25 Best Dating Sites of 2020: Top Websites to Find Relationships, Casual Dates, and Singles Online Near You - Observer
25 Best Dating Sites of 2020: Top Websites to Find Relationships, Casual Dates, and Singles Online Near You - Observer |
- 25 Best Dating Sites of 2020: Top Websites to Find Relationships, Casual Dates, and Singles Online Near You - Observer
- Covid-19 Is Changing How Apps And Entrepreneurs Play Cupid This Christmas - Forbes
- Online Dating Sites Rated - Best dating sites of 2019 - Street Fight
| Posted: 27 Oct 2020 12:00 AM PDT
 Ask someone what their favorite dating website is, and the answer will be as different as the person. Why? Because some people are looking for hookups, some are looking for love, some are looking for something in between. So what are the best dating sites? We've broken them down by category so that no matter what you're looking for, you'll find it in this list of the best sites to use in 2020. The Best Dating Sites in 2020
1. Eharmony – Best for Finding a Serious Relationship
Eharmony has brought together millions of couples—in fact, 438 users get married to someone they met on the website every single day. The data backs this up: a 2018 study named eharmony as the site most likely to lead to a happy relationship. On the site, you'll answer extensive survey questions. This "Compatibility Matching System" uses more than twenty years of research to then present you with online dating options. This selective, data-driven approach makes eharmony a good choice if you're looking for a serious relationship. 2. Elite Singles – Dating Site Where 85% of Members Are University Educated
Elite Singles has a highly educated membership, so it's a good choice if you're looking for good conversations: 85% of its members have above-average education, while 90% are over 30, adding life experience into the mix. The site uses an algorithm based on your answers to a questionnaire to match you with other singles. It's primarily used by those looking for long-term relationships, including internationally – it operates in 25 countries. 3. Itsjustlunch.com – Best for Busy Professionals
It's Just Lunch sets you up with a matchmaker when you sign up. In a phone call with them, you'll answer questions about yourself and your goals for romance. These matchmakers then find you a single match at a time, sharing only first names. They'll arrange the time and place with your match (this can be for lunch, drinks, or brunch – depending on your schedule), and you just need to show up. Afterwards, you'll give feedback to your matchmaker to get better dates in the future. One benefit of the service is that it doesn't waste your time. The people you date are hand-selected by a person who understands what you're looking for, and the short dates are a good way to meet in person without spending too long with bad fits. 4. SilverSingles – Best Over 50 Dating Website
Among the dating sites for people over 50, SilverSingles has been around for 17 years. The service verifies each profile by hand, ensuring that its users are authentic and safe. Based on a personality questionnaire and what's important to you, you'll receive matches based on your location, plans and goals, personality. You can use SilverSingles on their site or via their app. Basic memberships are free. 5. Bumble – Best Casual Dating App
 Bumble is unique among the apps because it lets women make the first move. Men can't contact women until the woman has already reached out. The app connects well with social media, including Facebook, Spotify, and Instagram, so you can show different facets of your personality. You can also verify your profile so you can filter other users by who is verified, as well. Bumble's best for casual hookups because the platform insists on quick contact. Once you match, you have 24 hours to make contact with that person or the match disappears. The same is true for messages, which expire after 24 hours if one person doesn't write back. For those pressed for time, Bumble offers one free "Extend" for matches and messages each day. 6. Hinge – Best New Dating AppRelaunched in 2016, Hinge is the #1 primarily mobile dating app mentioned in the New York Times wedding section. Their algorithm gets good reviews: 75% of Hinge users want to go on a second date once they've gone out with their matches. The app improves your matches as you give feedback after dates. Hinge's platform is unique because once you match, the app prompts you to like or comment on a specific part of the other person's profile. This lack of generic messages makes Hinge an interesting new addition. 7. AFF – Best Hookup SiteThis app isn't for people who want long-term relationships. It gives you two main options: flirt (on the app) or hookup. A sex-positive app, Adult Friend Finder is well known for brief encounters. However, it also features a variety of ways to connect: messaging, video ("online dates"), live streams, group chats. AFF is also good for hookups because of its quick registration process. Unlike other sites, which may include long questionnaires, AFF features a 30-second registration process that will let you start browsing almost right away. Read more about their site in this adultfriendfinder review. 8. Seeking – Best Sugar Dating Site
