Ian WhiteSecond Week Critique
September 25th 2006 14:10
When I started this project, the idea was to see what the online dating phenomenon was all about. To see what it’s like to be a single bloke out there looking for something other than porn from the comfort of my own computer. To see what success there is to be had, to find out if a decent bloke can find a decent woman. On the way, the idea was to see what kind of services are offered, what you get for your money and whether any of the sites are better value than any of the others and to provide a completely bias-free report for the benefit of the Australian single bloke.
After two solid weeks of research, preliminary findings are in. Four websites were signed up to, paid in full and thrashed thoroughly. I have so far got my moneys worth out of actual time online in each site. Below I have listed my results. Let me quantify that this comes after a very full-on two week period of trying my hardest to get as much value out of each site as possible, in order to firstly actually meet some women, and secondly, to avoid having to pay more than once. I may be an Aussie but I have Scottish heritage.
RSVP. At the moment, RSVP is winning.
Good Points
RSVP is very easy to use. Keeps all of your emails and kisses listed unless you want them removed. Is very well known and respected in the singles community. Has LOTS of members – So far I have had the most contact through RSVP. (13 positive kisses received, 7 emails, 8 “no thanks you” responses, with a lot of uninitiated contact) You can have a number of different photos on the site. IM is a pop-up window similar to MSN messenger.
Not So Good Points
Is the most expensive/least value for money. The site itself is not the most attractive. Some of the matching is inaccurate. (I specified Melbourne only and was matched with a few interstaters)
Match.com Match is coming a very close second.
Good Points
Match is an attractive, easy to use site. Monthly fee provides unlimited access/emails etc. Lots of members and a lot of uninitiated contact. Profiles are quite attractively laid out.
Not So Good Points
Updating your profile is draining – takes too long and while being updated you can’t send kisses etc. Match has no email facility – everything is sent through the email address you listed which means there is no record on the site of who you have corresponded with. Only allows one photo.
LavaLife. Paying no third dividend… a very distant third.
Good Points
Site is visually appealing. Instant message service on main page is good.
Not So Good Points
“Credits” system is a bit confusing. Site is broken into three separate sections for “Dating”, “Relationship” & “Intimate”. You need to write a new profile for each section which is just annoying, and it is quite clear that a lot of the people using the site put their profiles into the wrong sections. The site is simply confusing. Received the least amount of contact through LL, with a dismal 4 kisses received across all three profiles.
I am now at the stage where I have made some good contact and am emailing these women to get to know them a little better (which means that I am trying to prove that I am not a creepy stalker and am worth meeting in real life) and I have set up three dates for myself in the coming week. AND as a bonus, I have been to a Speed Dating night which was interesting to say the least. I think this is about to get good…stay tuned.
After two solid weeks of research, preliminary findings are in. Four websites were signed up to, paid in full and thrashed thoroughly. I have so far got my moneys worth out of actual time online in each site. Below I have listed my results. Let me quantify that this comes after a very full-on two week period of trying my hardest to get as much value out of each site as possible, in order to firstly actually meet some women, and secondly, to avoid having to pay more than once. I may be an Aussie but I have Scottish heritage.
RSVP. At the moment, RSVP is winning.
Good Points
RSVP is very easy to use. Keeps all of your emails and kisses listed unless you want them removed. Is very well known and respected in the singles community. Has LOTS of members – So far I have had the most contact through RSVP. (13 positive kisses received, 7 emails, 8 “no thanks you” responses, with a lot of uninitiated contact) You can have a number of different photos on the site. IM is a pop-up window similar to MSN messenger.
Not So Good Points
Is the most expensive/least value for money. The site itself is not the most attractive. Some of the matching is inaccurate. (I specified Melbourne only and was matched with a few interstaters)
Match.com Match is coming a very close second.
Good Points
Match is an attractive, easy to use site. Monthly fee provides unlimited access/emails etc. Lots of members and a lot of uninitiated contact. Profiles are quite attractively laid out.
Not So Good Points
Updating your profile is draining – takes too long and while being updated you can’t send kisses etc. Match has no email facility – everything is sent through the email address you listed which means there is no record on the site of who you have corresponded with. Only allows one photo.
LavaLife. Paying no third dividend… a very distant third.
Good Points
Site is visually appealing. Instant message service on main page is good.
Not So Good Points
“Credits” system is a bit confusing. Site is broken into three separate sections for “Dating”, “Relationship” & “Intimate”. You need to write a new profile for each section which is just annoying, and it is quite clear that a lot of the people using the site put their profiles into the wrong sections. The site is simply confusing. Received the least amount of contact through LL, with a dismal 4 kisses received across all three profiles.
I am now at the stage where I have made some good contact and am emailing these women to get to know them a little better (which means that I am trying to prove that I am not a creepy stalker and am worth meeting in real life) and I have set up three dates for myself in the coming week. AND as a bonus, I have been to a Speed Dating night which was interesting to say the least. I think this is about to get good…stay tuned.
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Comment by LauraP
Comment by singlebloke
I didnt like the setup of the site at all really, and even though I got used to it, I think a lot of people would be quick to ditch it for something better