Match - Faculty Directory | Berkeley-Haas

Match.com

Shirley Hsiao
Danielle King-Curzi

Gilbert Lee
Cecilia Pang
Economics 201a – Professor Wolfram
October 2, 2006

Introduction
Match.com is an eleven year old online dating and relationship company and a leader in

the online dating market. The company revolutionized the integration of traditional personal
advertisements with the Internet medium. Users can create personal profiles, search profiles, and
communicate with potential relationship partners.

Based in Dallas, Match.com has approximately 250 employees who operate the business
and technology functions. The company’s 2005 revenue from service subscriptions was
approximately $250 million dollars, reflecting 1.2 million paid subscribers. The service has
approximately 15 million registered users. Match.com is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
InterActiveCorp (IAC), which also owns brands such as Ticketmaster, HSN.com, and Ask.com.

Match.com has several revenue streams including advertising sales and content
syndication. This paper will focus only on service subscriptions, the major source of
income. Match.com users fall into two groups: members and subscribers. Members are non-
paying users who can create a profile and search the profiles of users who match their desired
attributes. After paying the subscription fee, members can access additional services and
features such as the ability to contact other users through an anonymous email and telephone
system. Converting members to subscribers is critical for Match.com to increase revenue;
therefore, it focuses its efforts on increasing subscriptions through aggressive marketing.
Qualitative Assessment of Market Demand

Match.com estimates its potential market to be approximately 35 million people, ages 18
and older. These are individuals who are online and open to pursuing a relationship or using an
online dating service. The largest age group represented is between 30 and 49 years old.
Fourteen percent of members are 50 years and older, a potential customer base likely to
grow given high divorce rates and the large number of baby boomers.

1

Match.com operates in a highly competitive and fragmented market. There is a low
barrier for competition to enter the market because online dating software is inexpensive and
website creation is simple. As an early player in the online dating market, Match.com has built a
large member base, which is both a marketing tool and competitive advantage. Despite its
size, Match.com's demand curve is fairly elastic since it faces strong competition from
other online dating services such as Yahoo! Personals, eHarmony.com, and True.com. Recently,
the popularity of free social-networking sites such as MySpace.com (103 million users) and
craigslist.org has increased the number of substitutes. As a result, Match.com's demand curve
has most likely shifted to the left and potentially become more elastic.

A plurality of Match.com substitutes further fragments the market. More expensive
dating services and independent matchmakers offer a more personalized approach. These
services are unlikely to attract price sensitive potential Match.com customers. Classified
advertisements in print publications target local markets. Traditional dating outlets include
meeting people at church, clubs and bars, or through friends and family. While potentially less
expensive, these venues may take more time to find a potential match given the smaller
candidate pool compared to the millions of online Match.com members. Some relationship
seekers employ multiple dating methods such as subscribing to several online dating services or
employing traditional and online methods. This consumer behavior increases the
potential member base for Match.com.

In an effort to adapt to shifting demand, Match.com has introduced services to better
meet specific consumer needs. Two new campaigns compete with other online dating services
that cater to long-term relationship seekers, such as eHarmony.com. One Match.com campaign
incorporates exclusive relationship and dating advice, strategies, and action plans in the form of
podcasts from the popular television personality, Dr. Phil McGraw. Dr. Phil appears on

2

television commercials promoting the "MindFindBind™ with Dr. Phil" program. The
second campaign is a new brand, Chemistry.com, which uses a matching system that combines
compatibility with chemistry based on the research of Dr. Helen Fisher, a world-renowned
anthropologist. Industry reports show that these efforts focus on the search for "love and
romance" and target single females between 30 and 54 years of age. The strong desire to find
love makes some women in this age bracket relatively inelastic consumers.
Qualitative Characterization of Firm’s Cost Structure

Match.com has relatively high fixed costs compared to its variable costs. Once an online
dating infrastructure exists, few additional costs are required to enable the website to accept or
increase the user base. This explains how Match.com can serve 15 million members with only
250 employees. Match.com measures its costs by Cost-Per-Acquisition (CPA) or the cost to
convert registered members into paying subscribers.

Fixed costs include employee salaries, servers, databases, advertising, and overhead.
Overhead includes property or rent, utilities, and office supplies. PRC, another IAC company,
operates 32 call centers employing mostly hourly workers who provide customer service and
technical support. Match.com has a dedicated team within these PRC call centers. Over a short
time frame the servers and databases are fixed costs. Once purchased and integrated, changing
the architecture of servers requires significant effort. In July 2003, Match.com reduced its server
costs by moving from 104 to 45 web servers, enabling it to reduce maintenance costs and
improve the development cycle efficiency. A Boston-based advertising firm, the Mullen Agency,
handles Match.com's advertising. Last year, Match.com spent $54 million in marketing.
Advertising includes television, radio, and fees to online search engines and distribution
partners. Though some of the advertising costs can be adjusted or redirected, in general, it is a
fixed cost that has been increasing in order to attract new users in a highly competitive

3

market. The money for advertising is spent in advance of new subscribers joining Match.com
and therefore advertising is not a direct function of paying subscribers.

