POF (Plenty of Fish)

A concerned visitor sent me an email the other day asking what has happened to the Plenty of fish forums? Did they shut down? I was like oh no not again, they have done something to the forums on POF. I still noticed the forums coming up in the search results so I visited forums.plentyoffish.com directly and was greeted with a nasty server run time error.

Now I know a bit about web servers and this is a Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) error. This is not good (see the full explanation below) because it indicates to me that the files for the Plenty of fish forum website has been removed. After further investigation it looks like this may have happened at least a week ago, since visitors have been searching our site about the Plenty of fish forums being removed for that long.

I am surprised that POF hasn’t addressed the problem. They must know about it as I am sure a large number of people have already complained about the issue as it has been a week now already. Also the POF forums are still very popular even though they are not directly linked to the main POF.com site anymore (I think POF wants to slowly kill the forums). What has me puzzled though is if they had plan to stop providing the forum, why not remove the website and domain record all together or at least display a nice message about the situation and the reason for the removal (which would take 2 minutes to do). Displaying a runtime error isn’t very professional. Heck even a redirect to the main POF dating site would have been better.

Update: After checking the POF forums off and on for the last hour it appears that this is an intermediate problem. About half the time I get a runtime error, about a quarter of the time I get some other one line text error and for the other quarter of the time the forums actually work. As I said before this has been happening for at least a week since others have reported on it.

I have a thought, let’s start a campaign to see if we can get Plenty of fish to fix the forums. I am going to tweet about this story on Twitter using the hashtag #FixForumsOnPOF. If you want POF to keep the forums alive like I do, then re-tweet my tweet or post your own using the hashtag. Maybe if POF is listening they will do something about it and fix the problem with the forums. 😊

In the meantime since you can’t use the POF forums all of the time you are more than welcome to post your relationship and online dating questions and observations in our dating forums. We have a number of forum categories you can post in about a whole pile of different topics.

So, what does the runtime IIS error mean that most people seem to be getting? It actually is 2 errors in one. The web server is complaining first about their not being a custom error file in the location specified to display to visitors when an error happens. The second error actually triggered the first error. The second error is harder to figure out since the current error message is all about the first error. The second error is some sort of application error which could be anything from the actual website files not being available to a coding error in the requested web file. Since an error message is displayed it does indicate that webserver is working properly and that there is nothing wrong with the domain record.

If you are looking for a popular free dating site to try and want some more information then you should read our Plenty of fish review.

The Harlem Shake has been sweeping the nation and the world. Everyone from universities to Jimmy Fallon have released a video. So how did these Harlem Shake viral videos become a YouTube craze?

It looks like the first Harlem Shake video was uploaded on Jan. 30, 2013 (see Video). As of today it has over 24 million views. The video that really got the ball rolling and set the format for future videos was this one released on Feb. 2, 2013 by a group of teenagers from Australia calling themselves TheSunnyCoastSkate. Basically a Harlem Shake video is about 30 seconds long with the first 15 seconds of a lone masked person dancing with people around him not paying attention. The video then cuts to the entire group of people doing a crazy dance with most dressed in costumes. During the video samples of the 2011 song "Harlem Shake” released by Baauer are played.

By Feb.11, 2013 approximately 4 thousand Harlem Shake videos where being uploaded to YouTube everyday making 12 thousand total videos with 44 million views. By this time companies had started to take notice and where releasing their own videos. When February 15th rolled around there was a total of 40,000 videos that had been viewed 175 million times. The song “Harlem Shake also reached number 1 on iTunes in America.

Not to be left out a number of dating sites and social networks have also released their own Harlem Shake videos. Here they are:

Match.com does the Harlem Shake

Plenty of Fish does the Harlem Shake

Mate1 does the Harlem Shake

Facebook does the Harlem Shake

For more on the Harlem Shake phenomena you can check out Wikipedia.

The Plenty of fish blog just released some current traffic statistics for their dating site. It's good to see a snapshot of what the user base of Plenty of fish is. Marcus Frind released the statistics to highlight how his dating site has grown and to be more open on the number of members POF has.

