In 2003, consumers spent $313 million on U.S.-based dating Web sites alone, according to Jupiter Communications Inc., an Internet market research firm. Jupiter forecasts that will double to $642 million by 2008.

With over four million registered users, eHarmony is the Internet's fastest growing relationship service. Different than other online dating services and photo personal sites, eHarmony is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the vast population of singles that are ready to settle down for life, start a serious relationship, or find their soul mate. eHarmony's user base is doubling every quarter, adding 10,000-15,000 new users a day.

Dating in the age of the Internet
In a world connected through advancements in communication technologies, the nature of personal interactions is changing. The advent of the Internet has eliminated many barriers to meeting new people - geography, proximity, chance. It has greatly expanded the potential dating pool for singles across the globe and made the possibilities for searching, screening and even starting a conversation with someone literally limitless. While the rise of Internet dating sites opens up a world of possibilities for the modern single, it also complicates the already perilous exercise of dating.

The limitless expansion of a person's possible dating pool is akin to super-sizing the proverbial haystack. It renders the needle ever more elusive (and the process of finding it more daunting and disheartening). A recent campaign for Match.com highlights this with its headline, "8 Million possibilities." While other dating sites are focusing on the quantity of possible matches, eHarmony.com is narrowing the search among its rapidly growing membership by concentrating on matches between singles who share deep levels of compatibility on 29 dimensions.

By matching on these proven dimensions of compatibility, eHarmony.com has quickly become the rising star in the category, securing the first industry patent of its scope and winning the coveted distinction of "more marriages per match than any online dating service."

More than a date: the Internet's premier relationship service
Founded in 2000 by relationship expert Neil Clark Warren, Ph.D., eHarmony was the first site dedicated to helping singles find the right partner for life-long love and compatibility. eHarmony's patented matching technology is based on more than 35 years of empirical and clinical research on what goes into successful relationships, and it brings together singles using a scientifically-proven set of compatibility principles.

The only online dating service focused exclusively on helping users build serious, long-term relationships, eHarmony has been the first step down the aisle for thousands of its users. With the help of eHarmony's compatibility matching and communication guidance, singles can find a soul mate, instead of endless dates with no hope for a happy future.

Who Knew Science and Love Could Be So Compatible? How eHarmony Works
eHarmony's service is underpinned by its highly accurate, patented scientific model for matching. It is squarely built upon research conducted with more than 5,000 married persons. From careful statistical analyses of this data, a team of Ph.D. psychologists led by eHarmony founder Dr. Neil Clark Warren extrapolated a series of insights and understandings about relationships. These principles are core to the company's patented matching methodology and guided relationship-building process:

Personality Profile
Each new eHarmony user is asked to fill out a comprehensive, 436-question relationship questionnaire. This inventory was developed by Ph.D. psychologists and is designed to identify a person's key characteristics, beliefs, values, emotional health and skills. eHarmony is the only dating site that delves this deeply into the important aspects of personality that influence our romantic relationships, providing a comprehensive profile for each user.

Scientific Matching: Helping singles find what they want (while keeping in mind what they really need)
Once the profile is complete, eHarmony's patented scientific matching methodology matches people based on 29 key dimensions that are necessary for compatibility and relationship success. Through studies of more than 5,000 married couples, eHarmony has exhaustively researched what makes marriages succeed and fail. The results are matches unlike those on any other online dating service eHarmony members are presented with a pool of matches which have been scientifically evaluated to be uniquely compatible with them.

Expert Guidance
Once the matching technology has found a pool of compatible candidates, eHarmony guides members through a four-stage process for meeting their matches and making intelligent decisions about whether to initiate contact. Through guided "rounds of communication," eHarmony helps singles communicate step-by-step, beginning with identifying the characteristics that are most important to them in a mate; then providing a forum for singles to ask potential matches the important questions right up front instead of waiting months to discover fundamental issues that can break a relationship; and finally, presenting singles with a safe avenue to begin directly communicating with each other.

Intelligent matching for lifelong relationships
eHarmony is different from other online dating services and photo personal sites. It is better described as a relationship-building service. All eHarmony members are searching for the same thing: a serious, long-term relationship. In addition, only eHarmony has an in-depth personality profile and a patented matching methodology based on more than 35 years of research into the factors that contribute to successful marriages.