Congrats to John and his girlfriend Catharina on their Zoosk love story!

I flirted with her first, then she responded. We talked for a few weeks and interviewed each other to see what we had in common. We realized through our talks that we had a lot of common interests, wants, and needs. Finally, we met. There was immediate attraction. We made plans to go on a date and went to dinner and a movie. Two nights later, we went to dinner and a concert. We’ve been seeing each other regularly since then; in fact, sometimes daily. We really enjoy one anothers company and can hardly believe we were brought together by an online dating service. Our relationship is moving forward quickly, and we can both honestly and openly say, we are in love. Thanks Zoosk!

Aw, we’re so happy that Zoosk helped bring John and Catharina together. Now they’re in love! I don’t want to sound smug, but, bringing love to the world… it feels good to be Zoosk. Do you have a Zoosk success story you’d like to share? If so, send it to success [at] zoosk [dot] com, and we’ll happily share your good news! For more success stories, check out Zoosk’s success story archives. If you like what you see, fan us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Hehe.

Wowzers! A real blast from the past! ZooskTV discovered this relic from the archives: a 1950s online dating video! Gosh, it’s truly swell!

PS: We know this video isn’t really from the ’50s. Not only was there no online dating yet, but women weren’t exactly empowered back then. This video depicts an alternate decade – a fantasy decade – of what we wish the ’50s were really like. Aren’t you glad things are different now?

Produced, directed, written, and featuring Juliette Tang
Shot and edited by Jason Fairbrother
Also featuring Charmaine Olivia
Music by Xavier Cugat

James and I meet on Zoosk two years ago. I wink on him because we have the same Zodiac sign. We also find out that 7 is our lucky number, because we’re both born on 7th month (July), 7 days apart (July 9 and July 16), 7 years apart! James wink back and, well, to cut the story short, we decided to move in together and now we’re planning to get married once I graduate! We can’t thank Zoosk enough!

Zoosk is thrilled that we helped bring Vicki and James together. Do you have a success story you’d like to share with Zoosk? Send it to success [at] zoosk [dot] com! We’d love to share it.

Before you go on that date, always double check to make sure everything is in its right place. When in doubt, use Zoosk’s “Look Good” checklist before putting your sexiest face forward.

Produced, directed, and written by Juliette Tang
Shot and edited by Jason Fairbrother
Featuring Nathan Menard and Charmaine Olivia
Voiced over by Juliette Tang
Music by Johannes Brahmns. Public domain, no rights reserved

If you like Zoosk and our videos, fan us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

It’s common wisdom that we guard our money in times of economic stress – but does stinginess of the pocketbook affect generosity of the heart? We recently surveyed nearly two thousand singles on Zoosk to figure out whether the world’s continuing economic turmoil has affected their expectations of love. We conducted the survey this month, and compared it to a similar survey we conducted in May 2009 to see whether singles’ attitudes on dating and money had changed.

We were totally surprised when the changes in perceptions of love were consistent with the changes in the economy, almost as if they were determined by the same underlying economic principles. I guess, when you think about it, this makes perfect sense. It doesn’t take an economist to understand that economic factors outside of our control do profoundly influence our personal decisions, even in matters of the heart. We call these findings, “Love in the time of microeconomics”. Here’s what we found.

An unemployed dating pool and the law of comparative advantage.

With more unemployed men in the dating pool, women are adjusting their expectations. A jobless man still provides a comparative advantage to being alone.

• 60% of women said they’d date someone unemployed in 2010. Only 52% of women did in 2009.

• 90% of men said they’d date someone unemployed in 2010, compared to 92% of men in 2009.

Chivalry and the law of competitive advantage.

Men are historically viewed as providers, and men who pick up the check have a competitive advantage over men who don’t.

• 85.9% of men – a staggering number – usually pick up the bill on a date, and 52% of men spend more money on the average date in 2010 than they spent in 2009.

• 57% of women spend less on dates in 2010 than they did in 2009 – perhaps benefiting from the increase in male chivalry.

Dating budgets and the law of diminishing returns.

The cost of a date is only worth its money up to a certain point.

• 53% of men and 67% of women report that an average date for two costs $20 to $50.

• 35% of men and 21% of women report that it costs $50 to $100.

• 10% of men and 15% of women report it costs $20 or less.

Free dates and the law of economizing.

The slow pace of economic recovery has us saving for a rainy day, so singles are more open to free dates than ever before – 92% in 2010, compared to 85% in 2009.

Dating dishonesty and the adverse effects of anti-competitive practices.

