Industry insiders discuss what the future holds for dating apps

This article By Alex Pashkov, CEO and founder of dating app Hiley and TaimiWHO give a lecture at TNW Conference, will take place in Amsterdam on June 15th and 16th. For those who want to experience the event (and say hello to our editorial team!), we have something special for our loyal readers.Use promo code Read-TNW-25 Save 25% on business passes to the TNW conference. See you in Amsterdam!

2023 has been a tough year Startup. Funding is getting harder and harder, and the dating app industry is no exception. Investor You want to run your dating business effectively without increasing your investment. Dating companies that combine technology solutions with strong brands have the advantage of further expanding their user base through organic growth, performance marketing and paid acquisition. Therefore, it is more important than ever to keep your product strategy on trend in order to build a sustainable dating business.

AI and the future of dating apps

driving force AI may be the breakthrough technology of 2023, but when it comes to dating apps, the possibilities are limited. There will be some features that use AI-generated prompts and prescribed icebreakers to help users initiate conversations sooner or better than just saying, “Hi, how are you?” . However, users still want to chat with other real people, so dating apps can’t simply have a large language model impersonate users on the platform. No one wants to date a chatbot in the real world.

However, you can integrate AI to improve algorithms and make dating apps run smoother. For example, it helps us suggest people to connect with based on your preferences and usage history. Chatbots cannot replace users on the platform, can Provide fast and efficient customer support. As such, dating apps can use large language models to answer user questions and support other queries.

Advanced segmentation and personalization

In the near future, dating apps will become even more personalized for segmented users. Since his Tinder breakthrough in 2012, Tinder has met the needs of every viewer. But now the app is slowly evolving and starting to cover more specific dating preferences for certain audiences. So instead of having one big app to cover all your needs, we have a variety of apps made for different audiences and dating interests (polygamous relationships, christian dating, etc.) .

Segmentation is a growing trend, but very niche app Like pro-vaccine/anti-vaccine apps, it may not have the most sustainable business model. Relying on a small user base, with a very narrow audience, runs the risk of making it difficult to raise funding and provide investors with the metrics they want, no matter how good the idea is.

Some dating apps focus on specific users, while others focus on specific needs. For example, there are apps that let you indicate that you want a one-night stand rather than a long-term relationship. However, there are also pitfalls. If an app is focused on a specific user, such as someone seeking a date, users are more likely to switch to other dating apps that cater to more of their needs than such a nuanced experience. .

The future of dating apps

While fundraising has become increasingly difficult, the online dating landscape has also become more complicated. The biggest problem remains that most dating apps operate with a business model that requires users to stay on the app for as long as possible, rather than meeting their needs immediately. That said, dating apps that successfully shorten the time between the first like and the actual meeting are likely to be more successful in the long run.

Niche apps serving specific audiences and needs are leading the way in this regard. These apps set the standard of service quality for the target audience and improve the level of service. If larger apps can learn from their experiences by integrating and effectively serving those segments within their own apps, it will accelerate business growth and acceptance of these apps in society. I guess.

The purpose of dating apps is not to make all users fall in love with each other, but to give them the freedom to pursue whatever they want, romantically or sexually, at any time. Some may be looking for a date today, a casual encounter tomorrow, and a long-term relationship the day after tomorrow. By understanding the complexities of online dating and keeping up with users’ evolving preferences, dating apps can increase their chances of success on the key business metrics that matter to investors.

To learn more about successful go-to-market strategies, check out Alex Pasykov’s talk at the TNW conference June 15-16.Use promo code Read-TNW-25 Save 25% on business passes to the TNW conference.