Welcome back to the How to Build a Dating App Podcast, chronicling the journey of a group of Marketeers building and launching a brand-new dating app.

In this episode, our enlightening conversation with John Kershaw, mastermind of niche  dating app Bristlr, and founder of M14 Industries, continues. John takes us through the best approaches for starting a dating app build, costings, funding, security concerns, and how to engage users once you’ve built an app.

Exciting points from this episode include:

01:31: Best Initial Approaches 

John recommends a couple of simple ways to create and gauge interest in a new app concept, and how to find ways to create demand for a new business. Plus, thrifty advertising methods and how to incentivise users to sign up.

09:51 Security, Defence, and Scammers

App security concerns are vast – from hackers and user blackmail to identity fraud. Can you build an app that stops scammers in their tracks, or should users be educated to avoid it in the first place?

18:51 Reporting Trolls and Fakers

John discusses his methods of how to deal with user reporting, problem sign-ups, and some inventive ways he deals with those unsolicited pictures on Bristlr.

23:34: Key Metrics to Drive Success

John walks us through key metrics to consider when measuring success and how he distilled Bristlr into half a dozen crucial signifiers. We also chat about verifying user numbers and if this can lead to new PR opportunities.

28:34 The £100,000 Question

How much does it cost to build a dating app from scratch? And what gets forgotten when you’re considering the overall cost of the build? Do dating websites still make more money than apps? John goes through how he achieved funding for Bristlr, experience with start-up accelerators, and if you can be paid in advice.

40:06: Monitisation

We’ve all heard of ‘freemium’, but can earning money from your app be as simple as “put ads in it”? John’s learned a few lessons about how charging for apps – or parts of them – really works.

Fact Check33:25: The Tinder Revenue Model: Tinder is a free app but also has paid memberships. In the Q1 of 2019 Tinder saw revenue grow by 42 percent year-over-year.

Rate and Share this Podcast:If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

What’s your funniest experience on a dating app? Let us know on our Facebook page or Twitter, or comment on our latest Instagram post!