What Are the Advantages of Using a Niche Dating Site?

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012
A heart shape made using cut flowers


In the past decade there has been an explosion of niche dating sites appearing on the internet, so why are they so popular and how do you choose which one is best for you?

Why choose a niche dating site?

Common interests– The most obvious reason to choose a niche dating site is that you’re likely to meet someone with whom you have at least one thing in common.

For example, if you truly believe that music is the food of love, then check out Tastebuds or if you would like to ‘boldly go’ for a fellow Star Trek fan try Trek Passions.

At Muddy Matches all of our members are country-minded in some way, so if you’re a fan of country pursuits or of the rural lifestyle you have come to the right place. If you’re looking for someone who shares a particular hobby with you like potholing you can also do an advanced search.

Less work to find peopleLarge websites have millions of members, which can be a good thing if you’re looking to meet a wide variety of people.

On the other hand, people find that with so many members they spend hours looking for someone they like without actually getting anywhere. You might also find yourself overwhelmed with messages from people who you have nothing in common with when you first join a large dating site.

An understanding of your lifestyle Niche dating sites are often set up by people who have a passion for a particular lifestyle and they therefore understand the needs of their members.

For example, Muddy Matches was set up by two sisters who grew up in the countryside and enjoy outdoor pursuits themselves, so they’re not city slickers dreaming up ideas of what they think rural singles might like.

Community feelNiche dating sites aren’t just about looking for other single people online, although that’s obviously the main objective.  Some sites offer social events and calendars of activities for members as well as blogs, forums and competitions.

How to find a niche dating site

If by now you’ve decided that you’d like to try out a niche dating site, the best way to go about it is to search for particular words that describe your interests, lifestyle or what you are specifically looking for. For example, many people find Muddy Matches by searching for ‘equestrian singles’, ‘countryside dating’ or ‘single farmers’. However, don’t be afraid to think outside the box; one of our most popular searches is for the TV programme Farmer Wants a Wife.

Niche dating sites are also regularly featured in the press; for example Muddy Matches has been fortunate enough to feature in The Sunday Telegraph, the Mirror and Woman Magazine.