July 10, 2009

Niche Internet Dating


If you’re serious about finding love online, a mainstream internet dating site gives you the biggest pool of potential daters. But if for whatever reason you’re a picky dater, then a niche dating site might offer you a better opportunity to meet the man or woman of your dreams.

Not sure what a niche site is when it comes to internet dating? It’s really quite simple; mainstream sites are for everyone, niche sites cater to a more specific group of people. In the same way that grocery stores cater to the masses, the deli caters to fewer people with specific tastes.

When the first internet dating services opened for business, there were just a handful of sites that catered to everyone. As online dating gained acceptance, dating sites offering their services to a particular segment of the population started attracting more and more likeminded members.

The appeal of a niche internet dating site lies in the fact that most of its members share a common interest; usually something that is important to them. As religion is an important element in the lives of a lot of people, it’s not surprising that one of the first niche dating sites was JDate, catering to Jewish singles. They’re still a major player in the niche dating world.

JDate is by no means the only religious based dating service. Since religion plays a central role in the lives of millions of people. For people such as this, a site that caters only to people of that religion will save the dater quite a bit of time by eliminating the need to screen profiles for religious views. Whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Muslim or follow another faith, a dating site geared to your religion ensures that those who’ve joined share your faith.

Vegetarians, vegans and environmentalists are usually quite passionate about their lifestyle. Vegetarians might be uncomfortable sharing their lives with someone who is strictly meat and potatoes. In the case of an environmentalist, it’s fair to say they probably wouldn’t consider dating someone who works in the oil fields! Hence, a niche site geared to their lifestyle would be a good option.

Sexual orientation is another niche that the internet dating world has filled. Though gays and lesbians are usually welcome at mainstream dating sites, many in the community feel their time is better spent browsing profiles of those who share their orientation.

If you’re into Star Trek, dogs, cats, skiing, if you suffer from a life threatening illness like AIDS, if you’re a rich guy looking to hook up with a beautiful woman or vice versa, chances are that niche dating is for you. Keep this thought in the back of your mind though; variety is the spice of life. Sometimes it’s the differences that draw two people together, not the things they have in common.

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Filed under sex by Astrid Engels

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