Businesses sponsor sites

Free dating websites are often sponsored by businesses.  In this instance, a specific product may not be noted and promoted, it is just a general sponsorship by the business.  There may be a small discreet statement somewhere on the page, or the business or organization may trumpet its sponsorship through banner headlines, logos or by using other methods. Usually the business that sponsors a site will be one that has some connection or relationship to the subject of the site.  For example, a dating site may be sponsored by a 'Love Boat' cruise lines.

Commercial sites with advertising

Free dating websites are sometimes paid for by the sales of advertising of products or services online. Because large and active web sites have a lot of visitors who would see the advertising and potentially would use links to purchase the advertised products, commercial sites like to advertise on one of the free dating sites. This makes commercial advertising on a free site a good deal for the business or organization.  It is also a great opportunity for the members to save money on products or services linked to the free web site. There may be discounts offered because of the click through location, for example.

Business creates the site

Another way in which businesses help to pay for free dating websites is by actually creating the web site.  For example, the owners of a cruise ship create a dating web site.  While there is no direct advertising, the business can place information on the dating site that leads visitors and members to use the products of the company that created and funded the web site. This process is slightly different than a sponsorship in that the business has the direct control over content when they actually create the site.

Individuals in a group effort

A group of people can get together either deliberately or as a somewhat organic process and put together free dating websites.  This may be a public service project, it can serve as a demonstration of how to create and maintain a great web site or it may be done just for fun because a group of people wanted to expand their dating opportunities.  For example, a site could be put together by a group of senior citizens in an area to promote dating amongst themselves and to let other seniors know where to come for fun and online dating.

Lead in sites

Sometimes one of the paid sites creates the free site as a lead in site.  In this instance, the paid site doesn't have to keep hounding the members to purchase an upgrade. Lead in sites can draw free dating websites members into the ranks of the paid members by placement of interesting and intriguing advertisements on the free site. Sometimes a smaller site that could be considered a niche site can serve as a lead in to one of the larger and more active sites. In this instance, neither site is a paid site and are funded through businesses or advertising sponsorship.