One of the big issues for mobile dating apps – once they’ve built a brand and acquired users – is how to monetise in a way that doesn’t turn off users.
An area that proximity dating apps are starting to see the potential of is with location-based event recommendations and ad targeting.
iHookup Social recently partnered with a company called Sprylogics, to integrate their local search technology, Poynt.
This offers recommendations for local date ideas and events to users.
iHookup Social say they are “nearing the finish line” with their Poynt-integrated app, expected to be released in August.
Edinburgh-based dating company Cupid also partnered with Sprylogics in February.
Robert Rositano, the CEO of iHookup Social, said:
“With the addition of the Poynt local search technology, we will soon be delivering search and discovery of “LOCAL” places, hot spots and events from within the app, encouraging our users to venture outside the virtual realm and connect based on a local venue of their mutual choosing.
“As the company continues to enhance the user experience through a series of feature releases, we can now begin to extend the company’s revenue opportunities beyond subscription based memberships.”
Sprylogics’ Poynt technology aims to introduce a new revenue stream for dating apps – by letting events and date locations pay to advertise to singles looking for somewhere to go.
Marvin Igelman, CEO of Sprylogics said:
“These new local search features will help make iHookup unique and further enhance the user experience with the ability to search, invite a friend or plan to meet for a coffee or at a restaurant nearby all without leaving the app.”
In their newest version, iHookup has also updated its UI, zip code search and introduced a feature that allows users to share video within the chat.
The app will be released in August, pending Apple approval.