Several costs are both fixed and variable. Servers, databases, and call centers are a
function of the number of members and subscribers, so some component of it is variable. Each
of these is also needed to support a single subscription, a reason to include them as a fixed cost.

Variable costs include commission to affiliated partners and payment processing services.
Since Match.com partners with affiliates to provide links or advertisements to recruit potential
consumers, commission is paid based on each subscription sold. The commission may be paid
once, but the monthly subscription can continue. Credit card processing fees are based on the
revenue exchanged and number of transactions. These fees would therefore change with each
additional subscriber or new service requested by a subscriber.

The marginal costs for a new subscriber include any direct commission and transaction
fees because these are the only costs that vary with an incremental change in subscribers. With
its low marginal costs, Match.com wants to attract as many subscribers as possible. Once a
server upgrade is required, there are additional costs associated with producing the
service. Match.com's long term decisions on advertising are substantial, but once decided, do
not limit the ability to accept more customers as long as the price of the service remains greater
than the marginal costs.

Finally, IAC has opportunity costs associated with Match.com. The company could
divert funds and resources to other subsidiaries to seek a higher return on its investment. With
many subsidiaries, IAC has many internet-based investment opportunities.
Qualitative Assessment of Current Pricing Strategy and Use of Advanced Pricing
Methods

Subscribers can choose from three basic service agreement options. (Table 1) These

4

prices are competitive with other large online dating services. Match.com's monthly subscription

fee is higher than Yahoo! Personals, but lower than Eharmony.com. (Table 1)

Table 1: Monthly Subscription Fees

Match.com standard 1-Month 3-Month 6-Month 12-Month
Match.com MindFindBind $29.99 $16.99 $14.99 -
Chemistry.com $38.98 $24.98 $21.98 -
eHarmony $49.95 $33.32 $26.66
Yahoo! Personals $49.95 $33.32 $24.99 $20.83
$24.95 $16.65 $12.49 $20.83

-

Match.com's tiered pricing menu reflects a second-degree price discrimination strategy
presented in a “goldilocks” manner to entice potential subscribers to pick the mid-level
option. This pricing can also be considered a block pricing strategy, where the consumer is
charged different prices for a different quantity of service. The multi-month subscription plans
allow potential subscribers to buy access in bulk, capturing more of the consumer surplus.

The MindFindBind program is a premium version of Match.com's basic services.
Match.com uses second-degree price discrimination to distinguish potential subscribers who are
willing to pay more for online dating through the premium service. (Table 1)

Match.com has also taken the second-degree price discrimination strategy a step further
by launching a new brand, Chemistry.com. Chemistry.com offers an advanced matching and
introduction process with the goal of establishing long-term relationships. A potential subscriber
who is looking for marriage, for example, might be more willing to pay a higher subscription
cost if he or she feels the quality of the service will lead to achievement of his or her goals.
Chemistry.com also employs a block pricing strategy. (Table 1)

Both Match.com and Chemistry.com make use of promotional rebates or coupon
strategies. Match.com recently created the "Make Love Happen" guarantee. With a six-month
service agreement, subscribers receive a guarantee that states: "If you don’t find someone special

5

during your six-month subscription, we will give you an additional six months for free."
Chemistry.com offers a similar three-month guarantee. Furthermore, Match.com members can
test the subscriber service through promotional pricing or trial memberships. Finally, when
Match.com learned 72% of single people have never used an online dating service, they began
offering a free "Starter Kit", which includes targeted, interactive audio and visual guides to help
new customers get acquainted with Match.com.
Potential for Advanced Pricing Methods

By offering the ability to search profiles for free, Match.com is missing an opportunity to
use an additional second-degree price discrimination strategy to differentiate its serious members
from its casual members and gain incremental revenue. Members are able to conduct three types
of searches – a quick search, custom search, and keyword search. Match.com could charge for
custom searches, while still allowing casual users to preview their dating options with a quick or
keyword search for free, to take advantage of the varied elasticity between serious and casual
users to increase revenue. Serious users tend to have a stronger motivation to find other users of
interest and have less patience to sort through hundreds of profiles returned by a quick search. In
contrast, casual or cost conscious users would not mind sorting through the additional profiles
generated by a broad search. Match.com can also apply this strategy by charging for its
"Member Spotlight" feature, which increases the member's chance of being seen by other
members on partner websites. Serious users will be more willing to pay for such a
feature compared to casual users. The difference in demand between serious and casual users
will support an a la carte pricing strategy where members pay a nominal price for improved
search capabilities or visibility.

Match.com already applies a la carte pricing strategy to several features. In addition to
the monthly subscription fee, subscribers are offered additional routes of communicating with

6

other prospective dates, through video, voice mail, and text messaging. For example,
"MatchMobile", at $4.99/month, allows a subscriber to search for dates on their mobile phones,
view profiles, and chat using Match.com's anonymous text messaging service. Other examples
include "Online Speed Matching" services, also offered to non-subscribers but at a higher fee,
and single event fees for advice on dating or writing profiles. This pricing strategy allows
Match.com to keep the price of entry-level subscriptions low for cost sensitive consumers.
Allowing people to sign up as members with limited service entices potential consumers, who
are skeptical or curious. Once members join as a basic subscriber, Match.com hopes to increase
revenue by offering premium or supplemental services and capture a portion of the consumer
surplus that would otherwise exist with a flat monthly price.

