) could be used as incentive, but hopefully there are enough people who would willingly loan out small amounts of money just to help others out.

it's a rough idea right now, I know, but this is a project idea that I would seriously consider putting a lot of time and effort into.

 

[pontifex]

i don't understand how these peer to peer loan systems work.

i've never looked into it, but what prevents someone from taking the loan and never paying it back?

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: pontifex
i don't understand how these peer to peer loan systems work.

i've never looked into it, but what prevents someone from taking the loan and never paying it back?

The same thing that prevents people from not repaying loans from banks. A hit to the credit score. Collection agencies. At least for the ones that operate in the U.S. Generally the intermediary requires some sort of financial information to insure that scammers aren't getting loans.

 

[SViper]

Originally posted by: Crono
I'm not sure if it has been done, but I've been playing with my own idea in my head for the last couple of months, seeing how successful microloans have become especially in the last few years, and how sites like Prosper are extending that to the web. Microloans are also making a significant difference in helping poor people in 3rd world countries start small businesses.

I was thinking that a 0% (yes, that's right, zero percent) microloan system, a nonprofit organization, would be the next step in that process. As a Christian, I believe that you shouldn't charge people interest, but lend money freely. Now obviously, on a large scale an organization can't loan out money for free, because there are too many operating costs. But a "peer to peer" microloan system, with a website acting as an intermediary, could do it. The website could effectively pay its operating costs (credit checks, hosting, limited number of employees, etc) via advertising and/or accepting voluntary donations (but without pushing people to donate).

Obviously you would need to do institute some security checks to ensure that people don't take advantage of this, but a tiered system with varying options from high to low risk could solve that. A rewards system of sorts (most likely non monetary) could be used as incentive, but hopefully there are enough people who would willingly loan out small amounts of money just to help others out.

it's a rough idea right now, I know, but this is a project idea that I would seriously consider putting a lot of time and effort into.

Are you referring to this?

http://www.prosper.com/

If so, it's already been done. You do have to pay interest for loans on this service though.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: SViper

Originally posted by: Crono
I'm not sure if it has been done, but I've been playing with my own idea in my head for the last couple of months, seeing how successful microloans have become especially in the last few years, and how sites like Prosper are extending that to the web. Microloans are also making a significant difference in helping poor people in 3rd world countries start small businesses.

I was thinking that a 0% (yes, that's right, zero percent) microloan system, a nonprofit organization, would be the next step in that process. As a Christian, I believe that you shouldn't charge people interest, but lend money freely. Now obviously, on a large scale an organization can't loan out money for free, because there are too many operating costs. But a "peer to peer" microloan system, with a website acting as an intermediary, could do it. The website could effectively pay its operating costs (credit checks, hosting, limited number of employees, etc) via advertising and/or accepting voluntary donations (but without pushing people to donate).

Obviously you would need to do institute some security checks to ensure that people don't take advantage of this, but a tiered system with varying options from high to low risk could solve that. A rewards system of sorts (most likely non monetary) could be used as incentive, but hopefully there are enough people who would willingly loan out small amounts of money just to help others out.

it's a rough idea right now, I know, but this is a project idea that I would seriously consider putting a lot of time and effort into.

Are you referring to this?

http://www.prosper.com/

If so, it's already been done. You do have to pay interest for loans on this service though.

You kinda missed the whole point...

 

[ultimatebob]

Cool idea, but I think that you'll need a find yourself an under served niche of the dating population. You might stand a better chance if your site only accepted profiles from black lesbians or illegal Chinese immigrants or something.

OK... bad examples, but you get the idea.

 

[mrrman]

the problem with these sites is that most of the profiles are scammers, places to manipulate people...total waste of time IMO...there is no method to screen people who legitimately want to meet someone

 

[nonameo]

There are plenty of people that want sex but aren't getting any. Find them.

 

[sponge008]

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: SViper

Originally posted by: Crono
I'm not sure if it has been done, but I've been playing with my own idea in my head for the last couple of months, seeing how successful microloans have become especially in the last few years, and how sites like Prosper are extending that to the web. Microloans are also making a significant difference in helping poor people in 3rd world countries start small businesses.

I was thinking that a 0% (yes, that's right, zero percent) microloan system, a nonprofit organization, would be the next step in that process. As a Christian, I believe that you shouldn't charge people interest, but lend money freely. Now obviously, on a large scale an organization can't loan out money for free, because there are too many operating costs. But a "peer to peer" microloan system, with a website acting as an intermediary, could do it. The website could effectively pay its operating costs (credit checks, hosting, limited number of employees, etc) via advertising and/or accepting voluntary donations (but without pushing people to donate).

