I want to start a dating site

[thehighmind]

Hi everyone,
I'm newbie here and I hope I opened the topic in the right place.
As the title says I want to start a dating site and I want to ask for an opinion, ideea, advice from you guys.
I spend all my day looking for some open source dating scripts and I found a few ( cybermatch, MyOwnSpace, osDate, etc.) not very good looking/working from some users opinion but are free.
Anyone used that kind of scripts so he can share an opinion with me? Should I try buy a custom script?
Should I spend lots of money on website? What if I do and won't have success? Should I start this alone or should I look for a partner?
Maybe this questions sound stupid for some of you, but this is not a small project so I want to look this problem from every angle.
I have at the moment some money, SEO knowledge, time and traffic where I can place ads/ banners.
I'm not good in programming and I'm average in webdesign.

Does anyone has a dating website or tried to make one?
Does anyone want to create a website and needs a partner?

 

[jazzyjazzy]

You can go for free scripts but I would say spend a bit and get your own using joomla or something similar. As far as success goes, risk is always there

 

[thehighmind]

You can go for free scripts but I would say spend a bit and get your own using joomla or something similar. As far as success goes, risk is always there

Thanks for the advice

 

[Superconservativenes]

From a web developer's point of view:

I would suggest paying for a dating script or a custom dating script. Custom dating scripts will be more expensive, but will also be more customizable. Another way to go would be to use an open-source script as a base and customize the script yourself.

After the site is all set up, you would need to advertise the hell out of it. My opinion is that you spend more on advertising/seo than on the actual script.

All the best,
​Superconservativeness

PS: I'm a web developer/designer trying to build my skill. If you find an open-source script you like and want to use that as a base for a custom script than PM me. I wouldn't mind helping you out. Though, I would like to know that you have a plan for the dating site as I wouldn't like to wait precious hours coding if my work would go down the drain.

 

[Oukast]

Also running sort-of-dating sites, and I also vouch for going for unique script. Yes, it will cost you more, but at least you're not going to be like all thousands of other sites out there. So it requires some capital, but it will most likely pay off nicely.

If you're targeting any EU country, I could check out if we have any affiliate spots open, where you could get our backend and moderation and everything for relatively small monthly fee - with chances of making a metric shit ton of money, more than with traditional dating sites, yet still in the same genre. PM me if you're interested.

 

[pander]

Hi,

What's your niche/angle? ... there are a million and one dating sites out there

 

[Deleted member 364366]

I'd check out someone on Freelancer, be careful because there's plenty of scammers but also some great programmers! Good Luck with the venture, you have an enormous competition!

 

[OldLord]

It's a hell of a crowded niche but if you work with a partner there are things that you can do. The offers of collaboration on here are something I would definitely look at - if you're able to agree on planning then you have a lot of people on this site with genuine talent. By working together you could create a site that stands out from the dating sites available at the moment. And if you have a dating site that stands out, it's a licence to print money.

 

[salvador5266]

I have been toying with the idea of a dating site too. Would love to hear how it goes for you.

 

[Oukast]

It's a hell of a crowded niche but if you work with a partner there are things that you can do. The offers of collaboration on here are something I would definitely look at - if you're able to agree on planning then you have a lot of people on this site with genuine talent. By working together you could create a site that stands out from the dating sites available at the moment. And if you have a dating site that stands out, it's a licence to print money.

I agree with this post completely; dating is one of the niches where breaking into it is very, very hard, and any established help you can get is going to be worth it. It doesn't exactly come cheap (nor is it that expensive either, but with a hole in your pocket you can't make it), but i will pay itself back very soon, because the nice itself is really full of money, and will continue to be in the future.

And my offer still stands; if anyone is really into it, just PM me and we'll see what we can do! EU only for the time being!

 

[blackhatassistant]

good luck! I think we're on the same boat .....

i'm also starting one, in fact, already purchased a domain (bridecatalogue), but still trying to figure out how to start with it. niche would be about wedding forum/wedding destination then latter on "matching"

i think, it's the safest way to approach it for now considering that there are a ton of dating sites out there.

 

[boissierem]

 

[keyword101]

I suggest to not go to that route. You will be wasting a lot of time and money. I just started my own dating site with the cost of just purchasing a domain. You just have to drive traffic to your site and collect the payment. I can give you an advice for free.

 

[panda23]

Such a tough niche to tap in. Good luck mate!

 

[HereComesTheDrop]

what is going to stand out about your dating site?

 

[murhpyy]

You can do it your self by free script or though you have few money than you can go for paid script.On the other hand you can analyse your competitor and can get their business plan and you can follow them or can plan better idea for your website.

 

[collywolly]

Yea plenty of scripts out there best idea is just get it going advertise loads, and as you make money upgrade the site POF was doig 10 million a year from adsense alone like 4 years ago so think how much they do now! Plus dating never goes out of fashion just stick with the trends and I am sure with months of ads and effort you will make some decent money.

 

[Getmoney2112]

make it different, than the normal profile,wall,comments etc

 

[Getmoney2112]

Yea plenty of scripts out there best idea is just get it going advertise loads, and as you make money upgrade the site POF was doig 10 million a year from adsense alone like 4 years ago so think how much they do now! Plus dating never goes out of fashion just stick with the trends and I am sure with months of ads and effort you will make some decent money.

are you serious 10 mill a year with just adsense?

 

[sania]

10 million a year? Are you sure? This is a lot of money....

Yea plenty of scripts out there best idea is just get it going advertise loads, and as you make money upgrade the site POF was doig 10 million a year from adsense alone like 4 years ago so think how much they do now! Plus dating never goes out of fashion just stick with the trends and I am sure with months of ads and effort you will make some decent money.