How many dating sites do you think appear every day? Right, more than one. How many go beyond software installation and change of logo? Right, very few. Are there still opportunities in online dating? Should you look for even better dating software?
Well, to be honest software, per se, is only a tool. In hands of a creative craftsman it may shine... and often this craftsman can get away with even a basic (crappy) tool.
Opportunities are there, they always will be there, waiting for you, eager to fill your pockets. Markus Frind (plentyoffish) didn't think that FriendFinder and Match were an indestructible monopoly. Sam Yagan (okcupid) also looks quite happy despite their site's "late" entry. "Friendster > MySpace > Facebook > (your site?)" succession taught us a lesson of "there's no such thing as Internet monopoly" and "anyone can cook" (Chef Gusteau, Ratatoulle).
more than a good dating software, apparently. Feel free to post your ideas in comments, and I will start with mine - the next super-star online dating site has to be fun. We have seen dating sites that work well, sites that are free, and sites that are very niche. What we are yet to see is an online dating site that puts smile on members' faces every time they log-in. Dating, by definition, should be an enjoyable experience, light-hearted and relaxed. Do you imagine a real date without jokes, smiles and laughter? As saying goes "make a lady laugh and she's yours", and so - make your site visitors smile and they're yours.
Easier to say than do, huh?
For starters, make 30 jumps, stop bitching about software, free your mind, and quickly think of something creative, simple, easy to do, and most importantly something that is to bring a lot of fun for others!
Online Personals Watch posted an interesting interview with Sunil Nagaraj (datebuzz) where he shares some "fun" bits that they do. I love the idea of collective tracking of dating quests of individual members. A little bit of homebrew reality show right there.
Add life and fun to your dating site and you got a winner! Is it true for a social networking site? You bet!
IMHO there are still two main problems with Dolphin to build a dating site...
First is the separation by gender/sexuality. For example men hetero have to see/attain only women hetero profiles, men gay only other men gay profiles, etc...
The second is that there is still no email addresses filter. Such addresses, as well as other contact information like phone numbers, still can be posted in many places.
Photos management, that is a main and quite basic feature, has to be see more
I see Dolphin as a bare CMS
1.No social connectivity in the core...
say, http://tomakali.net/m/videos/share/Amudha-Tamil-Horror-Short-Film
No FB, No FB likes, No tweets... not even a simple inviter
2.Template pack
There is no choice for the members to choose default templates for their profiles
3.Sharing
say, i have two websites
how do i promote my site1 content on site2
API? missing
4.Banner system
Very basic
5.Mobile site?
Missing/ignored
6.3rd party see more
i think it is high time to think on API's since this is where any website or social networking site clicks as of now.
since you have such a vast talent out there who can utilise the api's and make a living out of it as well as promote and grow Dolphin like other softwares or CMS.
Andrew you have not answered to my earlier reply to one of my blog postings regarding the licensing system.... i would appreciate if you would answer.
Claudia
- Michels vision on Gebder/ sexuality should be something the members can chose in their privacy settings! (Many of my lesbian members would love that cos they ask me so many times)
- Couple Profiles should be made different its somehow anoying the way it is right now
- Membership levels visibility should be possible to add to profile description
- Member should be able if they search for other members that when they view a profile that there see more
Membership Badge by Modzzz: http://www.boonex.com/unity/extensions/entry/Membership_Badge
Both are free ;-)
I use dolphin for my dating site and me also have to definately agree with micheal most of my members have the same complaint that why do they have to view men if they are just looking for women
the photo uploading this making a album is just not the best way to go most dating sites make it very simple but this method l am constantly having see more
a. Findability
b. Coolability
Of course neither of those are real words, but you get the point.
No matter how cool a site is, if nobody finds it then it's a bit like having a really awesome 1 800 number. Not a lot of people are going to dial that number by accident. You may say that a really cool site will naturally go viral, but in my opinion it takes a lot of daily visitors to get that ball rolling.
Here's see more
MichelSwiss (Premium)• 5 hours ago
-1 points • Extra privacy settings by Modzzz: http://www.boonex.com/unity/extensions/entry/Extra_Privacy
Membership Badge by Modzzz: http://www.boonex.com/unity/extensions/entry/Membership_Badge
Both are free ;-)
Secondly, Being that I ahve perused many a dating site I always (and I mean always) got to the one that brings the best functional search see more
In 2011 life has become fast and people cant waste time . . . In waiting for the pages/flash apps to load. . . . . And thats the main draw back here. . . . . . . The dolphin GUI is quite complex and it dont use the latest programing languages secondly the flash apps loads late and some times get stucked. . . They should be replaced quickly by HTML5 as you stated in your post we can't wait a year . .for that. . . . . . I know that needs the whole dolphin to get recoded . . But i would suggest see more