Online Dating Industry Journal

James Houran, Ph.D. Clarifies the Term "Online Dating"

(Online Dating Industry Journal) Dr. James Houran has written a February editorial for Online Dating Magazine in which he clarifies the term "online dating".

In the editorial, titled Yes Virginia... There Really is Online "Dating," Dr. James Houran provides well-researched documentation identifying the true structure and meaning of online dating.

From the article:

"...Research has only recently begun to address the subject of online relationship development. It should also be noted that the nature of online relationships clearly varies. However, it’s also clear that flirting and dating and other forms of social networking constitute an important aspect of the Internet phenomenon. To my way of thinking, the "tools" of online dating such as detailed personal profiles, personality and compatibility testing, digital photographs, webcams, real-time chat capabilities and email and Instant Messaging help overcome the so-called restricted cues in online impression formation. What this does is reduce many of the limitations of hyperpersonal communication. In fact, the tools of online dating and social networking nicely promote – and may even prolong – authentic communication among individuals. To me, this is the crux of the definition of dating and is the necessary first step to a long-term relationship..."

Read the full editorial here.

Dr. Phil Plays Matchmaker to Former Pop Idol

(Online Dating Industry Journal) In an attempt to further mesh his relationship advice with singles looking for dates, Dr. Phil McGraw will teach his love lessons to ex-pop-star-turned-TV-host Paula Abdul on a CBS prime-time special, "Love Smart", airing on Valentine's Day. 

According to an article on Zap2It.com:

In the special, McGraw and Abdul will "explore the life of an unmarried international celebrity who is looking for love." Abdul, who was cleared earlier this year of allegations she had an inappropriate physical relationship with ex-"Idol" contestant Corey Clark, will discuss her problems finding a guy who's comfortable with her level of success and busy schedule and who isn't "overwhelmed by her emotions."

Kim's Comments:
Look for some Match.com promotion during this program as "Dr. Phil" has recently teamed up with the online dating service to give his relationship and dating advice to its single members under the term "Mind. Find. Bind.". 

New Office Hours With Dr. Jim Column Posted

(Online Dating Industry Journal) Online Dating Magazine has uploaded the second column by Dr. James Houran. "Dr Jim" joined the Online Dating Magazine team a week ago and has a weekly column titled Office Hours With Dr. Jim.

Last week, Dr. Jim also wrote a feature for Online Dating Magazine titled The Truth About Compatibility Testing.

Joe's Comments: In this newest column, Dr. James Houran tackles the subject of profile photos and provides some solid advice for people who don't want to post a photo. It's no hidden fact that a photo increases clicks. Therefore, if you run one of the many online dating services, it's vital that you find a way to encourage users to post photos and let them know what type of photos get the most responses. During the height of my online dating experiences, I found that action photos which I rotated often, drew a lot more response than a headshot, photo that never rotated, or no photo at all.

Online Dating Magazine Welcomes James Houran, Ph.D. as Feature Columnist and Contributor

(Online Dating Industry Journal) Is love really blind? Are men really afraid to commit? These are just two of the many questions that Jim Houran, Ph.D. answers in his new Online Dating Magazine column, “Office Hours with Dr. Jim”. In addition to his new weekly column, appearing every Monday at http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com, Dr. Jim will be contributing insightful articles for both online daters and industry executives. You can read his first feature, “The Truth About Compatibility Testing,” in the Features section of Online Dating Magazine.

“Dr. Jim’s innovative and direct thinking, when it comes to online dating and relationships, is a huge bonus for our readers,” said Joe Tracy, publisher of Online Dating Magazine. “Readers can rely on Dr. Jim to provide informative answers to burning questions. His history in psychological research, along with his published works and TV appearances, make Dr. Jim a true authority for our readers.”

Dr. Jim is an author, public speaker, and a 15-year veteran in the field of research and clinical psychology. A recognized expert on the psychology of compatibility and online testing, Dr. Jim also has a deep history in general psychological research and is an accomplished author, with work published in some of the most respected psychology and psychiatry journals. Previously, Dr. Jim served as the Chief Psychology Officer for True.com, an online relationship service, where he developed several proprietary online instruments to assess couple compatibility.

“I am thrilled to serve consumers by joining the team at Online Dating Magazine. This opportunity gives me an excellent forum to candidly and honestly address the major issues facing online daters and the industry in general,” Dr. Houran said. “I hope that my experience as an industry insider plus my academic expertise in testing and relationship science will give readers a perspective found nowhere else.”

Kim Lance, associate publisher of Online Dating Magazine, says that having a relationship expert like Dr. Jim available to readers is an important step towards the magazine’s mission of providing authoritative insight into online dating and relationships.

“Everything we do at Online Dating Magazine is about improving relationships and experiences through valuable insight,” said Lance. “Contributions from experts like Dr. Jim help make that happen every day.”

