Dr. Neil Hair

Looking for love? As a Marketer, I've found it… 65% of all single Brits used an online dating agency last year. An industry worth £12million and expected to be worth £47million by 2008 - and thats just the UK. This market is extremely lucrative - if only until one finds one's perfect partner! What's not love? Search from the comfort of your own home, do your research online, make contact with people online and get to know people online. I've long been a firm believer that love cometh quickly to an electronic context. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't personally fallen in love online. I'd also be lying I didn't admit that digital communications made life without my partner just about bearable for a year back in 1999/2000. What fascinates me is the human ability to use this so called 'deprived' medium to form solid, dependable relationships. I believe that there's a place in this technology for developing relationships with customers as well. Hence the focus of my PhD. Electronic relationships in electronic communities (just one of many mediums where love can manifest itself). If you're looking for a market to invest in this coming year - electronic dating agencies should be on your list. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,20409-1970817,00.html How else other than in the name of love can we get away with charging someone $49.95 a month for a database driven match 'of 29 proven dimensions of compatibility'?! Say 10 million single Americans, finding their perfect partner in one month at $49.95, that's not a bad monthly take home - $499,500,000. Two months, and an end to the $40 free personality profile and I'd safely say we can all retire by February end. Oh and I'm Neil, Italian descent, 6ft 6, heavy build, who likes listening to Motzart and enjoys pottery, cuddling kittens (that bits true) and playing crochet with the guys at weekends. Must include Photo.