Dating Sites Reviews Forums

First, the basics... you don't need a whole lot of money, but it definitely helps to be located in a big city where a lot of people are tired of the online dating scene.

If you have a website, that's a start... GoDaddy can sell you one for under $100 a year.

Next step is to have a plan. Have a good idea where your club is going to have its meetings (it could be at restaurants, parks, beaches, etc.)... you do not need a fancy, expensive office because that would just be a waste of money.

Third, avoid thinking too big too fast. If you get greedy, you'll become just like all the other dating services---a clone.

Fourth, you need a monochrome printer, lots of toner, and lots of paper. Print up about 5,000 flyers and find a cheap local ad agency who'll take a couple hundred bucks of your money and leave your flyers on windshields in parking lots.

Fifth, advertise your singles club in a local paper. I paid $200 for a local paper to run my ad for 3 months, and I've been getting calls every week. Believe me, it gets easier once you get a core group of members to be club treasurers and event hosts. Try to get at least 30 people to RSVP for your first meeting. Experiment with themes, like potlucks and karaoke.

Last, don't worry about being out-advertised by the big dating services. As long as they're selling lousy service, they're not going to steal your business. Accept the fact that your competitors won't be going out of business anytime soon, but you'll always have flexibility if you don't become big and corporate like them.

Good luck, and happy meeting.