Beverly Hills, CA

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Big Numbers, Anonymous Users

Online dating is big in terms of popularity and a big business. Over the last ten years, this industry has grown exponentially, generating nearly a Billion dollars in 2008! Several dating services (with high media profiles) boast tens of millions of user. More and more, online dating is the method of choice for singles (young and old) to meet potential mates. Long hours at work, shrinking social groups (especially as you get older…) and the decline of community interaction in the "information age" are all contributing factors in the growing popularity of online dating. However, it appears that it's not popular to have met your mate online. In recent surveys conducted with singles, couples in new relationships and couples dating for a year or longer, an overwhelming majority (approx. 75.8%) would not want to admit they met their mate online. Over 80% would not admit to anyone, other then close personal friends, that they are using an online dating service.

Major Points of Contention

Three major issues seem to come to the forefront. Attracting a mate is not necessarily a straight forward proposition. The intimate details that we reveal in a dating situation are not details that we would publish for general consumption. One of the most common reservations stated is "What if my co-workers found out." Most people do not want the person in the cubicle next to them to know their "turn-ons" and "turn-offs" or how they would classify their "body-type." Most people would prefer to keep the work and personal spheres of their lives separate. Another major issue of contention is the fear of judgment. Many people don't want others to know about their online dating because they feel it portrays the notion that they can't meet anyone the "normal" way, and have to go online to get a date. They feel admitting to using an online dating service leaves them open to judgment as being weird or desperate. Honesty is also frequently cited and is an issue. Who knows what information is legitimate. How can everyone have a "slim" or "athletic" body type? In the survey referenced above, many people indicated that they have either submitted false information and/or found information contained in profiles of other members (that they went on dates with) to be false or misleading.

An Alternative

There is an alternative to the traditional dating websites. StatetoStateConnect.com is a fast growing website that has devised a revolutionary new model for internet dating: An online community that incorporates dating aspects. MySpace and Facebook have proven to be very popular sites, drawing millions of users. StatetoStateConnect.com is trading on this popularity, but they are taking it a step further, creating an online playground for adults, leaving users to choose what, when and how.

With StatetoStateConnect.com user can communicate with old friends; make new friends with similar interests, share photos, music, videos and other media in vibrant and engaging online community. StatetoStateConnect.com users can also take advantage of singles experience events that are taken place all over the country in a summer series of events. The first installment will take place on April 30, 2009 at Mantra986, in NYC.

The "difference" with StatetoStateConnect.com is the promotion of "friendship" and "community" in an open and comfortable environment. StatetoStateConnect.com is not a classified-personals type hook-up or meat-market situation. With StatetoStateConnect.com, users are not signing-up for just another dating site, they are joining an online community, thereby alleviating some of the concerns raised about broadcasting intimate details or feelings of negative judgments related to using the average internet dating service. This is a fun, interactive online community where users get to know each other and learn their respective interests, beyond the common, trite and clichéd information posted by many users on most dating sites. Best of all, StatetoStateConnect.com is an astounding bargain, at only $9.95 a month, undercutting every major dating site. For an alternative to the some old dating site, choose something beyond a dating website-check out StatetoStateConnect.com today.

About the Author: Gina Williams is an online social network expert that has written a series of articles on relationships, self awareness and dating for StatetoStateConnect.com. For more advice about relationships and dating online please visit http://www.statetostateconnect.com/news

Gina Williams

President/CEO

www.StatetoStateConnect.com

Beverly Hills, CA

888-204-7884