Matchmaking on the Internet is nothing short of a phenomenon! It’s essentially a billion-dollar industry; and it was virtually nothing in 1995 to as well!

Ten years of phenomenal growth! It’s comparable to the growth of the computer industry – it’s nothing short of amazing and spectacular.

Matchmaking web sites cater for essentially everyone. Consider the list below.

• Executives
• Millionaires
• Single mums
• Rich people
• Shy men
• Single dads
• High IQs people
• Weird stuff
• Jews
• Shy women
• People with PhDs
• Hindus
• Shemales
• People with specific interests
• One night stands
• Punjabis
• Christians
• Gay
• Casual flings
• Catholics
• Long-term relationships
• Gothics
• Adult games
• Retired people
• Specific hobbies
• Shy women
• Teenagers
• Pensioners
• Students
• Free matchmaking sites
• Mountaineers
• Geeks
• Handicap
• People into group stuff
• People into swinging

This list probably doesn’t even scratch the surface. There are literally thousands of matchmaking web sites covering virtually all desires, ambitions, interests, fetishes, religions, beliefs, hobbies, jobs, careers, levels of management, aspirations, visionaries… the list is nearly endless with new niche web sites popping up every week.

In fact, I heard about one guy from a forum starting a niche matchmaking website because no existing sites cater for his particular disability. So he started it on limited budget and within a few months had hundreds and hundreds of members… amazing stuff it really is!

It just goes to show that virtually anyone with a little ambition, imagination and persistence can set a match-making site to cater for a particular clientele. And using contextual ads like Adwords, MSN Center, or YPN you can gain members fairly cheaply; especially if you provide a quality service and at a very competitive price, word of mouth will soon spread.

Also, there a good number of companies providing high quality dating software at low-cost with numerous templates that can be modified to accommodate the theme of your matchmaking web site.

Niche dating sites taking off at last! What's a niche online dating site? Match.com has got well over 10 millions members ranging from the unemployed to professors - the diversity of its members is mind blowing! But what if you want to meet like-minded people? Niche dating sites are the answer!

There's many new sites springing up just for college students, Jewish community, Christians, smart people with PhDs, rich people (see below) and even sites dedicated to a specific areas or cities. Now you have no reasons not to indulge, simply use Google, Yahoo or MSN to do some searching for like-minded partners.

What about men seeking lap-dancers for love and relationship... hmmm there's an untapped market!

Is web dating popular? According to Jupiter's Internet research there's over 85 million single American adults and 2/5 have tried online dating - that's well over 30 million! Wow! A new study by ComScore found that dating sites attract more than 30 millions visitors a month in the US alone! And further research has revealed that dating was the largest online paid category in 2003!

Jupiter also predicts that by 2008 the web dating industry is expected to grow by 60%!

What does that mean for me and you? ...Loads more singles!

Has anyone seen the film, Must Love Dogs, with John Cusack and Diane Lane? If you have, give us your comments, we're interested!

Basically, the plot involves a recently divorced pre-school teacher. The family of the teacher decide to do some matchmaking and put her profile on PerfectMatch.com with hilarious results. I haven't seen it yet, but looking forward to it! It's got some decent reviews as well.

Tell us your beefs about online dating and internet dating sites...

"I would like to moan about the size of the men on these sights [you mean sites]. They reckon they are tall, but when you get to meet them they little men! lets have some genunely [genuinely] tall men, with tools they can actually do something with!!" S. Clewer

Hmm! You've obviously met the wrong men! Perhaps your luck might change! Your a demanding girl, eh?

"I'd like to complain about the cost of dating online. It's not cheap for unemployed people. I've tried the free dating sites but they are not much good. Met one person off their once and he looked well dodgy! I think the price should come down. It is too expensive!" Paula

Have you considered getting a job? Dating site fees are likely to fall with growing competition. And competition is growing monthly. A future article will provide some tips on getting the most out of dating sites on a tight budget.

"Hi, I read your Latest Dating News column about 'niche dating sites' and you say at the bottom, 'What about men seeking lap-dancers'. What about women seeking male strippers?" R. France

AdultFriendFinder comes to mind!

"Hi Internet Dating Guide, I've used the services of a few online dating websites, and found that the matchmaking system is to general and vague which has lead to numerous people contacting me without us having anything in common other than being human! Can't they improve it?" K.L. USA

Interesting question. I think in time this is exactly what will happen: members will be matched more specifically and accurately by an AI - artificial intelligence based - system. I've been in your position many times.

"Hi, many of the popular online dating websites don't allow communication via webcam, why is this? Are they slow at catching on to the latest technology?"

In the future, this will certainly happen. At the moment there potential technological and legal issues to be resolved before this becomes widespread.