Thanks to USA TODAY’s Technology Live Blog for the following story:
A popular online dating service you’ve probably never heard of is trying to change that, beginning with a national TV ad blitz tonight.
This evening, Zoosk will be a staple on the airwaves of ESPN, Animal Planet and others. And its message is simple: It’s willing to offer a free, open site in an industry rife with paid subscriptions. Users who desire added-value services can pay Zoosk a nominal monthly fee.
Of Zoosk’s 50 million registered users, enough are willing to pay for premium memberships and virtual gifts to ring up $30 million in revenue, based on an annual runrate, according to Zoosk. The application — the 30th-most popular free app on iPhone in May — is coming to Android in July.
A key reason for its success is that Zoosk is easily available on open platforms like Facebook, MySpace, Hi5, Bebo and others. “Competing on social media has helped us, versus being a walled garden like (rival) Match.com,” says Zoosk co-CEO Alex Mehr. “We think of online dating as a utility, a service.”
Maybe Zoosk’s approach is catching on. Last week, Match.com, the dating website owned by Internet company IAC, said it will become Yahoo’s online dating site, replacing the Yahoo Personals brand.
Of Zoosk’s 50 million registered users, enough are willing to pay for premium memberships and virtual gifts to ring up $30 million in revenue, based on an annual runrate, according to Zoosk. The application — the 30th-most popular free app on iPhone in May — is coming to Android in July.
Technorati Tags: match.com, online dating, Zoosk