Kim's Comments:
It's great to have Dr. James Houran as a new regular columnist and contributor to Online Dating Magazine.  His experience in the online dating industry and his background in research and clinical psychology are the perfect combination needed to give insightful, intelligent, and interesting feedback to our readers.  Welcome aboard Dr. Jim!

The Truth About Compatibility Testing

(Online Dating Industry Journal) Online Dating Magazine has just published an in-depth article called "The Truth About Compatibility Testing" by Dr. James Houran, PhD, an expert on the psychology of compatibility and online testing.  In the article, Dr. Houran provides some history on the background of compatibility testing and its popularity in the modern Internet-driven world.  He also provides questions online dating members can ask themselves to determine whether or not they should rely on compatibility testing during the matchmaking process, and, if so, how to tell if a compatibility test is legitimate.

From the article:

"The public has a right to be skeptical about online personality and compatibility testing. Public exposure to professional testing has been quite limited. The public is more familiar with fun little quizzes in magazines and entertainment websites – like the “What Kind of Dog are You?” quiz or tests that assess the strength of your "morals and ethics" by having you select your likely behavior in a given scenario. These tests are fun diversions, but they’re usually not the real thing. Unfortunately, evidence for many advertised compatibility tests is either blatantly missing or lacking in scientific standards."

Dr. Houran suggests you look to who created the test, the theory and evidence behind the test, and the evaluation of that evidence when deciding on the accuracy of any compatibility test.  Read the full feature in Online Dating Magazine. 

Kim's Comments:
Dr. Houran makes an important point in his article when he says, "A compatibility test can be an effective tool for helping you learn more about yourself and cull romantic prospects… as long as it’s a legitimate, science-based product. However, compatibility tests should never be used in isolation from your common sense and intuition as you interact with prospects. Remember that compatibility tests are not the “be all, end all” – they’re not substitutes for meeting and getting to know others. They merely help that process along."

Compatibility testing done correctly can be a useful tool in helping filter out the millions of singles online, but gut instinct and in-person connections are ultimately the deciding factors when selecting which of those singles you choose to start a relationship with (or even go on a second date with).

Stay tuned tomorrow for a special announcement about Dr. James Houran and Online Dating Magazine. 

Dr. Phil To Offer Dating Advice to Match.com Members

(Online Dating Industry Journal) According to an article by the Associated Press, as of today, Dr. Phil McGraw will start offering dating advice to members of the online dating service Match.com.  According to the article:

"Subscribers who pay $12.99 a month for Match.com's new "MindFindBind" premium service will get access to McGraw's folksy tips on dating and relationships in the form of short video clips."

The CEO of Match.com, Jim Safka called the partnership with Dr. Phil a "long-term exclusive relationship" but financial details were not disclosed.  Safka also claimed the decision to add Dr. Phil to their panel of experts was based on the advice of customers.

Kim's Comments
As if Match.com wasn't an industry giant already, adding Dr. Phil to their list of bragging rights is a huge move for the company.  Not only does Dr. Phil have a mass following of dedicated listeners and viewers, he is also viewed by many as a very respectable relationship expert.  People can't seem to get enough of Dr. Phil.  According to his website, not only did the launch of his television show "garnered the highest ratings of any new syndicated show since the launch of The Oprah Winfrey Show 16 years prior", but he was also listed as People magazine's "Most Intriguing People of 2002" and as one of Barbara Walters' "Ten Most Fascinating People" in 2002. 

As expected, Match is promoting the new relationship with Dr. Phil heavily on their website, including a giant spread on the home page.  Bringing Dr. Phil on board is a strong leap forward in an attempt to repair a slightly tarnished image for Match.com.  The integrity of the online dating service was brought into question last year when a lawsuit was filled against the company, so recruiting a doctor rated so highly on the integrity scale by his millions of fans is a great move.    

Date.com Signs New Relationship Advisor Anna David

(Online Dating Industry Journal) Online dating site Date.com announced today the addition of its newest relationship advisor, Anna David. David has replaced Date.com's former relationship advisor, Brenda Ross. As Date.com’s “relationship expert”, David will primarily be responsible for providing advice to members via a monthly column about contemporary dating and relationship issues. She will also write a monthly "Ask Anna" column, where she'll answer the questions posed by Date.com members.

Previously, David has conducted interviews and written articles for publications such as Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, Playboy, Maxim, TV Guide, Teen Vogue, The New York Post, Self, Us Weekly, and Variety. She has provided relationship advice, particularly sex advice, for these publications and various television programs.

David began her journalism career as an intern at Entertainment Weekly in New York, subsequently moving on to Parenting Magazine, where she wrote about a variety of physical issues that new mothers face and how to overcome the effects. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as a full-time freelancer for People and wrote a movie business gossip column for IFilm.com. From there, David became a staff writer at Premiere, writing the monthly "Party Girl.”

"I'm thrilled to be the new relationship advisor for Date.com," said Anna David in a recent press release. "I'm looking forward to using what I've learned both through first-hand experience and the research and writing I've done to help single people find their partners and those already coupled off to maintain healthy relationships."