Have you ever found a date through your blog?
Dating sites like Match.com, Spring Street Networks, Love@AOL, etc never allow folks who post personal ads to link to other sites in their ad. Obviously the reason why this is so is because the vendors want to restrict you to their web space so they can garner as much ad revenue as possible. And of course there is always that fee they charge you to contact your potential partner.
What if these vendors turned this on its head and allowed their users to hook a syndication feed from their blog into their profile? Would it completely undercut their business model or is there another way to derive revenue form such a thing? Is there a dating service for bloggers?
Funny, I'd mentioned this same idea a week ago to another Salon blogger, suggested opening a new category just for the purpose of looking for a date. Maybe it's a business model that needs fine tuning...?
Posted by: Rayne | November 14, 2003 at 04:35 PM
why don't you start one ;)
Posted by: Amanda (Drew) | November 14, 2003 at 07:37 PM
would be nice to start a blogging dating service. couldn't be any worse than match.com.
Posted by: alyssa | November 14, 2003 at 08:49 PM
OK here is how to do it (like Blogrolling) You could design a "profile" database and a search engine and link to your profile in the blog template. Get a collection of cute link graphics for SWF or GBM or SDMBdB etc and build up a brand. Bloggers looking for a connection would post the link and readers would know if they were looking for a connection.
OK who is going to run with this? I'm not sure it would pay unless it got popular but it shouldn't be too hard to code up. If I remember right Match.com started out as regional franchises where people just put up the hardware and provided some admin work it morphed in to the juggernaut it is today.
I will be happy to noodle this with anyone.
Posted by: Philip | November 15, 2003 at 11:53 AM
Actually Philip I have another idea. I was up very late last night working on it. I hope to post the first piece of it either later tonight or on Sunday.
I think I am going to run with this, at least until I can hand off the baton to the next runner.
Posted by: filchyboy | November 15, 2003 at 02:13 PM
Philip, it sounds like FOAF would be a good basis for what you're talking about.
Posted by: xian | November 16, 2003 at 02:58 PM
That's exactly what I'm working on Xian.
Posted by: filchyboy | November 16, 2003 at 04:29 PM
um, yeah actually.
Posted by: The Mighty Jimbo | November 18, 2003 at 04:41 PM