In just a couple of short decades, online dating services have transformed dramatically. What were once places where “losers” went to find love are now considered an integral part of the modern dating process. Along the way, of course, a number of online dating service companies have made a tremendous amount of money.

Now, however, there is a serious threat to these services on the horizon. With the rise in social networking sites like Facebook.com, MySpace.com, and the like, more and more people are looking for ways to search those huge databases of singles for their perfect match. And since social networking sites are generally free, a safe and secure dating module created for such sites could very well be the “killer app” that puts a dent in the profits of paid online dating services.

And if that dating application were free? Well, that might just be enough to put many of the smaller online dating services out of business completely. The larger services like Match.com, eHarmony.com, Lavalife, and Cupid.com would likely find a way to still compete, but I suspect they would have to make some significant changes to stay in the game. This might come in the form of adjusting their fees, adding more value to their services, or some other “killer app” of their own that hasn’t been developed yet.

Which approach would be better? Are you more likely to find a match via paid online dating services or via one of the extremely popular social networking sites? Nobody knows for sure quite yet because the “killer app” for dating on social networking sites hasn’t been developed yet. The one thing that’s for sure, though, is that the online dating scene is poised to see some huge changes in the next few years. It’s going to be an exciting ride!

News & Views Facebook, Killer App, MySpace, Social Networking

If you have done any looking at potential dating sites lately, you’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed. There are so many of them out there (an estimated several thousand, according to some experts) that it can be extremely difficult to decide which one (or ones) you should pay to join.

Leave it to the online community to recognize this problem and come up with a simple solution! The latest trend in online dating is the rise of so-called “dating portals”, also sometimes called “dating aggregators”. These innovative sites are cutting right through the problem of choosing the right online dating service by allowing users to search for matches across multiple dating services. It’s much like the familiar airline travel services such as CheapFlights.com, Priceline.com, and Kayak.com, where you can search a single site and find multiple travel options to consider.

Rubixx.com, for example, pulls profiles from many of the top dating sites when you conduct a search. If you find a potentially interesting match you then click through to the site from which the profile comes. Of course, you have to pay the fee to join that site and access the full profile, but the general concept here is a huge change for online dating. It may just be a very successful way for you to search more profiles, find more matches, and only pay to access those online services where your potential matches are also signed up.

Is this the future of online dating? Chances are the answer is “yes”, so keep an eye on this trend if you want to stay on the cutting edge!

News & Views Dating Aggregators, Portals, Rubixx.com

With all of the media sensationalism over the recent swine flu outbreak, it’s easy to start feeling a bit paranoid about getting out there and meeting new people. Those pictures of people walking around wearing surgical masks and the daily briefings with a “sky is falling” theme are downright scary.

Fortunately, it seems the flu outbreak is winding down and hasn’t been nearly as serious as originally feared. There is another sickness going around, though, and this one has no cure.

It’s called Spring Fever. It’s extremely contagious. And there’s no cure except to get outside, get active, and let it run its course.

Spring is a natural time for singles to feel energized about finding a new partner and it comes with plenty of opportunities for doing just that. If you find yourself suffering from this seasonal affliction, here are five great ways to get through it and even share it with others:

1. Join a co-ed softball team sponsored by the local parks & recreation department.

2. If you have a dog, take it to the nearest dog park on a regular basis.

3. Get outside in the evenings after work and go for a walk.

4. Sign up for an outdoor class like kayaking, fishing, or the like.

5. Sign up for group golf lessons and make a point of playing the local par-3 course at least once per week.

These may sound kind of silly or even ho-hum, but I guarantee that you’ll find yourself having some fun, enjoying the spring a bit more, and perhaps even meeting other singles like yourself along the way.

News & Views Dogs, Hobbies, Holidays, Meet People, Sports