The user statistics released are based on active daily registered users. This means that the user must be logged into POF.com to be considered part of the statistic group. I am assuming that the numbers given are an average but it doesn’t say what the timeline is for that. It probably is for last month (January) but I am only guessing that he would release the latest numbers available. The user statistics could very well be for last year, last quarter or some other time period.

Plenty of Fish’s largest market is the United States with 2 million active daily registered users. This is followed by the United Kingdom with 550,000 and then Canada with 450,000. POF estimates that if you take the roughly 1400 dating site (non-adult) found in the United States and combine their paying members you will come out with 2.5 million subscribers. Combining these numbers together sounds like a lot of people and it is, but online dating has a lot of room to grow. The population of the United States sits at about 313 million with about 100 million people actually single. This shows that about 1/3 of the population is single. The United Kingdom has a population of about 63 million and Canada is close to 35 million. If we assume that the proportions of singles in these countries are about the same as the US then there are about 21 million single people in the UK and about 12 million in Canada.

In the US I figure that there are about 5.5 million people actively using a dating site every day. I came up with this number by adding Plenty of Fish’s 2 million active users with 2.5 million US paid subscribers, and then adding in an extra million singles for all of the other free dating sites that people use. This means only 5.5 percent of all singles in the United States are actively using an online dating site. Since about 78% of the US has internet access (according to Wikipedia) then this percentage only slightly improves to about 7 percent. The potential for growth in the online dating industry is still huge when your untapped market sits at over 90 percent.

I also found a few other related statistics. Plenty of Fish currently reports (from July 2012) that they have had 45 million members register since launch in 2003. Their current rate of growth is 40,000 new members signing up every day which works out to about 30 percent a year. Members of POF send out 20 million messages a day generating 7 million conversations. Currently the average age on POF is 35. In 2009 the average member was 40 years old.

To find out more about this dating site you should read our Plenty of fish review.

Recipient
PlentyOfFish.com

The 2012 Dating Sites Reviews Single's Choice Award poll launched in the afternoon of October 1st, 2012. In 2 months we had over 300 votes and by the new year when the poll closed January 1st, 2013 we had 652 votes cast. This poll on the best free dating site is important as it is voted on by you, our visitors. The is because our visitors are also the members that make up these dating sites and you and your experiences are ultimately what makes a dating site successful.

For this survey we included 8 of the top free dating sites. A dating site is considered free when a member can create a profile, search for matches, and communicate with all members via mail for no cost and with no credit card required. A free dating can offer an upgraded membership that can include other perks but it must keep the core dating site experience free.

The 2012 Single's Choice Award for a Free Dating Site goes to Plenty Of Fish (POF). This is the fourth straight year that POF has won this award. This year they received 30 percent of the vote which is 197 of the votes. POF seems to have experience a bit of a drop in popularity since last year when they had 39 percent of the vote.

Here are the final results of the poll:

1. Plenty Of Fish (POF)
2. OkCupid
3. DateHookUp.com
4. Meetup
5. Craigslist
6. BookOfMatches
7. Mingle 2
8. Matchdoctor.com

OkCupid came in second place again this year. This was the closest race we ever had for the top spot. OkCupid had almost 27 percent of the vote which is just 3 percent off of POF. As a comparison the difference in 2011 between these two dating sites was 15 percent of the vote. Third place went to DateHookup which was just 3.5 percent off of second place, again very close. In 2011 DateHookup ranked fourth and was over 14 percent off of second place. All of the other dating sites in the poll scored under 10 percent of the vote. There is quite a large difference this year between the top 3 dating sites and the rest.

Read our review of PlentyOfFish.com for more information about this online dating service or visit Plenty of Fish directly.

Here's something I bet you haven't thought about before: your Fish Personality.

Are you an Angelfish? A Dolphin? A Lobster? A Whale? If you had to sum up your dating life using a sea creature, which one would you choose?

