Oh, the money to be made from online dating!

You can be sure the business world is well aware of how much money can be made by operating an online dating service; that’s why there are so very many of them out there, all competing for your “dating dollar”. They put a great deal of effort into positioning themselves as your friend, your confidante, and your best choice for finding love, but never for a moment forget that none of that stuff is “real”.

Online dating is a business, first and foremost, and every paid dating service is going to do everything they can to squeeze every dollar possible out of you. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing if they succeed in matching you with someone special. But you can never know at the beginning if you’re going to have this kind of success, so you have to go into it with your eyes wide open and with a budget in mind of what you’re willing to spend.

I don’t have anything against paid online dating sites; in fact, they can be quite good for many people. I do think, though, that it’s a good idea to use some of the free sites as well, especially those based on social networking concepts. Think of it as you would a financial investment; you wouldn’t put all of your money into just one kind of financial tool, and so you shouldn’t put all of your money (and effort) into just one online dating site.

Online dating may be big business and generate millions of dollars in profit each day, but it is still something very personal for you as the user. It pays to keep this in mind when you’re choosing which online service(s) to use and how much of your hard earned money to put into their offerings.

Dating Essentials Dating Business, Dating Websites, Free vs. Pay Dating, Money

It’s pretty hard to find a reputable dating site that doesn’t charge some sort of fee to its users. Of course, for most of these sites the fee is for “premium” membership, whatever that means. The question in my mind has always been “is it worth it?”

The answer to this question depends on a whole lot of other factors beyond just the cost itself (which is important, given the tough economy and the fact that most people don’t have nearly as much extra money sitting around as they did before). Before you take the plunge and type in your credit card information, think for a moment about a) what you’re really getting for the money, and b) whether or not you really need whatever it is you’re going to get.

For instance, does the extra fee give you extra access to more potential matches? Does it make your own profile stand out more on the website? Is it necessary in order for you to be able to contact members? Or is there some other real benefit to forking over more of your hard earned money?

If you’re going to pay, my advice is to start with the minimum subscription period that is offered. Also make sure you read the small print carefully (make a copy of the terms), and pay special attention to any auto-renewals clauses. You want to make sure your card is not going to be auto-billed once your subscription expires. This way, if your credit card does get auto billed when your membership ends, you’ll have legitimate grounds to dispute the transaction with your credit card company. If it’s in the terms and conditions, there’s not much you can do.

Of course the dating site will make it sound like a terrific deal, but you need to determine this for yourself. They’ll also push really hard to sign you up for long term fees by dangling a big discount in front of you. My advice is to avoid the long term fees whenever possible because you simply won’t know if you’re getting your money’s worth until you pay the money and start using the site; by the time you figure out if it’s money well spent or not it’s too late to get any back.

Here are some of the pros and cons of free vs. pay dating sites for you to consider.

The pros of free dating services

• You’ve nothing to lose – you can simply leave if you don’t like it.
• Your credit card won’t get hit with unsuspected automatic subscription renewals.
• There are now plenty of great free sites to choose from.

The cons

• Free dating sites tend be over populated with men, often with questionable motives for being there.
• Free sites often fall short on user support and customer care.
• Since there’s no payment record, it’s much easier for people to remain completely anonymous and untraceable.
• Many have distracting and annoying advertisements.

To fee or not to fee… that is the question. What’s the best answer for your budget and your needs?

News & Views, Safety Free vs. Pay Dating, Metrodate.com, Mingle2.com, Money, PlentyOfFish.com

Dating online has never been easier. Not only are there numerous websites to choose from with various formats, but there are also a number of specialized online dating sites that range from religious backgrounds to tastes in wine. However, one thing still separates these websites from each other – whether you pay or not. And does that really make a difference?

Many people say that you do get what you pay for when it comes to online dating. Is it true that the more money you invest in your online dating experience, the more you tend to get in return, or that free dating sites are full of time wasters? If you think about it, the cost of paid online dating, usually around $20 to $30 per month, is really not that great when you compare it with what you would spend on other leisure and social activities such as bars and clubs.

Another thing to remember is that with pay sites, membership usually requires payment by credit card. This gives some added peace of mind that the person is who they say they are, though there’s no guarantee.

While there are a few excellent 100% free dating services, there are some which claim to offer a free service, but which are for all purposes in fact pay sites. After taking the time to fill in the details to become a member, you find that you have only limited access to the features of the site. For example some dating services will allow you to post your profile for free, but will not allow you to interact with other members until you pay a fee. Others will allow you to interact, but only through specific channels – email, for example as opposed to video cams.

If you’re new to the waters of online dating, the free websites can be a great way to get your feet wet. However, they can also be filled with people who just want to see what online dating is all about.

When you’re paying for a service, you tend to be more serious about actually meeting people and wanting to find a relationship. But if you’re short on money, free online dating sites do exist and you can use them to find your Mr. or Mrs. Right. But just as with finding any other dating website, be sure to read some reviews before you sign up. And never ever give out your personal information to anyone that asks.

Reviews Bars, Cost, Dating Websites, Free, Free vs. Pay Dating, Money, Online Safety, Pay, Time Wasters