Online dating & social discovery consultancy: we help dating businesses grow, thrive & exit.
We are the only consultancy & agency in the world that is entirely focused on online dating and social discovery businesses. We help companies that bring people together.
Fully refunded if you're not satisfied · credited against any future engagement
- Friend.lysold to Facebook
- Plenty Of Fishsold to Match
- Twoosold to Match
- The Meet Groupsold to Parship
- Cupid.comsold to onTargetJobs
- Social Discovery Group
We work for ground-floor startups all the way through to established dating and social discovery businesses.
We've had over 130 clients since 2005. Here's some of them.
- Jaumo
- SDG
- MeetMe
- Events & Adventures
- ParshipMeet Group
- eharmony
- Tawkify
- FF
- Millionaire Match
- Friendster
- Plentyoffish
- SuccessfulMatch
| What we do | Strategy, marketing and business development for online dating and social discovery companies |
|---|---|
| Who we work with | Ground-floor startups through established online dating and social discovery businesses |
| Experience | 130+ clients since 2005 · 300+ dating & social business leaders interviewed · 250+ press quotes, including the WSJ, NY Times & FT · 60+ conference keynotes |
| Notable clients | Friend.ly (sold to Facebook), Plenty Of Fish (sold to Match), Twoo (sold to Match), The Meet Group (sold to Parship), Cupid.com (sold to onTargetJobs), Social Discovery Group |
| Team | 30+ people: core team members, special advisors and an Instant Advisory Board |
| How to start | 75-minute strategy session with Mark, $295, fully refundable, credited against future work |
| Retainer | $3k every 2 weeks, on a 1-year basis |
| Contact | mark@courtlandbrooks.com |
What do online dating & social discovery leaders say about working with Courtland Brooks?
Courtland Brooks has helped us redefine our strategy, conduct a marketing campaign, and think about PR in a different way. Mark is a high integrity individual, and it has been a pleasure working with him.
Now CPO, Whoop
I had the pleasure of working with Mark for 4 years as he consulted for Plentyoffish. Mark is extremely knowledgeable in the dating space, and his insight, creativity and enthusiasm were very helpful to POF during its early stages. He is a pleasure to work with, and I recommend him wholeheartedly.
Mark is a wonderful person and the best expert in the online dating industry. He has been observing the industry almost from its inception. He's advised the top players and has the best network, and has a very flexible mind.
Start with a 75-minute strategy session with Mark — $295
Fully refunded if you're not satisfied, credited against any future engagement.
What does Courtland Brooks do for online dating companies?
We know the online dating and social discovery business world intimately. Our services fall into three areas: strategy, marketing and business development.
We are a team of 30 experienced professionals. For the price of a marketing manager, you get our experienced team of world-class experts to advise you on strategy, help you get your branding, marketing, and product right, assist with business development, and professionally manage media relations and advocate-influencers in a way no other agency or consultancy can.
Strategy
We always start with a strategy review. This allows us to get to know your company and add value immediately by advising you on your product, branding, marketing, PR, influencer strategy, and general direction. Our team comprises former dating and social discovery business leaders, so you benefit from true insight and experience.
Marketing
We know online dating and social community marketing. Our team has worked with dating and social apps for many years and can help you hone your branding, marketing channel effectiveness, product fit, and conversion performance. We help you thrive, and grow your company by giving you unique guidance and assistance with your marketing.
Business Development
You have ideas on where you want your company to go. We have the relevant and unique industry experience to drive your business growth. We'll be able to advance your business through our extensive rolodex, deep industry access, and network of exemplary dating and social industry professionals. We can also improve your chances of raising money or selling for a more favorable valuation.
What has Courtland Brooks achieved for clients?
This is a list of actual work that we've done for clients, to give you a better sense of what we can do for you. By category and in order of recency.
Strategy
- Advising a niche dating CEO and CPO weekly to guide ongoing product decisions, trust & safety, branding, messaging, PR and influencer marketing decisions.
- Formed mastermind group of non-competitive CEOs to discuss strategy.
- Advised on alternative trademark settlement for niche dating leader.
- Worked directly with CEO of a leading European dating app to introduce voice communities and transition from dating to social discovery.
- Guided the CEO and product team of Netlog to transition out of social networking and develop 'Twoo' from scratch, which was then sold to Match Group.
- Advised PlentyofFish on ad monetization strategy that allowed it to scale.
Business Development
- Acquired EliteSingles.com and SilverSingles.com for client and guided re-launch strategy.
- Acquired Matchmaker.com out of a private auction.
- Introduced iovation to dating industry CEOs, and got traction with several notable clients.
- Provided the CEO introduction that eventually got PlentyofFish sold for $585 million.
- Negotiated and did creative deal (cash + consulting) to acquire the POF.com domain for PlentyofFish.
- Did 7 figure distribution deal for PlentyofFish.
- Helped Cupid.com acquire and integrate the world's largest speed-dating company.
Marketing & Product
- Did 'teardown' critical review of dating app to improve user experience and conversions.
- Created a better tagline for niche dating leader.
- Located, negotiated, and recruited niche-experienced CMO for client.
- Did monthly reputation analysis to protect a client's brand and spot upcoming brand threats early.
- Sourced, negotiated, and hired leading psychology specialists to create personality profiling and compatibility system for #2 dating service in China, so they had a clear USP.
- Created unique, fun, and interesting questions for Friend.ly, which grew virally and was acquired by Facebook.
- Created promo nightclub events to seed and grow Friendster into ubiquity.
PR & Influencers
- Currently running an advocate-influencer program for a niche app leader.
