How To Start A Dating Website

By: Sarah Arnold

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Learning how to start a dating website can prepare you to create a successful online dating service. Dating websites give members a chance to meet each other and form relationships. Some dating website creators have started their websites with the goal of helping members of a specific group, such as a religion or ethnicity. Other people start dating websites because it's a fun way to make money.

  1. Set up the layout of your website. A dating website should feature a page about the website and a form to allow members to sign up. It should be secure, so that members can pay fees with a credit card without risk of identity theft. It's also a good idea to set up a page that will display successful matches when they happen.
  2. Figure out how much to charge for membership. Charge a rate that is high enough to cover your dating website's expenses, but not so high that people are deterred from registering. Most dating websites charge a monthly fee. Some offer a free trial to allow people to get a feel for the website before they commit to pay for a membership.
  3. Decide what information to collect from your website's members. This is a crucial step in the process of starting a dating website. Every dating website collects data from users that is later used to match members with each other. The website shares this information with potential matches, and they decide whether to agree to a date. At the minimum, a dating website should ask members to share their age, gender, and hobbies or interests. Most dating websites allow members to post a picture and information about their physical appearance, such as height and weight.
  4. Create a system to match members with each other. Your dating website might use a computer algorithm to introduce potentially compatible members to each other. It's also possible to allow members to browse profiles and contact other members themselves.
  5. Talk to a lawyer. When you start a dating website, it's important to consult a lawyer about your website's terms of service. You don't want to be held liable if members abuse the website. In addition, the lawyer should make sure your website doesn't violate any anti-discrimination laws.
Posted on: Sep. 20, 2010