Forum Moderators: skibum
I just read WDS's TOS, etc. Don't care for the following:
1) Their contact page doesn't include a phone number (Can somewhat understand that. I assume once you sign up you get an actual number);
2) They don't quite make it clear exactly where the domain is to be hosted. (I just checked a member site and see that the DNS points to widgetdatingsite.tld, so I guess I have my answer);
3) Their TOS: They can terminate you and keep all the paying members, tough on you;
4) "For the sake of privacy" they don't give the sites that bring in the customers the customer's info. (I'm guess that's the norm, that is, the standard business practice is to make screwing the affiliate legal whereever possible.)
Are these programs mostly promise and little delivery? Any ones that get the Goodhousekeeping Seal of Approval? IF you choose to walk away or go with another provider - taking your domain with you - I'm guessing that the membership will 1) not be too happy, and, will doubtless get an email from WDS about where else in their network members can hook up. Looks pretty well stacked, though given how little work you have to do one should not complain too loudly. ;0)
[edited by: eljefe3 at 4:21 am (utc) on May 4, 2005]
I kinda figured that my noob generic question might be orphaned. For other noobs here's what I've learned(?) by reading:
1) Dating used to be profitable for entrants. Now, 800 pound affiliate gorillas rule the land.
2) Some dating sites convert better than others. Where's the answer to that issue? Anyone care to sticky me? This likely falls under the rubric of "unmentionable". Are there forums about the dating industry that are more professional than others? Sort of the WebmasterWorld of the dating genre?
3) Many people wonder if they are getting credit for what they send along to dating sites. So, there is a significant undercurrent of weak trust. The likely explanation is that most people will accept the free stuff of dating sites. Only diehards pony up fees.
4) So, the answer is "Give it a try. It might work. It might not."
Am I missing anything? Any last words before I go off in search of the new old world?
Good luck, sucker?
Many of the big players are in bed with spyware which steals your leads/credit. Other major players just randomly decide not to give you credit for your sales. Many of them are on 3+ affiliate networks,plus a in house program. They all have the exact same landing pages etc but when using 1 link you get 2x the number of leads as when using another link.
Could this divide and conquer approach be a threat to the big players? I'm guessing it might. Alot comes down to how one channels traffic. It seems to be the nature of market places to grow, consolidate, fracture, grow, etc. Do the big players respond simply by creating new portals and limiting database queries/entries to the particular demographic? Maybe, but that's almost playing to their possible weakness - by exposing/expanding the model.
There's opportunity it seems to me.
Anyone know of a fairly robust prepackaged dating script, PHP+MySQL or ASP+MSSQL? Sticky me in case that's another unmentionable. ;) Heck, sticky me about anything you care to discuss.
Could this divide and conquer approach be a threat to the big players? I'm guessing it might.
Yes.
It's a market like auctions. It takes a big membership base to recruit members and get them to actualy pay up. Even back in the early days, companeies like Match ran free for a long time to build critical mass.
