Vivienne, an Online Dating Entrepreneur, Takes us Back to the Beginning.

Q: Where are you from?
I was born in 1946 in Brooklyn, New York, moved to Manhattan in 1964 and have resided here ever since.

Q: Biggest accomplishment you achieved on your own?
One of my biggest accomplishments was writing and self-publishing my first book titled "Making Dollar$ And Cent$ Out Of Online Dating."  I use humor and honesty to explain the difficulties of starting and running an Online dating Web site on half a shoestring budget. The book is not really a how to guide but a personal journey into the ins and outs and the trials and tribulations I have faced and still do while trying to stay afloat in the ever-changing world of the Internet dating business. You do not have to be someone who is contemplating on starting a business, but if you are thinking about starting an Online dating site or any type of Online business, this book will give you a little insight as to what you may encounter.

Q: You have several sites which cater to singles. Can you please tell us what they are and what inspired you to start blogging?
For me blogging came by accident.  When I started my One World Singles dating site (OWS) in 2006, it was powered by a network that did not provide linking capabilities. Since I always enjoyed writing, I started to promote and market my site by blogging. One World Singles Blog became the gateway to this dating site. But before OWS, I had started a pen pal service and a publication called HMCS in 1986 and had received many inquiries from people who wanted to connect with others for love, romance and marriage rather than pen palling per se. Many were also looking for broadminded contacts. Several years later, I changed my focus somewhat and started to provide an introduction and networking service that would reach people of all lifestyles and eventually renamed my service HMCS Romance International. However, things changed after 9/11; it was as though my service went off the radar. Since the majority of my listings came from abroad, inquires dropped drastically. I took a chance and decided to move my service to the Internet. In October of 2001, HMCS Romance International was on the World Wide Web. One World Singles was created in 2006 for those who were seeking traditional meetings. Since HMCS Romance International was not bringing in any revenue, I decided to close the site in 2008 and concentrate on One World Singles and the Blog. Going into its third year, the magazine Blog has grown to include articles, advice, information, news and events.  I still receive profiles from people seeking lifetime partners, and because most of these people do not have access to the Internet, I started to post their profiles on the Blog in 2008.

Q: When it comes to the work you do within the single community, what is your ultimate goal?
My ultimate goal is to bring informative and constructive information and advice that will enable single people to form healthy and productive relationships.

Q: What do you think is the biggest challenge for singles when it comes to dating and relationships?
This is a hard question for me to answer. Being a single woman who is over the age of 60, I think the challenges for singles may be different if you are in your 20s, 30s or 40s.  But at any age, finding the right mate may be the biggest challenge.

Q: Since you first started your business, have you noticed any changes in attitudes/behaviour among single men and women?
I noticed that singles are more eager to meet people on the Internet. I remember back in the early 90s when I told people I had a singles publication, many would say that meeting someone through a singles’ magazine was a sign of desperation. Today, you often hear a person say I met him or her on-line, which is a major change. Years ago there were loads of singles’ magazines. Today you could probably count the number of printed publications on one hand, and I now get very few inquiries by mail from people seeking to meet someone. If I receive two inquiries a month that is good. Another change that I have noticed, and I can only speak from what I see on my dating site, is that more men than women are posting their profiles on the Internet. This is a surprise to me, because I would think that the male and female postings would almost be equal.

Q: You favorite online spots for singles?
I enjoy many of the social networking sites, and places like Singles Socialize, Sexy Spiritual Relationships, MultiMixx, Feeling flirty, MixYourWorlds, and Rainbow Nations.

Q: Favorite solo escape?
My favorite solo escape is watching TV, especially the court cases, which are a great inspiration for many of my writings and fictional short stories. 

Q: Any other words of wisdom?
When you are in your early twenties, dating should be a time for having fun and not tying yourself down to just one person. It is a stage for getting to know someone before committing yourself to that person. If you have just gotten out of a bad relationship, give yourself lots of time before pursuing another one.