Sure, it's a silly question, but it's the question Plenty of Fish asks all its users. It's up to you to decide which water dweller best describes your dating habits. You have a choice of 30, and if that task doesn't already sound challenging enough, here's the only guidance POF gives you: "There is no specific meaning to the fish types - they're just for fun, so pick the one that you think best describes you!"

Not very helpful, POF! SO let's put our heads together and brainstorm...what does a Fish Personality say about you or your date?

1. No Personality: If you describe yourself as "No Personality," you clearly need to go back to Online Dating 101. I don't need to tell you why it's not a good idea.


2. Angelfish: The name speaks for itself, here. This one's for the good boys and girls of online dating who think a halo belongs in their profile pictures. Just make sure you don't go so far you're in obnoxious good-two-shoes territory.


3. Barnacle: Can you say clingy? A barnacle attaches itself to something for life, never moving and never leaving its shell. A Barnacle dater could easily become too dependent and afraid to take risks or strike out on his or her own.


4. Barracuda: These guys are known for their large size, fearsome appearance, and opportunistic predatory style. Barracudas are the pickup artists of the dating world, prepared to use well-practiced tactics to snap up their targets.


5. Big Mouth Bass: Remember Big Mouth Billy Bass? It may be the most annoying toy ever made, yet no redneck's house would be complete without one. If you're into that Southern, good ol' boy charm, look out for a Big Mouth Bass.


6. BlowFish: If the name is anything to go by, I suspect the BlowFish is only looking for one thing. If low-key hookups and adult dating are your game, the BlowFish is definitely your best bet. Just be careful...they can be poisonous if not handled correctly.


7. Bottom Dweller: You'll find these fish in the deepest depths of the ocean, living amongst mud, sand, gravel, and rocks, and feeding on whatever sinks to the bottom. On POF, the Bottom Dwellers are online dating's worst nightmare: the ones who still live in their parents' basements.


8. Catfish: By now you've definitely heard of Catfish, the 2010 documentary film and current MTV show. The Catfish are scammers, online con artists who are masters of appearing to be someone they're not.


9. Clam: The clam appears twice in popular culture: first as "Clam up" and second as "Happy as a clam." If you're a Clam of the first type, you're not likely to be communicative or openly emotional in a relationship. If you're the second, you're a "Glass half full" kind of person who always looks on the bright side of life.


10. Clownfish: Everybody wants to date someone who can make them laugh, so it's good to be a Clownfish. Clownfish have a unique ability to enter tricky situations - like life in a stinging anemone - and come out unscathed. Besides, who doesn't think Finding Nemo was adorable?


11. Crab: A Crab may be tough to get to know at first, but the payoff is worth it in the end. Breaking your way through that thick exoskeleton can take time, but once you've peeled back the layers, you'll find that the Crab is soft and sweet inside.


12. Damselfish: If you're the knight in shining armor type, the Damselfish is your perfect match. They're frequently kept as pets, so if you're looking to spoil your dates and give them a taste of what it's like to be totally taken care of, a Damselfish would love to meet you.


13. Dolphin: Dolphins are some of the smartest creatures around, but it's not just about their brains. They're also friendly, playful, and social animals who are always up for a good time. In other words, a Dolphin is the complete package.


14. Eel: Eels are primarily nocturnal creatures, and many live together in holes called "eel pits." Sounds a bit scandalous to me. Dating an Eel means taking a walk on the wild side, and enjoying all the fun those early morning hours have to offer.


15. Hammerhead: Unlike most sharks, who are typically solitary creatures, the hammerhead is known to form schools during the day - sometimes in groups of over 100! The Hammerhead knows how to play both sides well: social when he needs to be, and aloof when he needs to retain a little bit of mystery.


16. Jellyfish: The Jellyfish are the cougars of the dating world. There's something irresistibly captivating about them. Perhaps it's their beauty, or the fluidity of their movement. Or maybe it's their age and experience: they've roamed the seas for at least 500 million years.


17. Lobster: Everybody wants a piece of these guys. They're one of the most highly sought-after commodities in the food world, and they're equally highly prized in the dating world. You're lucky if you get your hands on one, so hold on tight!


