Girls in Tech: Virtual Dating 101, addresses this question and will explore the evolution of the online dating industry guided by expert panelist from ThePerfectSearch.com, Thread.com, SingleMomSeeking.com and SpeedDate.com. Discussions will include how the online medium has overcome a major stigma and become the dating norm in a short 14 year span. The event will follow the different approaches to fee structures (paid/free/SNS)
According to OnlineDatingMagazine.com, eHarmony.com claims that from their service alone there were 33,000 marriages that occurred in a one year period. The same article estimates that the number of marriages resulting from all online dating sites is over 100,000 annually. OnlinePersonalsWatch.com reports that Match.com and eHarmony.com saw 16% and 20% growth when compared to the same time frame the previous year with Match.com boasting over 15 million current members.
Alternatives to these classic user-created profile models are being offered by both Thread.com and SpeedDate.com. Thread allows users to play matchmaker by introducing friends via Facebook.com. Users can log on to Facebook.com and browse profiles of friends of friend's to ask for introductions or introduce themselves. No more meeting complete strangers. SpeedDate, on the other hand, believes that two people know if there’s a connection within the first 3 minutes of meeting and have created a platform through email, chat, voice or web cam in which users can test the spark factor before risking their time on a real date.
Guiding the Virtual Dating 101 discussion is moderating panelist Melinda Maximova, relationship expert and founding matchmaker at ThePerfectSearch.com, a VIP matchmaking service which combines old-world, face-to-face matchmaking with the added convenience and speed of the internet. Melinda is RescueDating blogger Examiner.com writer, matchmaker teacher, and author of the e-book, Power Shift: Rescue Dating For Women.
Once the business side of the industry is covered the discussion will move toward user tips from Rachel Sarah, online dating expert, author of SingleMomSeeking.com and founder of one the largest blogs for single parents, who will address the most common missteps people make when dating online. Also a contributor for Match.com, Rachel claims there is a science to successful online dating and she’ll share first hand from her experiences in the field.
Conference Date: Monday, October 19th, 2009
Time: 6:30 pm check in, 7:00 pm start
Venue: E & O Trading Company, Downtown San Francisco
Tickets: $10.00 Please RSVP at: www.girlsintechvirtualdating101.eventbrite.com
