Match.com ReviewedMatch.com is one of the largest and most popular online dating services in existence. Since going live in 1996 there have been over 42 million people registered to the site and recent statistics show over 15 million active singles on the site. The site boasts that within the past year alone over 500,000 singles have found meaningful relationships through their service. They are so bold in their confidence that a recent promotion claims that if you are unable to make a meaningful connection within six months you are entitled to six months free. The site doesn't neglect any potential race or demographic as you can search for Asian, Black, Christian and Senior singles. The singles poll comes from over 24 countries globally and they have headquarters in Dallas, TX. and London with other offices in Paris, Tokyo, Beijing, Munich, Stockholm, Madrid and Boulder. So is Match.com's dominance of the online dating market deserved or is it merely the result of a huge marketing budget that ensures everyone with or without an Internet connection has the domain name etched into their brain? Undoubtedly their success has presented an opportunity for the site to grow in ways that their competitors can't and there are features to the site itself that are advanced in comparison to many other online dating sites. The search functions are highly useful with users having the ability to narrow their search results to within one mile of their location. The keyword feature of the site is also useful as members can search for others that share specific hobbies or interests. You are also able to see when members were last logged in to the site. Match.com knows that the high volume of singles on their site will be enough to entice membership buys so they don't hesitate to give you an ample preview of their site at no cost. Site visitors can view entire profiles without spending a dime. You get the sense that Match.com knows there is nothing to hide and that the quality and volume of their member profiles will pull people into subscription plans but there are a few negatives. For example, free members are unable to respond to emails sent by paying members. Some sites only limit non-paid members to initiating contact with another member while still giving them the ability to respond to emails and messages. This comes across as slightly greedy on their part but they are successful so their business model really can't be argued with. In their defense they may feel that this provides a safer website. It certainly weeds out an undesirable element that may not hang around much since a membership must be purchased to have their fun. Another negative is the fact that there aren’t many innovative means of communicating between members. No instant messaging or video conferencing (as of time of writing!). You would think that with a $30 a month price tag there would be more special features for premium members. Premium members get access to a matchmaking program and an online magazine with articles of interest to users. Dr. Phil even shows up on the site with some words of wisdom. He does, however, come with a price and you must throw down an additional $10 on top of your Match.com subscription fee, if you want your soul counseled and saved by Dr. Phil. It is impossible to avoid Match.com if you are venturing through the world of online dating. They are leaders in the industry and immensely popular. The numbers speak for themselves and 42 million people can’t be wrong so you owe it to yourself to at least test the waters.
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