European Dating Site - challenge and opportunity!

JupiterResearch, a leading authority on the impact of the Internet and emerging consumer technologies on business, has found that the US online dating market continues to grow, but faces a stagnation in the number of users paying for access. Detailed in a new report "Online Dating in 2007: US Market Searches for New Users as European Market Challenges US Dominance", JupiterResearch has also found that European online dating sites are attracting new users and will double revenues from 243 million euros in 2006 to 549 million euros in 2011.

As Nate Elliott, Senior Analyst at JupiterResearch and lead author of the report says, athough US dating sites are converting browsers into payers better than ever before, they’ll have to offer additional paid services to existing customers, and tap into new user segments, to reignite significant market growth.

In contrast to the US dating market, European consumer usage of Online Dating Sites has shown consistent growth since 2003. The number of European users who report using online dating sites has grown from four percent in 2005 to six percent in 2006.

"The European online dating market is experiencing real growth right now. The industry will increase from 2.8 million paid users in 2006 to 6.0 million in 2011," said Nate Elliott. "As a result, consumer spending on online personals in Europe will more than double as well."

While revenues are growing in both the US and Europe, the less-mature European market is growing relatively more quickly. In 2003, Europeans spent less than one-quarter as much as US users on online dating sites. In 2006 they spent approximately one half as much, and in 2011 they will spend more than three-quarters as much. However, by 2011 the European market will have largely matured, growing by just nine percent compared to the US market’s six percent growth. (read more at home.businesswire.com)

So as you can see niche Dating Sites prevail and they are growing fast. Nowadays it's difficult to go out to European market as it's highly targeted and oriented. So as a result New Dating Sites that appear at that market have low chances to succeed. On the other hand, European market offers us an opportunity to target the audience by nationality, locations, traditions, language and culture. It's easier to target the audience and to plan merketing strategy. So if you plan to win a portion of European market you should make a huge study on the situations, Dating Sites that are already there and the audience (ages, locations, occupation, interests, preferences). Hard work will pay off with a Successful Dating Site! Good Luck!