An a la carte structure may be confusing and difficult to communicate clearly to members,
so Match.com can consider bundling the a la carte items and offering it as a new premium line of
service. Alternatively, Match.com can initiate a member "token" purchase system where
"tokens" are deducted on a per contact basis. This may attract users who are willing to pay a per
contact fee for minimal use of the service. Also, although advertising supplements revenue from
subscribers, some subscribers may be willing to pay to limit advertisements.

Match.com can utilize third-degree price discrimination strategies by creating niche
groups in its member base by social, religious, or ethnic qualities or preferences. Niche online
personals services, such as JDate, BlackSinglesConnection, and LDSMingle, are very successful
as a result of targeting specific groups. The site could charge for advanced searches to identify
certain customs or traditions. Additionally, Match.com can modify its profiling and
questionnaires to include characteristics which are of greater importance to these niches. The
company may even want to further understand price-sensitivity and utilize that information to
derive demand curves for each group and set prices accordingly.

7

Summary/Conclusion
Match.com is one of many online dating services in a highly competitive market,

which has led to an elastic consumer demand. While a large portion of Match.com's fixed costs
are dedicated to marketing to consumers, the company could take more advantage of its 15
million members. Effective pricing strategies would help to convert more members to
subscribers and to minimize consumer surplus. Though Match.com currently employs several
second degree price discrimination strategies, such as “goldilocks” pricing and bundling, future
strategies might attract cost sensitive consumers while drawing more revenue from
serious subscribers. Lower monthly subscription pricing and fees for advanced searches,
improved subscriber visibility, or fee-based contacts address a wide range of consumer
elasticity. Match.com should utilize a test market for several of these strategies to determine
which are most effective to maximize profit. Too many pricing options would be too
complicated given the broad market.

"Twenty years from now, the idea that someone looking for love without looking for it
online will be silly, akin to skipping the card catalog to instead wander the stacks because 'the
right books' are found only by accident."1 As the world moves increasingly online and online
dating becomes a cultural norm in a society with less free time, Match.com's audience of those
willing to pay for the search for human compatibility and companionship will most likely
expand. By using advanced pricing techniques such as al a carte pricing, Match.com will capture
consumer surplus and maximize its profits. The long-term outlook in this industry is strong,
for as long as human nature exists, the search for love will continue.

8

Bibliography
1. Griscom, Rufus, “Why are Online Personals So Hot?”, Wired Magazine, Issue 10.11 (Nov
2002) http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.11/view.html?pg=2

Entwistle, Liz ([email protected]) and Maida Goodman ([email protected]),
phone and email interviews and “Match.com Fact Sheet,” Match.com (Sept 27 & 29, 2006)

Francisco, Bambi, "Social Networks vs. Dating Sites," Market Watch (Aug 31, 2006)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B4640E6FF%2D17B8%2D40D5
%2D901C%2D098EE74B03DD%7D&siteid=

Goodstein, Ellen, "The Cost of Finding Love," Bankrate.com (Feb 12, 2004)
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cheap/20040212a1.asp

Johnson, Kimberly S., “Fla. Firm will Bring 500 New Jobs: PRC of Fort Lauderdale says it will
open a call center in Englewood in mid-October." (Aug 31, 2006)
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_4269972

Kapsinow, Steven, “Case Study: Match.com” http://www.15seconds.com/issue/040212.htm

Rye, Court L. Match.com IAC/InterActiveCorp, 2005,
http://court.ryefamily.net/files/match_case.doc

Stanley, T.L., “Online-Dating Sites Get Stood Up by Consumers: Singles Flock to Myspace,
Leaving Match.com and Others Looking for Love.” (Apr 17, 2006)
http://www.teamdating.com/Nuke/Default.aspx?tabid=327

“History of match.com.” OnlineDatingMagazine.com
www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/history/match-com-history.html

IAC 10K SEC filings (Mar 13, 2006) www.iac.com

http://www.miva.com/uk/content/about/casestudies/match.asp

http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/107/107288.html

http://www.match.com/subscribe/subscribe.aspx?ic=1&id=108&rt=2

"Match.com Launches New Starter Kit to Help People Discover What Millions Already Know:
Online Dating Works More People Know Someone Who Had Success on Match.com than any
Other Dating Site1" (May 10, 2006)
http://corp.match.com/index/newscenter_release_detail.asp?auto_index=103

"Match.com Launches MindFindBind™ with Dr. Phil" (Jan 12, 2006)
http://corp.match.com/index/newscenter_release_detail.asp?auto_index=99

Chemistry.com MediaKit,
http://corp.match.com/index/newscenter_release_detail.asp?auto_index=102

http://personals.yahoo.com/us/reg/billingsplash

9