This website connects younger people ("Sugar Babies") with older, wealthier people ("Sugar Daddies/Mommas"). With over 20 million users, the site features 8 million Sugar Babies and 2 million Sugar Daddies/Mommas. It allows these users to connect "without false pretenses," each person stating their terms before connecting. If you're a young person looking for relationships with older people (or vice-versa), this site has users who are looking for the same types of encounters, eliminating the need for lengthy sifting through profiles and awkward conversations. It's also one of the few sites with a large ratio of women to men. 9. JDate – The Best Dating Site for Jewish People
JDate is one app for Jewish singles. Founded in 1997, JDate is now available around the world, letting you connect with Jewish users in five different languages (English, Hebrew, French, German, and Spanish). For those looking for a Jewish match with people who share your faith, JDate provides the widest selection of users. In fact, JDate is responsible for 52% of the Jewish marriages that started online. With both free or premium subscriptions to JDate (at $59.99 per month), you can message with anyone. Customer care reviews each profile, ensuring authentic users. 10. Catholic Match – Best Catholic Dating Site
One of several services for Christians, Catholic Match helps you find love with a member of the Catholic faith specifically. With more than 1 million users, Catholic Match promotes "faith-focused dating." In other words, its users are primarily seeking long-term relationships with other Catholics. Memberships cost $29.95 per month, but they come with a guarantee. If you meet certain qualifications during the first 6 months, the site guarantees your next 6 months free. Endorsed by various Catholic leaders, Catholic Match has more than 20 years' experience bringing Catholics together. 11. Zoosk – Best Free International Dating SiteThe best site for dating international people, Zoosk features 40,000,000 singles worldwide. These users send 3 million messages daily in 25 different languages. Available in over 80 countries, Zoosk is a truly global platform. Established for more than 12 years, Zoosk uses "Behavioral Matchmaking technology" to match its users with compatible singles. Free to try, a Zoosk subscription then costs $29.99 per month 12. Reddit R4R – Best Subreddit for Dating (Online Personal Ads)R4R is a subreddit where people connect. "R4R" stands for "redditor for redditor," and the site does not have a match system. Instead, this is one of the best online places to post personals. These personals vary widely depending on what users are looking for. This can be anything from activity partners to groups, dating, hangouts, soulmates, and other relationships. Because it is a subreddit, R4R only has a post and messaging features. However, it also has fewer rules and restrictions than apps (though it does have some, related to age, privacy, legality, and conduct). For example, NSFW posts are allowed, but they must be tagged so that other users can avoid them if they desire. Reddit is also a good place for advice specific to your situation and dating advice in general, check out the subreddits OnlineDating, r/DatingOverThirty, r/dating_advice. r/relationships, r/dating, r/DatingApps, r/ForeverAloneDating, r/RelationshipsOver35, or r/CatholicDating. 13. OKCupid – Best Free Dating SiteWith a lot of dating apps, you get what you pay for. OKCupid is the best free service because of its detailed profiles: you can find out much more about users before you connect, leading to better matches. Available both on the desktop site and as an app, OKCupid offers literally thousands of profile questions, so you can find a match for what's important to you. Offering 22 gender and 13 orientation options, OKCupid is also inclusive. 14. Ashley Madison – Best Married Dating SiteA date site for affairs, Ashley Madison connects users for discreet encounters. Unlike other apps, the site is not linked to other social media profiles, so you're less likely to connect or be seen by people you already know. It's among the best date sites for married users, as both people understand the situation. Ashley Madison also offers traveling features for those visiting other cities. This lets you contact users in that area ahead of time, setting up dates for when you arrive. Best Online Dating Apps: 2020 Runners-Up15. AsianDate.com – Best Asian Online Dating in the USAsianDate connects people from around the world with Asian singles. With more than ten years' experience, the site's staff verify each member to ensure authenticity. Once you are verified, you can chat, call, or send letters or presents. 