18. Octopus: The Octopus is a real catch. They're athletic, highly intelligent, and good at adapting to whatever environment they find themselves in. They also have three hearts, so expect a lot of romance if you're dating an Octopus.


19. Piranha: The world's most famous marine maneater needs no introduction. The Piranha is likely to hop from date to date to date, constantly searching for something (or someone) to satisfy their voracious appetite.


20. Sea Horse: The Sea horse makes for a kind, steady partner in a long-term relationship. Expect a long and romantic courtship process, commitment to monogamy, and strong parenting skills.


21. Sea Urchin: They may look a little scary on the outside, but don't judge a book by its cover. Once you take the time to get to know a Sea Urchin, you'll find there's so much more beneath that sharp, tough exterior.


22. Shark: Assertive, motivated, dangerous, sexy...those are just a few of the words that come to mind. Dating a Shark is guaranteed to be an intense, sweep-you-off-your-feet kind of experience. A Shark knows what he/she wants and isn't afraid to go after it, whatever the cost.


23. Shrimp: The shrimp is a jack of all trades. The many variations look completely different, communicate differently, and perform different functions. Dating a Shrimp means never getting bored - the Shrimp can be anything and everything you want them to be (and may like to play dress-up in the bedroom).


24. Starfish: A Starfish is the "All eyes on me" kind of date. If you're looking for a little bit of candy to carry around on your arm, try a colorful, eye-catching Starfish. A star loves the spotlight, so this is a good choice if you're looking for an envy-inducing trophy spouse.


25. Sucker Fish: Beware of dating a Sucker Fish. In the wild, sucker fish attach themselves to larger marine animals and use their hosts, who get nothing in return, for food and transportation. Can you say "gold digger?"


26. Sunfish: The sunfish is, to describe it in one word, impressive. It's the largest bony fish in the world (the average adult weight is 2,200 lb!). It feeds on jellyfish. Females can produce more eggs than any other known vertebrate. A Sunfish will never accept second best and will do anything to stay at the top of their game.


27. Swordfish: The swordfish is a bit of a loner (it's rare that you'll find them with other swordfish, and even then it's only a loose aggregation and never a tight school). Swordfish may seem like solitary creatures at first, but don't write them off as bad dates. The swordfish also has almost no enemies, making a Swordfish date extremely popular and likeable once you actually get to know them.


28. Tuna: You can't go wrong dating a Tuna. They may not be the flashiest, most exciting dates, but they are steady, caring partners that will always be attentive to the relationship and make sure your needs are met.


29. Turtle: Is there anyone who doesn't love a turtle? They're so cute you just want to squeeze them! A Turtle may be a little shy at first, but they'll make a great date once you coax them out of their shell. Just be patient with them.


30. Whale: Whales are some of the most intelligent, social creatures in the sea. A Whale makes for a smart, friendly date with good communication skills (and as a bonus, they'll also be a great parent one day). Who doesn't want their dating life to be a whale of a good time?

All that and still no mermaid option?? I'm so disappointed!

For more information on this dating site you can read our updated Plenty of Fish review.

According to Comscore tracking for November 2012 Plenty of Fish mobile visitors accounted for 50 percent of all mobile dating traffic. POF mobile visitors “Average Minutes per Visitor” is also a lot higher than other dating sites Comscore tracks. This means they make up 67.5 percent of the time ALL mobile visitors used when visiting dating sites. I believe the Comscore data of mobile traffic includes web browsing and dating apps for smartphones.

POF also reports that every day their members exchange up to 30 million messages. In the past year to help fix the technology problems this causes all servers (web and database) have been replaced along with their networking equipment to keep up with the demand. To help with their matching and Chemistry Predictor POF will also be building soon a monster CUDA cluster which will have 147,0000 GPU cores. Wow!

To find out more about these statistics you can read the Plenty of fish blog. Hmmm... Markus Frind's blog use to be called the Paradigm Shift ... I wonder when the name changed? You can also find out more about the dating service here and how it works and stacks up against other services.