Looking for a date for Valentine's Day, or any day? You've got any number of options in the online dating world, which has expanded enormously and sprouted a variety of extremely niche sites.
According to research from IBISWorld, dating services in the U.S. grew by 11.9 percent to reach revenues of $3 billion in 2018. Dating services included online dating, mobile dating, matchmakers and singles events. The companies holding the largest market share included Match Group Inc and eHarmony Inc.
There's a dating site for nearly everyone, from Farmers Only (who could forget that jingle?) to an app that promises to pair up Kanye West fans.
Here's a sampling of real-deal niche dating sites:
* Clown Dating. The site to visit for single entertainers. As the site says, "If you are a Clown, a Clown Wannabe or simply a Clown Lover, you have come to the right place."
* Disney fans can get the MouseMingle app, which advertises itself as "the place for people to connect who love Disney, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, and all things Disney — who want that same magic in their relationships."
* Haters gonna hate. And date. The app Hater promises to connect you to people who hate the same things you hate.
* Gamers can find their "perfect Player 2" at GamerDating, which offers subscribers — what else — a game when they sign up.
* Kanye West fans have their own app: Yeezy Dating, which launched to much fanfare in spring 2018 and was undergoing a relaunch in the fall.
Didn't find your specific interest on this list? Not to worry. A quick Google search and you're sure to find an app or a site that will connect you to your people in no time.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
