With the growing popularity of the internet as a means of communication between people, online dating sites have become a very popular way for singles to find and meet new partners. Bringing your dating website to life takes time, work and creativity, but these kinds of sites have great potential as a profitable business and for helping lonely people find true love. Follow these steps to create a dating website.
Steps
Step 1. Study other popular online dating websites to see how to create your own
See what you like and see which ones work.
Step 2. Decide what your "niccchia" is
There are already many internet sites dedicated to generic dating, so the key is to try to fish in a more specific market (singles who go to university, those over 35, those who are passionate about art, wine or other hobbies., etc).
Step 3. Create a section for "Profile Information," which includes cultural background, such as nationality, religion, language, etc
It also contains things you like and dislike, hobbies, etc.
Step 4. Think of a name for your business, check if the domain name is available, and create a logo
Display the logo on your site and all commercial communications. Creating a brand is the key to making your site attractive and to have a real "presence" in the virtual world - that is, where you will find most of your customers.
Step 5. Open a bank account in the name of your business
It is likely that you do not need a specific license, but it is advisable to find a trusted accountant to accompany you and advise you in this area.
Step 6. Use an online "website builder" service to create yours
There are many of these services at a reasonable price, and they will walk you step by step in creating your dating website. Many of these sites use templates to make the process quick and easy, and some of them also specialize in creating dating sites.
Step 7. Sign up for a payment processing system
It is not necessary to create a commercial account. Third party sites like Paypal are easy to use for accepting email payments.
Step 8. Advertise your site to get people to sign up
Search social media sites for singles to target. Advertise at events organized for singles or that fall into the niche your site is about. Do a massive email campaign, with special offers to spark interest.
Step 9. Check every single detail to make sure the site is perfect
Compliment yourself for creating your dating website. Connect and watch your business take off.
Advice
- Keep emailing potential "correspondents" to members whose membership has expired to show them what they are missing out on leaving your site.
- Offer special services such as chat, instant messaging, and different membership levels ("Silver," "Gold," or "Platinum") that offer extra services depending on the membership level (and price).
- Link your site to popular social networks such as Facebook, in order to expand the pool of potential users.
- Offer discounts to members who sign up for longer periods of time, for example € 20.00 per month for 1 month, € 18.00 per month for 3 months and € 15.00 per month for a 6 month subscription.
- Create a service that makes your site special, such as a special test that measures compatibility between singles registered on your site. Advertise the test as a "scientific" service to turn the alchemy of the heart into a formula.
- Offer an online newsletter that gives advice on how to pick up, how to break the ice online, what to say on a first date, what to do and what not to, and so on.
- Offer a service that makes communications anonymous and private, so users don't reveal their personal information to people they've just met online.
- Once the site is well underway (thanks to your knowledge of how to create a dating website), advertise the "success stories" born on your site, with short stories (with photos) of real couples who have met and found love on your site.
Warnings
- Use a reputable and secure payment company to protect yourself from potential bank and credit card fraud that can affect you and site members. Fraud suffered by your members can spell the bane of your business.
- Given the emotional nature of encounters, it's important to give users an easy way to submit complaints and block other users who may post inappropriate content or have a hostile attitude. This is another important aspect of security that you need to implement on the site.
- Beware of sexual maniacs who can use the site to attract unwitting women into live dating. The risk of misuse is always present in this kind of dating site, so the security measures (such as the request to verify the real identity of the users, to be kept strictly private) are annoying but necessary to keep your site going.
Sources and Citations (in English)
- www.datingsitebuilder.com
- www.eharmony.com
- www.match.com
