Dating, like adult content, is one of the top verticals for traffic arbitrage. The advantage of these offers is that they tap into basic human social needs. Everyone wants communication, attention, sexual satisfaction, or to form relationships and start a family.
In this article, we’ll explore how to profit from dating traffic. Note that the focus will be on mainstream dating, i.e., dating websites and similar services, not adult content.
Should You Work with Dating Offers? Dry Statistics
Dating platforms are gradually gaining popularity. Online dating is significantly easier and more convenient than offline dating. Users can find a partner for the night or the love of their life with just a few clicks or swipes. Meanwhile, these services are evolving. Developers are adding features like interest-based matching, video chats, verification systems, AI, and more, making dating safer and more comfortable.
As a result, Statista tracks steady growth in the active audience of online dating services. In 2023, it stood at 381 million people, and by 2028, it is expected to reach 452 million. As the target audience grows, the profits of companies owning such platforms increase as well. For example, Tinder earned $58 million in February 2024 alone.
Such demand for dating from users fuels competition between platforms. Therefore, they are willing to pay more for attracting paying audiences. In some regions (Tier II and I), certain users make over $1000 per month with advertising costs 2-3 times lower
How Dating Traffic Is Paid
Affiliate programs offer arbitrage specialists different payment models. Beginners should work with the following models:
- SOI (Single Opt-In): The lead only needs to provide an email address.
- DOI (Double Opt-In): Payment is made only after email confirmation.
Payment per lead is not the most profitable but is relatively simple and reliable. You only need to drive traffic to the target website and wait for the user to register. Another benefit of these offers is the lack of daily traffic volume restrictions.
Another common option is CPA or CPS. Arbitrage specialists earn money when a user completes a specific action: registration, filling out a profile, purchasing premium services, etc.
Some services reward arbitrage specialists via the RevShare (Revenue Share) model. This model does not offer fixed payments for the audience. Instead, arbitrage specialists receive a portion of the profit generated by the promoted service. For example, if a user registers and buys premium services for $1000, 10% or another share will be credited to the partner's account.
Which GEOs to Work With
The most “lucrative” pricing is found in affluent audiences willing to not just register but pay for service usage. If you plan to work on CPS, CPA, or RevShare models, you should start with the following countries:
- USA
- India
- China
- Japan
- UK
If you don’t have experience working with dating offers, it’s best to start with Tier II countries. China and Japan are interesting options, but without knowledge of the language, preparing the offer is difficult, and translators don’t always provide accurate translations.
How to Choose a Dating Offer
When selecting an offer, especially if you have no experience, it’s helpful to seek advice from affiliate managers. By providing details about your traffic sources, target audience parameters (age, gender, GEO), and device types (Android, iOS, PC), you’ll receive offer recommendations that suit your needs.
Additionally, you should ask yourself a few questions when analyzing available offers:
- How popular is the site? Promoting well-known brands is easier, but on the flip side, the audience might not be intrigued by the offer since they’re already using the service or at least have experience with it.
- How easy is it to register? Dating platforms have different requirements for new users. Some only ask for account creation and uploading at least one photo, while others require filling out a 20-page questionnaire or completing a personality test, etc. The registration process directly impacts the effectiveness of your campaign. The more steps a user must complete, the higher the risk of losing the lead after the site visit.
- Is a bank card required for registration? Such a requirement at the start can deter new users, so it’s best to avoid such offers. Not every click converts to a registration.
- Who is the target audience? Some services (e.g., Pure) have a narrow target audience, while more universal platforms (e.g., Tinder, Badoo) allow users to find a partner for sex, love, friendship, etc. Beginners in dating arbitrage should work with platforms of the second type, as it’s easier to target the right audience.
What Traffic Sources Can You Use
The most effective sources of traffic are:
- Push notifications
- Popunders and clickanders
- Offers through mobile apps
For working with neutral dating offers, you can try Google UAC, but it will take some time to create creatives that meet the platform’s requirements.
It’s also recommended to study the affiliate program’s rules. They will specify the allowable GEOs and advertising formats.
Which Dating Affiliate Program to Choose
The dating niche has many affiliate programs, but this doesn’t mean there’s a wide variety of offers. Usually, they offer the same things, and the differences lie in cooperation conditions, reliability, and the presence or absence of technical support, etc. Among these, you can highlight:
- OctoCPA. A multi-vertical platform offering offers in Nutra, Dating, iGaming, Adult, and Crypto niches. OctoCPA is our new project with regular payouts and an advanced statistical monitoring system. By joining the affiliate program, you will receive 24/7 support from our managers, who will help you select offers and answer any questions. Exclusive conditions are available for OctoClick users.
- Traforce: The service aggregates offers for arbitrage specialists of all levels. The program's advantage is that it’s available to beginners, and you can join without hassle from the manager.
- LeadBit: One of the top platforms in the CIS, with more than 1500 offers from various niches.
- AdsEmpire: The program primarily works with Western offers and adult platforms.
Where to Buy Traffic for Dating Offers
If you plan to try working in this niche, join OctoClick. Our platform allows you to launch three popular ad formats that work well for dating:
- Teasers
- Clickanders
- In-page push notifications
Our service collects 100 million impressions daily from top GEOs, including the USA, Asia, and more. The main traffic comes from CIS countries, where there is a stable demand for online dating and adult content.
We offer the most comfortable working conditions. You can choose your preferred payment model, seek advice and support from our experts, and test any creative ideas while adhering to basic rules.
Conclusion
Dating is a promising but niche market that requires a special approach. The niche has high competition, which can be challenging for inexperienced arbitrage specialists. Therefore, it’s best to start with simple payment models and Tier II GEOs for testing creatives and offers. Once you master the dating niche, you’ll be able to ensure a stable income with growth potential.