16. Match.com – Best for Help with DatesOne of the oldest dating sites, Match.com began in 1995. It features detailed profiles, get-togethers for members, and a virtual dating coach to help members do anything from break the ice to come up with date ideas. 17. OurTime – Best 50+ Dating Site In the UKA site for 50+ singles, ourtime.com offers options not only for those seeking marriage and long-term relationships but also for those looking for friendship and platonic relationships. The site features email and flirting capabilities, allowing you to see who has viewed your profile. 18. Christian Mingle – Best Dating Site for Christians
 With over 15 million Christian singles, Christian Mingle helps users looking for a "God-centered relationship." Their members are primarily focused on finding serious relationships. The site offers a free trial, after which they charge $49.99 per month. 19. Tinder – Best Free App for Casual DatingThis dating app has a reputation that likely precedes it. With quick registration, Tinder is easy to use for hookups, though the large number of users means that many are also looking for relationships. 20. BlackPeopleMeet – Best for African American DatesFor more than 18 years, BlackPeopleMeet has provided a platform for African American singles looking for love. The site's 100,000+ users can exchange flirts or emails, as well as see who has viewed their profiles. 21. HER – Best LGBTQA+ Women Dating AppHER is a dating app exclusively for LGBTQA+ women, created by queer women. Their 4 million users get access to in-person events, communities within the app, and app moderators to ensure they have a good experience. 22. CoffeeMeetsBagel – Best for Intellectuals Dating
96% of users on Coffee Meets Bagel have a Bachelor's degree, while over a third have a Master's. The extensive profiles also make this a good site for intellectuals, as you can see who shares interests with you in many different areas. 23. Grindr – Best for LGBTQA+ HookupsWith mostly male users, Grindr focuses on the gay, bi, trans, and queer community. The app changed how dating apps work with its location-based services. Now the most popular gay mobile app, Grindr allows you to sort users by distance based on GPS position. 24. Plenty of Fish – Best Free Site for Canadian DatesThis Canadian site is offered in nine languages, ensuring you can connect with users from around the world. Founded in 2003, the site provides detailed profiles for its large pool of members. 25. The League – Best Luxury Dating AppThe League provides connections with singles in select cities. The site provides members with 3 "prospects" every day and lets you video chat with them for dating online. It also allows you to connect your profile to LinkedIn and Facebook to block connections, ensuring your privacy. Why Use Online Dating Sites?
 Sites for dates give you the chance to encounter far more potential matches than you would in everyday life. Whether you have a small social circle, are looking to expand your connections, or simply have needs that aren't being met in your community, using these sites can widen your world. Furthermore, using a site or an app to meet a romantic partner allows you to be more selective. If it's important to you to have a partner with similar interests, many apps allow you to select for this. Finally, it's common to use these sites to find love: around 2/5 of Americans meet their long-term partners on date sites. Are Apps for Dating Safe?Apps are only as safe as their users. Stay careful. Being careful on apps means engaging with verified users; some apps have members of their staff verify members by hand, giving you more safety. However, it's still crucial to follow safety guidelines when you date someone you met online. How to Stay Safe While Online Dating?Never give out your personal information to someone you have met online, particularly before you meet in person. This includes your last name, employer, address, and even your neighborhood. When you meet someone you have met online, ensure that your first few dates take place in public locations. This could be a café, a restaurant, a movie theater, or anywhere else where others are around. Avoid secluded places such as parks, and never invite someone you don't know to your home. Finally, check in with a friend before your date to let them know where you'll be and when you anticipate coming home. Let them know when you arrive back home. For extra security, ask them to call or text during the date to verify you are all right. First Date Tips
 First dates can be intimidating! Follow these tips to stay safe and get to know your match in person:
Is It Possible to Find a Serious Relationship While Online Dating?Absolutely. In fact, a large number of Americans find their partners this way. A 2017 survey showed that 39% of heterosexual couples met online—that's 2 out of every 5 couples. Online Dating Sites: Key TakeawaysThe key to online dating is knowing what you want and finding the site that's most likely to provide good matches in this area. As you explore your options, stay safe, but keep an open mind: you never know who might turn out to be your soulmate or an ideal hookup! What have you found the best sites for dating to be? Share your favorite dating sites and experiences in the comments! |
| Covid-19 Is Changing How Apps And Entrepreneurs Play Cupid This Christmas - Forbes Posted: 12 Dec 2020 12:00 AM PST  In addition to Grindr, options for LGBTQ singles to find that special someone online are growing, as ... [+] gettyTrying to find that special someone for the so-called most wonderful time of the year is difficult enough. Add a worsening pandemic, and it might seem downright impossible. Locked-down lonelyhearts are less likely to put their money into technology aimed at finding new romance, as many bars, restaurants and coffee shops— the most popular places to meet a date — have either closed shop or had to reduce their service to takeout only. That's led to big changes in the online dating industry, and inspired new competition, from mom and pop startups to 21st century matchmakers. Apps Ride The WavesIt turns out singles looking for love aren't the only ones getting their hearts broken this Christmas. For the companies behind the most popular dating apps, 2020 has been a year of tidal forces. A strong start swiftly turned into a slump, then reversed. Dating apps rode the waves culminating in a surge of activity from late Spring into Summer, according to Bloomberg. That boost was preceded by a record-breaking 3 billion Tinder swipes on just one day, early on in the coronavirus crisis: March 29, 2020. Match Group, Inc., which owns Tinder as well as Hinge and OKCupid and controls 60% of the dating app market, saw sales increase a record $84 million toward the end of the second quarter and into the third, Bloomberg reported. In the three months through August, Match added 1.1 million subscribers across its platforms, a nearly 16% increase over the second quarter of 2020.  Relationship expert Rachel DeAlto appeared on the Sept. 14, 2020 episode of The Tamron Hall Show. TwitterMORE FOR YOU "When Covid-19 hit, we started to realize, like, 'I would like to be in lock down with somebody else. Maybe I'd like to quarantine with somebody,'" celebrity matchmaker Rachel DeAlto, Match's chief dating expert, told TV viewers on stations coast to coast. From March to May, Match.com's app alone saw a 40% increase in engagement and OKCupid recorded a 700% increase in dates. Bumble, an app geared toward empowering single women whose owner Magic Labs saw more than its share of controversy in 2019, experienced a 70% rise in video calls, reported Brookings. Ways to Date, SafelyDating apps became one of the best options for meeting new people given the adoption of social distancing measures in many metropolitan areas. Experts in relationships and healthcare weighed-in on the ways to date, safely, during a pandemic, for websites like Well and Good, and on the dating sites, too: if phone calls and virtual video conversations lead somewhere, first meet outdoors, wearing masks, and go slow. Not everybody listened. Earlier this year, a manufacturer of at-home lab testing kits noted what it called an "explosion" in sales of its sexually transmitted disease tests, according to the Chicago Tribune, and the company wanted to find out why. Of the young adults ages 20-31 that Everlywell surveyed in Chicago, 53% said they broke quarantine in April to have a sexual encounter, compared with 25% of the respondents in Los Angeles and 17% in New York City. Looks like Chicago's millennials finally found a way to overcome their hometown's "Second City" reputation. Then came the next wave of the virus, following a Thanksgiving holiday during which many Americans flouted health warnings to avoid traveling and gathering. Covid-19 is now setting new records almost daily in terms of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. On Friday, the United States broke the existing record for coronavirus-related deaths, breaking the 3,000 mark, according to The New York Times. At least 223,570 new infections were reported Thursday, and government experts predict the worst is yet to come, even with the first vaccine receiving FDA approval Friday night. The next few months will be "the most difficult in the public health history of this nation," said Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to CNBC. Some Things Never ChangeThose sobering thoughts are exactly the opposite of what might put lovers in the mood. Still, there's nothing that will stop a guy from trying. The New York Post reported this week that Tinder users looking to "quarantine and chill" used some of these trending pick-up lines:
Hold off on the groans and rim shots until the stockbrokers make their call. Despite the surge of the summer, Match.com's forecast for growth for this quarter probably won't exceed 2%, according to Bloomberg. Even so, that number still beats analyst expectations for the stock, which has grown significantly in value since March. Offering New Ways To Connect And, You Know...Although Bloomberg reported Match isn't offering investors any guidance on 2021 performance amid predictions of lower growth, the company and its competitors are offering subscribers new services. The hope is that these add-ons will help users cope with the seemingly never-ending pandemic, and more importantly to their bottom line: keep paying for their apps. "People are being more intentional about dating" DeAlto told Forbes.com contributor Francesca Hogi last week. After swiping right, members can use Match Dates, where they can mutually indicate serious interest and move to a separate inbox where they can video chat. Tinder accounts for more than half of Match's revenue and has its own video chat service, dubbed Face to Face. It's pretty much FaceTime with dating.  A person looks at the Grindr app in the App Store on a phone in Los Angeles on March 27, 2019. Photo ... [+] AFP via Getty ImagesNot to be outdone is Grindr, the granddaddy of LGBTQ-dating apps and certainly the most popular one. With revenue topping $100 million annually, Grindr boasts approximately 5 million daily active users — that's almost half of the estimated LGBTQ population of the U.S. — and 13 million monthly active users. "We've been trying to find ways to help people use the platform in ways that are going to keep them connected but keep them safe," said Alex Black, head of marketing at Grindr. Options include both a video chat and an audio chat feature. As Abram Brown reported in Forbes.com in April, Grindr has offered phone-sex tips, and suggested users be descriptive and indulgent in sharing their fantasies. "The platform is not known for modesty," Brown wrote. "'Right now' can wait," Black said. "Why not have a chat about your fantasies, your kinks? Whatever you're into. There's a lot of other ways to stay connected and even to have sexual experiences without meeting up." "Pride Perseveres"One of those other ways to stay connected was through Pride Perseveres, a series of virtual events Grindr hosted this past June to help users feel connected and show their LGBTQ Pride, despite being isolated. Given that every official Pride March and parade was canceled on account of the coronavirus, this served as a valuable virtual substitute for Grindr users, said Black, who identifies as gay. "This 30-day digital festival we brought into the app, our hope was that this is for anybody who was isolating, stuck at home, quarantining, immunocompromised and didn't feel comfortable out in the world, even when there weren't restrictions in place," he said. "We did some surveying about the campaign afterwards and got some really, really positive feedback from our users about how nice it was, even if they weren't necessarily interested in the day's event." As much as 34% of Grindr's daily active users engaged with the Pride Perseveres content, the company said; 65% of users reported a positive view of the campaign, which relied upon content cards created by Braze.  Samples of the content cards created by Braze for Grindr's Pride Perseveres virtual events in June ... [+] Braze.com/GrindrThey said it made them feel less alone and prouder than if they had not taken part, and more than half said they wanted to see something like this again. Some of the content was specifically geared toward the transgender community: a panel featuring — as well as raising funds for — the Transgender Law Center; a discussion about LGBTQ+ rights with an emphasis on Black trans lives; another panel on grassroots Black trans and non-binary activism; more fundraisers benefiting The Okra Project, which provides resources and meals to Black trans people worldwide, and For The Gworls, which assists Black Trans folks with rent and gender affirmative surgeries. Under New ManagementThis event was also a much-needed public relations boost for Grindr, coming on the heels of an orgy of controversies: data privacy practices that got the company suspended by Twitter, a chief executive who proclaimed marriage is a "holy union between a man and a woman," the surprise shuttering of its LGBTQ news site, and an outright racist "search filter" that Grindr eliminated in June after a public outcry. Also in June, Grindr had a change in ownership, that was forced upon it by the Trump Administration. China-based Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. sold the West Hollywood company to a group of American investors, San Vicente Acquisitions, for $608 million.  