83% of men and 93% of women agree that if someone is unemployed, they should reveal it right away. Honesty is the best policy.

Money can’t buy you love.

It’s comforting to know that with all this talk of money in polite company, the really important things do count the most. 70% of singles say they do not consider money to be an important factor when choosing a mate. Practical considerations do matter, but love triumphs above all.

Zoosk’s poll was conducted online in August 2010 and fielded 1,858 responses from singles in the United States. Of respondents, 66% were male and 34% were female; 54% were in their 20s; 21% in their 30s; 18% in their 40s; 9% percent were 50+.

Photo via Sean Hering Photography on Flickr. Attribution license.

Many congratulations to Amanda and Daniel from Northern California! This young couple from Northern California are currently planning a wedding after meeting on Zoosk! Amanda wrote us the following letter detailing their courtship and engagement:

Daniel and I met on Zoosk in mid-October 2009. Daniel is in the Army and was still deployed overseas when we met. We talked almost everyday when he had the chance. In late November, Daniel came home on mid-tour leave. We met for the first time on November 27, 2009. While he was home we began dating, December 3, 2009. On December 13th, Daniel left to go back overseas for the next six months. During this time apart we talked as much as possible. At times, it would be one or two weeks before we could talk. We wrote letters and I sent him care packages for Valentines Day and St. Patrick’s Day. As his deployment drew to an end, his parents and I began planning a trip to Colorado, where he is stationed, to meet him when he got home. Daniel came home for two weeks, and we spent everyday together doing different things together. I celebrated the 4th of July in Pismo with his family, and on that day he proposed. We are now planning a May 2011 wedding! Thank you Zoosk for helping us find each other! ~Amanda from northern California~

It’s awesome for us to know that Zoosk helped bring this couple together. We’ve had a lot of success stories sent into us from young couples, like Amanda and Daniel, who initially met while living very far from one another and against the odds managed to make their relationship work despite the distance. The beauty of online dating is that it helps people connect all other the world, whether one person lives in Northern California and the other lives overseas. True love makes anything possible. Do you have a success story you’d like to share with Zoosk? Send it to success [at] zoosk [dot] com! We’d love to share it.

Congratulations to Elithea and Kevin from New Mexico! They met on Zoosk over a year ago while Kevin was stationed overseas with the United States Armed Foreces.. Then Kevin came back, the two Zooskers fell in love, and now Elithea and Kevin are happily married. Elithea writes:

I’m Elithea, and I meet my loving husband Kevin on Zoosk one year ago. He was overseas in the desert with the USAF. We talked for 4 months online before ever meeting. I only had one small picture of him and had never heard his voice. He came home 2 weeks before Christmas 2009, which became the best Christmas of my life!

It was about 11:00 pm at night and it was snowing. I so nervous to meet the man I’d falling for so far away. I stepped out of my car, ran into his arms, and broke into tears. He was home and he was everything I could have every wanted in a man! It has been magic ever since. We are now happily married, living in our first home, and planning to have a child. Thank you Zoosk.

Zoosk is proud to have helped bring Elithea and Kevin together. We wish them all the happiness in the world!

Do you have a Zoosk success story you’d like to share? Send it to success [at] zoosk [dot] com because we’d love to share it!

Choosing an online dating profile picture isn’t easy! So make sure, if you’re having trouble picking a photo, to watch this new ZooskTV video. Dating coach Vanae Tran gives advice on choosing good online dating photos and lists some common profile mistakes – with tips on avoiding them. Happy Zoosking!

Produced and directed by Juliette Tang.
Edited by Gregory Manalo.
Featuring Vanae Tran.
Music: “A Star Fell Out of the Sky” by Vera Lynn, public domain.

Today’s success story comes to us from Mary, a Zoosker in Idaho:

Skyler and I met on Zoosk. We talked for about 3 hours and he decided to ask me to dinner the same night! I was a little nervous at first but things really hit it off. I’m so surprised we found each other! I thank Zoosk so much for helping me find the love of my life and making love possible for the both of us!
-Mary

Aw, congrats! Do you have a success story you’d like to share? If so, send it to success [at] zoosk [dot] com along with a photo of the two of you together! We’d love to share it for you.

Erin writes:

Matt and I met on Zoosk last year in October, and we have been a couple ever since! We are very happy, and now we are getting engaged! We cannot thank Zoosk enough for helping us out.

Yay! Zoosk wishes them all the best. Do you have a Zoosk success story to share too? Send it to success [at] zoosk [dot] com! We’d love to share it!