Obviously you would need to do institute some security checks to ensure that people don't take advantage of this, but a tiered system with varying options from high to low risk could solve that. A rewards system of sorts (most likely non monetary) could be used as incentive, but hopefully there are enough people who would willingly loan out small amounts of money just to help others out.

it's a rough idea right now, I know, but this is a project idea that I would seriously consider putting a lot of time and effort into.

Are you referring to this?

http://www.prosper.com/

If so, it's already been done. You do have to pay interest for loans on this service though.

You kinda missed the whole point...

That wouldn't work, and even if it did achieve some small degree of Internet good-Samaritanism, you'd probably be better off putting your time into something more useful, and donating the profits to charity if you're so inclined. Or just volunteer.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: mrrman
the problem with these sites is that most of the profiles are scammers, places to manipulate people...total waste of time IMO...there is no method to screen people who legitimately want to meet someone

Agreed. I've been looking for ways to "foil" scammers but I know they will still be able to get through. I've seen this new "CAPTCHA" process that makes you eliminate the picture that doesnt match. So if you show 4 pics, you have to select the one pic that doesnt belong.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Let's split the market into 5 segments:
1. Technologists
2. Visionaries
3. Pragmatics
4. Conservatives
5. Laggards (for lack of a better term)

Something like this seems that it will target the technologists and visionaries, which are maybe 15% of the market. Until you have pick 5-6 differentiating factors of why your service is unique or you have an unfair advantage, it won't be easy to break into the pragmatics and conservatives.

Question for you - who has been handling the marketing and business side of things? You seem to have a good script, but the marketing needs a little bit of work. Determining what will bring people to your site, getting them to sign up, and use the service is the biggest thing.

Drop me a message if you want to talk more about this sometime.

 

[OdiN]

No.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: lilcam
So I have this code that's been laying around for 2+ yrs. It was for a classified ads but then changed to a dating site right about when Plentyoffish and okcupid surfaced. I think I might be late to the game, but competition is always good, right? Anyways, if the concept wouldnt work or there's no way in hell I can compete with the other sites, I'm just going to fold the project and work on something else. I've been working on this site on and off for the past year and I'm not even close to being done.

Project is called 23traits. It's a play on words if you will, 46 pairs of chromosomes in the human body. You tag yourself with 23 words, whether it's a physical description or an adjective that describes you. It's basically tagging yourself with anything that relates or describes you. These tags are then matched against a database of profiles. If you're logged in, it shows a percentage match you have against a particular profile.

I noticed some new dating sites entered the market within the past 6 months. I havent kept up and checked on them but I take it they didnt succeed since I havent heard much about them. Anyways, should I just give it up and start on a new project?

Remember, the site is about 90% complete. The profiles are bogus profiles I used as place holders. You can't register for an account or anything.

Site: http://code.23traits.com

interesting idea. the one critique I have with the concept, however, is that people aren't terribly honest about themselves. the tendency would be to choose words that represent who you think you are, and not who you truly are. For the same reason, diaries are more revealing about the people discussed in them, not about the person writing them.

but who knows, perhaps matching projections of people who aren't who they think they are will help them find out who they truly are? if they are dishonest about the same things....

Match and E Harmony are giants in the business though; largely through marketing. while they present themselves as statistically successful regarding their methods, there is no actual significance in what they do vs say...flipping a coin. They succeed through marketing, exposure, word-of-mouth.

If you're this far with it, I'd say give it a try. Do you have some banner ads that friends and fellow ATers can use on their websites? You need to present it as a different approach at first, and probably gain some real success stories to have a chance.

GL
:beer:

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
Match and E Harmony are giants in the business though; largely through marketing. while they present themselves as statistically successful regarding their methods, there is no actual significance in what they do vs say...flipping a coin. They succeed through marketing, exposure, word-of-mouth.

If you're this far with it, I'd say give it a try. Do you have some banner ads that friends and fellow ATers can use on their websites? You need to present it as a different approach at first, and probably gain some real success stories to have a chance.

Thx...I totally agree. I'm not going into this thinking that I'm going to take over the online dating world in a matter of days. Marketing is the key and I need to get the word out. I'm merely looking for some input thus far as not many folks including my friends have even seen the site or even heard about the project.

I spent some time on okcupid and plentyoffish (the free ones) and I think they need to be tweaked a bit. I'm not saying my site is better but there's always room for improvement. POF has a horrible interface but it brings a lot of traffic. I just think my idea is "different" since you're not basing your matches/search on hair color, number of kids, income, religion, etc...

Let's face it, besides pictures on a profile what makes someone decide to contact the person in the profile? I think most people ignore the religion, kids, hair color question but yes there are those that want to only date jewish or asian folks. I want to take all those general questions and turn them into a "fun" thing by using tags.