Online Matrimonial Sites
Claims
Market size of Rs. 58 crore, expected growth 50%
-Source
On a, all-India basis, about 30-50 people get married through Bharatmatrimony.com daily. These are counts based on people who inform us about it. Some of them don’t inform, so the count could actually be higher.
-Source
Market Share
TOP INTERNET GAINERS FOR THE YEAR 2005 E-matrimony:
Shaadi.com
Bharatmatrimony.com
timesmatri.com
jeevansathi.com
-Source
When it comes to matrimony sites, Bharatmatrimony and Shaadi have the highest preference among consumers and fight it out for the top position in that category. Shaadi.com and Bharatmatrimony.com are the two biggest websites in the online matrimonial space, each with 33 per cent user preference. They command an almost equal share of this classifieds vertical. Some 16 per cent of those who search for their significant others on the web head to Jeevansaathi.com. Interestingly, Jeevansaathi has entered the top three rung this year; last year, it did not even make it to the top five slots.
-Source
Recent Investments
Shaadi.com received funding in March’06 and now yahoo invests in BharatMatrimony.com
-Source
The Changing Direction - Assisted Internet
-Source
-Source
Well, majority of online consumer base at these matrimonial sites happens to be NRIs. The market seems immature to embrace online matrimony. The other problem is internet penetration, so setting up centers in cities helps, but the first issue remains.
An Interesting Revenue Model - iRishta
iRishta.com, the free matrimony site, has come up with a very innovative business model, using which they claim to create waves in the online matrimony market.
“We would make money by advertising our competitors.”
I am not aware of any particular business management term for this, I’d love to call it “parasitic existence“.
(How else would we survive?. The very fact that the last post on the blog is dated “June 12, 2006″, points to the dormancy of the site, or is it active?)
Opinion:
It would still take some time for this market to boom. The changing consumer mindset and social structure leading to more independent thinking would certainly help these sites cash in.
Quick Comments/Review(My personal opinion)
1. Shaadi.com - Good UI, very popular with NRIs, decent features with astrology and video club
2. BharatMatrimony - Just average UI, offers verified profiles, average number of Indian profiles
3. JeevanSathi - Below average UI, good number of Indian profiles, decent customer care.
4. iRishta - I’ve already written enough about this one 
Pawan Agarwal said
am October 2 2006 @ 11:54 am
Test comment
Madhur Khandelwal said
am October 3 2006 @ 7:15 am
Isn’t incoming SMS free in India?
Pawan Agarwal said
am October 3 2006 @ 7:35 am
Madhur, user needs to pay for incoming sms from the web, for mobile to mobile messaging incoming messaging is free.
Vaibhav Domkundwar - india 2.0 said
am October 23 2006 @ 8:56 pm
Abhinav:
I just came to your blog from Madhur’s and am really glad I discovered it. This is an interesting post … I have seen one really major problem with the current matrimonial sites: that they are tooooo traditional and very marriage focused. In contrast, the current growing generation in India is probably looking for something which is a little more of a open discovery oriented match making site which has a somewhat dating/somewhat marriage feel to it.
I can see a lot of strange reluctance amongst a lot of youngsters I know in Mumbai and Pune who feel kinda un-cool to post their profile on a Shaadi.com. Shaadi.com and other will continue to thrive as their market is also very much there and growing, but we see a big gap being formed in this segment. Thoughts?
Pawan Agarwal said
am October 24 2006 @ 7:42 am
Vaibhav
Thanks for your comment, although I agree that “current growing generation in India is probably looking for something which is a little more of a open discovery oriented match making site which has a somewhat dating/somewhat marriage feel to it” but then what’s the percentage now? I feel the volumes are still amongst the ones who would still like to go with the traditional setup. As mentioned in the post as well these matrimonial sites are moving towards offline model as to sustain better because the internet penetration is still not enough.
Regarding the openness and change in Indian culture, try registering at Fropper.com and you would be surprised, not many users have entered details about themselves. They are shy, or are afraid to reveal their identity, that’s because of our social structure which would take time to change.
Though it’s strange why we are shy in accepting that “we want to date” or “we want to get married”
Rajiv Dingra said
am October 24 2006 @ 7:48 am
“I feel the volumes are still amongst the ones who would still like to go with the traditional setup.” - I agree with you pawan.. Infact searching a bride or a groom through the internet itself is considered modern and not tarditional in India. Talk to afew 45-55 year old uncles looking to get their kids married. Infact till today traditional marraige centre whether they remove horoscope and physical list is taken out still works in India. But internet is catching on.. I mean open community is for dating but marraige is still influenced by parents decisions.
Vaibhav Domkundwar - india 2.0 said
am October 24 2006 @ 11:06 pm
Pawan, Rajiv:
Good points - again it all falls back to the low usage of online services. Its a shame that the current players are having to explore offline models to grow — suggests that we are really really falling back on Internet penetration and increased usage.
Vaibhav Domkundwar - india 2.0 said
am October 24 2006 @ 11:11 pm
Pawan, Rajiv:
Good points - again it all falls back to the low usage of online services. Its a shame that the current players are having to explore offline models to grow — suggests that we are really really falling back on Internet penetration and increased usage.
http://nixcv.info/discount-hotel-in-myrtle-beach/index.html said
am February 4 2007 @ 11:53 pm
[[ box dock storage
Sheela said
am May 17 2007 @ 7:58 am
What is the point in all these ratings. People will finally head to only those which are very popular and those they get suggested by word of mouth.
Elisabeth said
am May 30 2008 @ 1:06 pm
Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow ,
ok said
am September 25 2008 @ 6:00 am
good site cwlrqk