Matchmaking is becoming a very tech-driven business. The online matchmaking/dating business is huge as there are thousands of such Web services available and people from all walks of life are turning to these services, be it for casual dating or serious relationship.

Matchmaking is becoming a very tech-driven business. The online matchmaking/dating business is huge as there are thousands of such Web services available and people from all walks of life are turning to these services, be it for casual dating or serious relationship.

And online dating has proven to be successful for many. Based on a survey undertaken by technology and market research firm Forrester Research Inc, about 22 per cent of online daters reported success in meeting people they like, in 2007.

Online matchmaking has become a serious business too. Internet researcher comScore Media Metrix reported that although fewer people are checking out matchmaking sites, the ones who are going online are more serious about finding love. They are willing to fork out money for premium matchmaking services.

According to JupiterResearch, which studies consumer Internet behaviour, about 11.7 million people are expected to pay for e-dating services by 2009, compared to 10 million in 2006. These dating sites will also grow from about US$890 million last year to an estimated US$1.9 billion in 2012.

Online matchmaking/dating services are also turning to the mobile space to allow members to look for romance on the go and to stay connected. Members can now post their profile online and receive a text message on a GPS-enabled phone when a match is nearby.

Popular web dating services. Among the popular online matchmakers are Match.com, eHarmony and Yahoo Personals.

Match.com claims to be the world’s largest online dating site with over 20 million members. Serving some 37 countries, it employs many matchmaking tools for narrowing your search for a partner.

Chemistry.com, a tool developed by Dr Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, author and expert in the science of human attraction, goes beyond the conventional personality tests to match people.

In 2004, Guinness World Records recognised Match.com as the largest online dating site in the world. Since it started in 1995, the online dating site claims to have inspired twice as many marriages as any other similar sites. You can sign up for free and then subscribe to e-mail any member that attracts your attention. The cost depends on the type of plan you pick – one-month, three-month or six-month plan.

At eHarmony, subscribers are given a more proven matchmaking system instead of the regular photo posting and messages. The site with about eight million singles has a scientific Compatibility Matching System. It narrows the matches from millions of potential profiles to a precise set of targeted singles, giving you the opportunity to meet the compatible partner.

Created by author and dating expert Dr Neil Clark Warren, the online service uses a rigorous screening method with some 436 questions, and this is just the beginning of the many methods they employ to identify the right person for you. Free compatible match is offered. Premium membership cost for a month is US$49.95.

If you want a shorter and simpler screening method, Yahoo Personal will be a good choice. The site with some 15 million singles on board offers free Personality and Love Style Test and has SmartFit matching system to find a truly compatible partner for you.

Yahoo Personals offers a seven-day free trial in which you can create a free profile and take the personality and love test. After which you will need to pay US$24.95 per month.

Local flavour. If you want to click with just Asians or Malaysians, matchmaking sites such as Click2Asia, CariKawan.com and Malaysiasingles.com will be appealing.

Although not as popular as the mainstream sites mentioned above, these online dating service provide matches based on the specific ethnic and cultural needs of the local market.

Niche dating sites. Over the years, niche dating sites have also emerged to provide individuals wanting to seek relationships with people of the same age group, hobbies, interest or religion.

One example is SeniorFriendFinder.com, which caters to older adults looking for companionship and love. It has over 400,000 members. The online dating service offers standard membership with a package of basic services for free but for an upgraded service, a fee will be charged. A premium membership can cost between US$20 and US$25 a month.

For single moms and dads who want to meet other single parents, they can turn to Singleparentsmingle.com. This singles online community helps bring men and women meet other singles for companionship, romance and even marriage. You can sign in for a free trial which offers standard chat rooms, message boards and photo gallery features to help find the perfect match.

Faith-based dating sites have also grown in strength over the years catering to singles looking for partners who share their spiritual values.