- Identified and developed a superstar influencer who eventually became the official spokesperson for a niche dating brand.
- Helped a leading dating app navigate a PR crisis.
- Helped a hybrid niche-dating company set up a brand new advocate-influencer program from scratch and trained internal staff.
- Quoted in the press 250+ times, and in Wall Street Journal 19 times, to support client positioning and the dating industry in general.
- Handled all leading PR inquiries for PlentyofFish for 4 years.
- Prepared testimonial couple and appeared with them on live National USA TV show with tens of millions of viewers, to represent and answer questions about PlentyofFish.
- Helped the CEO of PlentyofFish score the front page feature of Inc. magazine.
How does it work, and what does it cost?
Here's what you can expect.
Initial consult
Book an initial consult with Mark to get immediate help with some of your challenges.
Decide to work with us
We only work on retainer, for select clients that we feel we can have real impact with.
First Monday
We'll have a 90-minute onboarding call.
Thursday
We'll deliver an action and deliverables plan in Teamwork.com, where we'll collaborate daily.
Stay informed
- Subscribe to GDI.news
- Subscribe to OPW.news
- Apply to attend our LTR conferences
75-minute strategy session with Mark
- Fully refunded if you're not satisfied
- Credited against any future engagement
Work closely with Mark and the Courtland Brooks team
- As your needs change, we change and can rotate the team members out
- Many leading agencies and consultancies charge more than $200k per year. We're value-priced.
Pay for great people, not fancy offices. There are 30+ people on the Courtland Brooks team, and we are an international team.
Who is behind Courtland Brooks?
Mark has been immersed in online dating and social discovery businesses since 1998 and started the free daily news summary service Online Personals Watch in 2004, and then the LTR {Love|Tech|Relationships} monthly online conference in 2020. We acquired Global Dating Insights in 2026.
Mark has interviewed 300+ dating & social business leaders and has been quoted in the press 250+ times, including the WSJ, the NY Times, and the Financial Times. Mark has keynoted at 60+ dating and social discovery business conferences since 2004.
- Harvard Business School (PLD Business)
- London School of Economics (MSc Behavioral Science)
We know the online dating and social discovery business world intimately. It's our heritage and our passion.
More client testimonials: we're as choosy about our clients as they are about us.
It was a sincere pleasure to work with Mark. His strategic approach, solid connections and keen KPI-oriented approach meant that his accomplishments were numerous and substantial, including creating the naming for our category, introducing us to the owners of Dating.com, a domain which we later acquired, and leading our efforts to create new service levels. Mark is a joy to work with.
Mark has extensive knowledge of the online dating industry and is a helpful and well-connected coach. I highly recommend him. He is a pleasure to work with!
Mark is the ultimate expert in the online dating and relationship field. He is not only perceptive and insightful, but he can apply his insights to help companies solve critical business problems. To top it off, he's a fun guy, and a pleasure to do business with.
Mark is someone with great vision and an excellent network. He is driven, resourceful and of the highest personal ethics. He gets things done and is a friend you want to keep for lifetime.
Mark has his finger on the pulse of the online dating industry. His insights into the industry enabled him to offer many recommendations that were valuable to the growth of Cupid.com.
Mark is well schooled in the dating and social space and has a proven tenacity when it comes to pursuing where the trends are moving. He is entrepreneurial and the consummate connector.
Then CEO, HomeAdvisor
Mark knows everyone in and everyone who ever was in the dating industry. He's the go-to-guy to find out what's Hot (or Not).
Mark is an expert in the dating/companionship industry. Mark is a brilliant business strategist and a master at putting people and opportunities together.
I always appreciated Mark when I was running Match.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Courtland Brooks?
Courtland Brooks is a consultancy and agency entirely focused on online dating and social discovery businesses. It helps companies that bring people together grow, thrive and exit.
Who does Courtland Brooks work with?
Ground-floor startups through established online dating and social discovery businesses. Clients include Friend.ly, Plenty Of Fish, Twoo, The Meet Group, Cupid.com and Social Discovery Group.
How much does it cost to work with Courtland Brooks?
A 75-minute strategy session with Mark costs $295. Retainer work is $3k every 2 weeks, on a 1-year basis.
What if I'm not satisfied with the strategy session?
The $295 is fully refunded if you're not satisfied. If you go on to work with us, it is credited against any future engagement.
Does Courtland Brooks take project work, or only retainers?
We only work on retainer, for select clients we feel we can have real impact with. The strategy session is the way to start.
What happens after I become a client?
On the first Monday we hold a 90-minute onboarding call. By Thursday we deliver an action and deliverables plan in Teamwork.com, where we collaborate daily.
Who is on the Courtland Brooks team?
More than 30 people on an international team: core team members who have been with us 10+ years on average, special advisors, and an Instant Advisory Board of former top-flight C-levels in dating and social.
Who is Mark Brooks?
Mark Brooks runs the Courtland Brooks consultancy and agency. He has been immersed in online dating and social discovery businesses since 1998, started Online Personals Watch in 2004 and the LTR {Love|Tech|Relationships} online conference in 2020. Irena Brooks is editor of Online Personals Watch and Global Dating Insights.
How can I stay informed about the industry for free?
Subscribe to the GDI.news and OPW.news newsletters, or apply to attend our LTR conferences.
How do I book a session?
Use the Schedule Initial Consult button on this page, or email mark@courtlandbrooks.com.
Start with a 75-minute strategy session with Mark
Book an initial consult with Mark to get immediate help with some of your challenges.
Or email mark@courtlandbrooks.com