(Courtesy of JWed) JWed, the leading online Jewish dating for marriage service for Jewish singles of all backgrounds, has recently transitioned to a fee-only service. This change has been coupled by upgraded features to both the website and app, as well as the new Dating Agent and an expansive customer care team.
Derek Saker, co-founder and CEO of JWed, commented,“While early days, we already see that the change has further increased the number of quality new members and provides our existing membership with an enhanced environment of an even more sincere and active usership.”
Launched over 22 years ago as frumster.com from Passaic, the service was rebranded as JWed.com some 11 years ago, catering to all marriage-minded halachically Jewish singles. To date, the service has seen over 3,700+ known marriages. Today, a worldwide membership of tens of thousands spans all Jewish outlooks, ages and locations.
In the early days of the online dating service, the Internet was still taboo among many in the Jewish observant world, and yet the initial membership was disproportionately “yeshivish” females between 22 and 28. This because while still young, many were wrongfully regarded as “gathering dust on the shelf” and sought different options.
Today, online dating, according to Saker, has become the medium of first resort, and JWed’s members come from North America, Israel and across the world.
Saker says that the decision to no longer provide a free option is not unique, as the online dater has profoundly evolved.
He noted that where yesterday it was an online audience more focused on quantity of members, today’s single seeks quality of members. Where before it was often, “What can I get for free?” today it is, “Where can I go so as to neither waste my time nor my emotional investment?”
While JWed’s high marriage rate is down to both singles being empowered to conduct their own searches and to an exclusive membership pool of like-minded Jewish peers, JWed’s new Dating Agent feature addresses the needs of those members who do seek some additional hand-held help — whether in service usage, dating facilitation, dating coaching or matchmaking.
While the service is now fee-based, JWed does provide a limited number of free subscriptions every month through the Jewish Marriage Fund, created to help those dating singles facing difficult financial times.
With the transition to a subscription only service, Saker readily acknowledges that JWed’s challenge even more is to deliver the most optimized dating experience.
To this end, JWed is working on its exciting new app, with a launch date planned in three months. Additionally JWed now provides a Hebrew and French interface, given the significant growth of members in these markets.
Saker said JWed has always been a chesed and a business. “A professional service requires a professional team and our full-time staff in the U.S., Israel and the U.K. are dedicated to the belief ‘that our best customer stays the least amount of time,’ finding their Chosen One sooner rather than later!”
