In these times of online social networking and information accessibility from search engines, to magazine blogs and to social media systems within a few mouse clicks or finger taps’ reach – is it any surprise that Tinder’s upcoming ‘premium’ features would tap on online users’ connectivity-hungry habits?
The highly-profiled Tinder app is now mixing their primarily pleasure-focused service of online dating by steering into a business-minded direction. Starting next month, Tinder will be offering users the additional option of paid services for as yet, an undetermined fee.
“We are adding features users have been begging us for. They will offer so much value we think users are willing to pay for them,” chief executive, Sean Rad, confidently illuminated at the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Philadelphia.
Mr Rad generally hinted that the new ‘premium service’ features might be: widening the distance reach of connecting with other users, which are currently limited to a certain distance within a user’s own location; as well as connecting with users for purposes other than dating. For example, paid users may be able to connect with other singles in obtaining travel information or for outright declared networking purposes.
Also read: Can You Really Make Friends on Dating Apps? Surprisingly, Yes.
It remains to be seen how eagerly users will continue to take to swiping their way to numerous profiles with other intents rather than romantic-centric ones. Here’re a few muses on Twitter by professionals such as the Managing Editor of Forbes, Bruce Upbin and a tweet response by CEO and founder of Heyo, Nathan Latka:
@bupbin @seanrad admitting you’d pay for tinder publicly and paying for tinder actually are 2 very different things.
— Nathan Latka (@NathanLatka) October 20, 2014
“Revenue has always been on the road map,” Rad revealed at the summit. “We had to get our product and growth right first.”
It seems his US$1 billion-valued Tinder company is decidedly hopping onto their booming membership usage, with more than one billion profiles being swiped, and more than 15 million matches being made daily. Potential business revenue to be made from this current phenomenal? usership rate is as yet positively uncomprehended.
Ads-free to date, the addition of ‘paid services’ into their system would be the company’s first step into dipping their toes into the profiteering business.
At this point, all we can say is that all’s fair when it comes to the games of love and, may the odds be ever in the involved parties’ – both users’ and Tinder’s team’s- favour.
Also read: [BREAKING] Dating app Paktor receives US$500,000 investment to hook up more singles