Grindr COO Rick Marini Bloomberg via Getty ImagesCEO Jeff Bonforte and COO Rick Marini told the Los Angeles Times they identify as straight, but that 15 members of their senior team are "part of the gay community." "We absolutely have the intention of recruiting more gay members of the community to every level of Grindr," Marini told the Los Angeles Times in July, "from the lower levels to senior team to the board. Even though we may not be gay, we do support the community." Grindr recently hired away Alice Hunsberger from Match Group, to be its new senior director of customer experience. Hunsberger spent more than a decade in that role at OKCupid. Her most recent decision, announced last month: users can now post profile photos in their underwear. Just in time for Christmas. Alternatives To One-On-One DatingWhat other kind of "customer experiences" do Grindr users have? Black said unlike the people who subscribe to some more traditional dating apps, "Grindr users can and do use our platform to arrange threesomes and a variety of other alternatives to one-on-one dating. Whatever type of sex or dating situation consenting adults might be looking for, we're always trying to find ways to support those interactions," he said, including allowing users to communicate their kinks and fetishes on both their public profiles and in private chat. And if more than one is more fun, or non-monogamy is someone's preferred relationship style, a bisexual couple in Connecticut developed an alternative online dating app, one reserved for open-minded singles, couples, thruples and more. It's called #open, which is pronounced "hashtag open." Users include heterosexuals as well as people identifying as LGBTQ and other identities. Also, it's absolutely free to use.  A sample screen of the app, #open #openUnlike Facebook, which prohibits users from creating profiles for more than one person, #open allows its users to share a dating profile. And for that reason among others, Facebook refuses to allow David Epstein and Amanda Wilson to advertise their sex-positive app, which they co-founded in 2018. #open launched on Apple's App Store two years ago this month and in early 2019 on Google Play. "#open is a dating app for folks who embrace ethical non-monogamy in all of its forms," said Wilson, "from polyamory, to threesomes, to open relationships, and beyond." She said 97% of users report they are in, or interested in what she called "ethically open relationships." Wilson and Epstein boast that the number of users on their app has grown even as Covid-19 has spread, with 51% more profiles added since early March, when the pandemic started being perceived as a real public health threat. "We started the month of December with 75K users profiles and are growing at a rapid rate," said Wilson. "We're also seeing more people engaging in the app each month, which tells us that, despite the pandemic, people are looking for safer ways to connect with each other." "Five to 10 percent growth of the user community, per month," added Epstein. "I think that's in large part because obviously people need community right now." Defining BoundariesWhen #open users create a profile, they can choose their gender and sexual preference from a very diverse list, or create their own and describe themselves in terms of their interests. In addition, users choose hashtags that express those interests and even define where their boundaries are. "We're also seeing people who are very up front about their needs and Covid-19 precautions in their public profiles," Wilson noted. He told Connecticut Voice Magazine last year that he met Wilson on, what else, a dating app. Their attraction to one another included shared disappointment in how that particular app functioned. So they created #open. "What folks will do," Epstein explained, "is they'll come into the app and they'll search a hashtag or two that they're interested in. And that way they're not just, like in a lot of apps, working based on the initial snap impression of the user profile. They're actually digging into interests and hobbies, and so that becomes a different way to network. Within our app, we don't set distance limitations: All of our features right now are free and distance is really not relevant, we think, during the pandemic." Some mainstream apps have taken similar steps. Who's On #open?#open's director of communications and operations, Sarah Sloane, credited positive media representations of polyamorous relationships and more awareness in the general public for a spike in the number of users interested in those kinds of relationships. "As a sexuality & relationships educator, the pandemic [is] sparking people to think about what their relationship and intimate needs and desires are, and having those conversations with their partners," said Sloane. Here are some statistics she shared, as well as numbers from the #open site, which are constantly updated.
