Here at SkaDate Dating Software Blog I mention the importance of the proper niche selection on a regular basis. That’s because I’m kinda like the unseen presence in Groundhog Day – I repeat stuff to make sure the point gets across. On the other hand, let’s forget about that comparison, since, you know, some people say it took Bill Murray one thousand years of iterative suffering to get his point.

I’d like to think, that type of unfair karmic punishment is unnecessary in our case. Because the point I want to make is that understanding niches and picking the right one will get you ahead of the competition. (That and using SkaDate dating script, of course). And just to make sure the Groundhog reference is not completely wasted, let’s talk about the niche that’s been growing in popularity in recent years. Pet Dating. What? You think you can’t have groundhogs as pets? Here’s a picture to make all your points moot:

And before moving any further let’s quickly fend off any unfortunate souls who wondered here thinking we are talking about dating actual pets. Uh, maybe next time fellas.

Singles with pets, who bond over their common passion for specific animals, or animals in general – that’s what I’m talking about. Because dating based on regular passion is too mainstream these days.

But seriously, meeting someone who shares your love for the same animal tells you quite a lot about the person. Also, it removes a bunch of initial guesswork so prevalent in online dating. In addition you’ll have a whole bank of ready-to-use conversation topics, and your pet will become an easy way out any time your match shows the signs of losing interest in… well, you.

Now that we’ve covered basic advantages for members of pet dating sites, let’s see what benefits of starting online dating business in this niche brings.

First of all, you’ll have a clearly defined area of interest, and that’s always a plus. The better defined your niche, the easier it is to find for potential members. But unlike sites based on those rare fetishes known only to Deviant Art fanatics, pet dating sites have a much wider appeal and target audience.

Look around, generic sites for singles with pets are popping up all over the place like mushrooms. Do you know why? Because they are in demand. But those portals that truly succeed, go into an even more specific territory in pursuit of a customer.

Purrsonals.com for cat lovers anyone? What about The Puppy Dog Place? Or the ever popular EquestrianSingles, a site for those who want to ride their horses together. And no, I have no idea if horses are pets, but they sure as hell are animals, so let’s not discriminate against them. Finally, who can forget the granddaddy of them all, a website for pet-fish-singles, PlentyOfFish.com. No wait, that isn’t right… Anyway…

The commercial potential for pet dating sites is quite strong, both in terms of member fees and other indirect opportunities. Think specific affiliate programs, banner advertising from local pet stores, or giving your members miscellaneous eCommerce options (readily available at your fingertips in the new SkaDate 9).

You know what? I think I’ve said too much. In fact I’ve just re-read what I’ve said so far, and now I’m ready to disappear for a while. If anyone asks, I’m building my own dating site for pet groundhog singles in my area, before anyone else gets the idea. Oh, c’mon, there are plenty of other animals! Choose any.