JupiterResearch Forecasts US Online Dating Market to Reach $932 Million in 2011 Despite User Saturation
JupiterResearch, a leading authority on the impact of the Internet and emerging consumer technologies on business, has found that the US online dating market continues to grow, but faces a stagnation in the number of users paying for access. Detailed in a new report, “Online Dating in 2007: US Market Searches for New Users as European Market Challenges US Dominance,” JupiterResearch has also found that European online dating sites are attracting new users and will double revenues from 243 million euros in 2006 to 549 million euros in 2011.
“Over the last several years we’ve seen a steady drop in the percentage of US online users who report browsing online dating sites,” said Nate Elliott, Senior Analyst at JupiterResearch and lead author of the report. “Although US dating sites are converting browsers into payers better than ever before, they’ll have to offer additional paid services to existing customers, and tap into new user segments, to reignite significant market growth.”
In contrast to the US dating market, European consumer usage of online dating sites has shown consistent growth since 2003. The number of European users who report using online dating sites has grown from four percent in 2005 to six percent in 2006.
“The European online dating market is experiencing real growth right now. The industry will increase from 2.8 million paid users in 2006 to 6.0 million in 2011,” said Nate Elliott. “As a result, consumer spending on online personals in Europe will more than double as well.”
While revenues are growing in both the US and Europe, the less-mature European market is growing relatively more quickly. In 2003, Europeans spent less than one-quarter as much as US users on online dating sites. In 2006 they spent approximately one third as much, and in 2011 they will spend more than half as much. However, by 2011 the European market will have largely matured, growing by just nine percent compared to the US market’s six percent growth.
The complete findings of this report are immediately available to JupiterResearch clients online at www.jupiterresearch.com. For details on JupiterResearch’s methodology, visit www.jupiterresearch.com/bin/item.pl/methodology or email press@jupiterkagan.com to request a detailed methodology statement. For additional information on this report or JupiterResearch’s Online Media & Programming research service, visit www.jupiterresearch.com or contact Kieran Kelly, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Client Service, at 1-800-481-1212 or researchsales@jupiterkagan.com.
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JupiterResearch provides unbiased research, analysis and advice, backed by proprietary data, to help companies profit from the impact of the Internet and emerging consumer technologies on their business. The company helps online businesses make critical decisions about technology selection, spending, staffing, and Web site effectiveness; advises consumer-facing companies with online advertising, marketing, and customer service strategies to understand, attract, convert and retain customers; and guides technology vendors and service providers on market opportunity, positioning, product definition, and pricing. JupiterResearch is headquartered in New York City and has offices throughout the US and Europe. For more information, visit www.jupiterresearch.com. JupiterResearch is a division of JupiterKagan, Inc.