As it grows, could #open pose a threat to more established Goliath apps, like Grindr? "The goal of our app, and apps like #open, is to help people connect regardless of who they are or what type of sex or dating situation they seek," said Black, Grindr's head of marketing. "Plenty of people in open relationships use Grindr, and if they find #open to be another useful way to find thirds or fourths, or fifths, that's something we welcome." Wilson and Epstein said they would welcome public support for their fight against Facebook, which they targeted with a Change.org petition in February. As of press time more than 27-hundred signatures are attached to the petition, which cites "censorship and advertising denials we're facing at the hands of Facebook and other online platforms, simply because we're openly inclusive of sex-positive, non-monogamous, and LGBTQIA+ folx." What's next for #open? "Monetization," Epstein said. "Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me A Match"Money, as they say, cannot buy happiness. But enough of it can get you one-on-one expert assistance in finding and maintaining a relationship.  Brandan Rader is based in Denver, Colo. but services the entire U.S. Brandan RaderGiven the ongoing pandemic and the technological potholes posed by online dating, if apps aren't appealing, there is this one last alternative: A 30-year-old entrepreneur who is a modern day Yente, right out of Fiddler on the Roof. That is, if Yente was a gay man living in Denver, Colo. with a waiting list of high roller clients. "I provide services throughout the entire U.S.," said self-described "Lifestyle Liaison" Brandan Rader. He's a former model with a master's degree in psychology and behavioral health, a dating coach, relationship coach and matchmaker who's been in a committed relationship with a man for 10 years himself: LGBTQ youth advocate and educator Micah Porter. Rader's services for matchmaking, in partnership with a separate company, come at a mind-bogglingly high price point: $30,000 a year. "We work with an affluent clientele, an elite clientele," he said. They would have to be, to fork over the equivalent of a mortgage payment every month. His website lists the Standard Monthly Package as including "3 romantic candidates, 2 engaging options to select from, and 1 promising rendezvous per month." There are bonuses as well. Coaching services start at $1,000, Rader said, but he's adjusted his rate in cases of extreme need. As an example, he cited a couple in a relationship that was changing because of a gender transition. They needed specialized counseling, and health insurance wasn't going to cover his fee. So he slashed it in half. "I try to break it down, depending on what their needs are," he said. Spiritual BrandHis technique is to convert a couple's goals into lifestyle habits and help them discover what he calls spiritual brand: "the integration of your social-self, psychological-self, and professional-self into one distinguished identity." Rader got his start as an intern for "Millionaire Matchmaker" Patti Stanger. "We definitely butted heads a few times," he said, objecting to the simplification of the art of matchmaking to just "looks and sex." "Lifestyle, interests and hobbies and love and relationship goals," are what make a great match, he said. "And I still believe that. My business is founded on that."  Brandan Rader has moonlighted as a model since he was 16. Brandan RaderRader's company, B Eternal Consulting, LLC, has not been hurt by the pandemic, he said; just the opposite. "My clientele has more than tripled, and this demand has highlighted a social disparity," said Rader, who found that there are not many companies offering matchmaking, date coaching, and relationship coaching services to the LGBTQ community. "As my waitlist grows, it has become evident that there is a dearth of resources to help LGBTQ singles find healthy love. While he's not against the online dating industry, Rader sees it as lacking what he and other LGBTQ-specialized matchmakers excel in offering: a personal touch, one that connects people based on extensive knowledge of that person. "The Human Aspect""Dating apps and dating websites have really taken away a lot of that personalization; the ability to just kind of meet someone in your everyday life," he said. "What we do is we meet all of our clients and all of our candidates in person, to get a good idea of who they are, what they're looking for. Our interview process takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour, and then we have several conversations with them afterwards. I'm really getting to know them on a personal level, and anyone that I'm connecting my clients with, I also get to know on a personal level. I'm a medium for their interaction, but connected to the human aspect of them, as opposed to a dating app or a dating platform." Having already found love, success as an elite matchmaker as well as a model and dating and relationship coach, what's on Rader's wish list? Not surprisingly, he has big dreams. "I am working on shopping a reality show concept geared towards LGBTQ matchmaking and coaching, but it's also going to be inclusive," he said. "We will have, ideally, equal numbers of gay, straight, transgender, bisexual people. All will be included. And the idea here is showing people that love is love." And his ultimate goal? "To continue to build out my brand," Rader said, adding: "Essentially, I want to have a dating app that specifically addresses the common issues in dating." Look out, Grindr, #open and the rest. Follow Brandan Radar on Instagram by clicking here. Find out more about #open by clicking this link to their website. That app as well as Grindr and other apps mentioned are available in Apple's App Store and Google Play. |
| Online Dating Sites Rated - Best dating sites of 2019 - Street Fight Posted: 05 Nov 2020 12:00 AM PST [unable to retrieve full-text content]Online Dating Sites Rated - Best dating sites of 2019 Street Fight |
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