It is no surprise that online dating has become an integral part of our lives today.
According to Statista, approximately 44 million U.S. users use online dating services in 2021 alone.
This clearly indicates that there’s a huge market for dating websites – and you can start a profitable business by simply focusing on a niche audience.
However, you will need to make sure your website offers some fundamental as well as unique features to attract your target audience.
Here are the 7 essential features every dating website needs.
1. Advanced Search
One of the most important aspects of using a dating website is having to freedom to be as picky as you want with your potential dates.
An advanced search feature can help your dating website members use filters such as age, height, hair color, ethnicity, hobbies, pets, and so forth.
Dating websites usually ask new sign-ups to answer a questionnaire to get this information. This data can later be used to provide relevant results based on search parameters.
2. Finding People Nearby
The purpose of using dating websites is to ultimately meet someone that you’re compatible with. If they live on the other side of the world, it really makes no sense to chat forever.
Allowing your users to find other members that are near to them geographically can be done by tracking their IP address and filtering out members in close proximity.
You can use this feature by asking your users to set a certain radius while searching for other members.
3. Date Tracker
Frequent users of online dating websites often lose track of the people that they have dated so far.
A date tracker that privately stores the experience of the user’s dates with a certain person can help them to filter out the matches that they would like to consider taking the relationship a step further. Or alternatively, note down red flags to avoid them at all costs in the future.
4. People who viewed your profile
Even LinkedIn sends you notifications when someone views your profile. It might not necessarily indicate that the person who viewed you is interested in you.
Someone might view a profile out of curiosity. But dating apps/websites users find validation in knowing that they’re turning some eyes and in turn increases engagement.
However, allowing your members to see the list of people they recently viewed is also equally important which many dating services miss out on.
5. Multi-language support
Unless you’re committed to not allowing your dating business to serve a global audience, you must invest in offering your dating website in multiple languages.
A single language addition to your dating website can exponentially increase the number of users, which is natural considering how easy it is for someone to converse in their own language.
It might seem like a costly investment but WPDating offers almost over 28 international language packs each priced at an affordable $19. Learn more about it here.
6.Offer a mobile dating app
I don’t even need to remind you how often you’re on your mobile phone. US adults spend an average of 3.5 hours on their mobile devices in a single day.
If your dating website does not offer a dating app, you’re bound to lose a huge portion of your target audience.
Any dating service that is exclusively web-based will risk getting lower engagement simply because of the fact that people tend to find mobile apps much more accessible.
Explore our Dating App | Check out our Tinder Clone App
7. User privacy
Perhaps one of the biggest fears of dating online stems from your customers’ privacy concerns. Regardless of how normal online dating is in today’s context, you’re still meeting strangers which can be terrifying considering the number of creeps that are out there.
Ensuring your users that their data is encrypted, confidential and not shared with any third-parties will help you gain their trust.
Now that you’re aware of the essential features that dating websites need in 2021, let me present you with a single solution that offers all of these features.
WP Dating is a complete white-label dating website solution that offers affordable packages for individual as well as business needs. Take a look at our pricing here.