Singlesaints is getting ever closer. The designer is now working on some interior pages, and I'm working on programming aspects that should heighten the functionality by an order of magnitude.

Users will now be able to host their own blogs. Their profiles will be like a MySpace profile -- only not horrifically ugly, like MySpace. Eventually I want to add podcast hosting and video hosting, but for now folks can use YouTube for that kinda thing.

People can comment on your blog, and you can moderate those comments.

We finally have a zip code range search. That took some doing, but it's up. The only difficulty is that there are some zips that will no doubt have been added or changed; my data goes back to 2000, so there are probably more than a couple dozen new or altered zips. Out of 42000 that's not bad, though.

Thumbnails will automatically be created when you upload your photo, though you can still go in and tweak your thumbnail if you want. This part is closer than ever -- the auto-thumbnailer is done, and yesterday I managed to find an old flash program that lets your resize and crop images. I built it back in 2005, but could only find the .swf, not the .fla. That means I wouldn't be able to modify it to match the new site. Fortunately, I was able to use a Flash decompiler to extract a .fla, and should be able to get that thinger up soon. (It took a bit to get it to accept my registration code, but hey, it finally worked, so I'll stop complaining.)

Man, the site is going to look so good. SO good.

There will be some other features, too. Export your mailbox in a nifty .csv file, or as a single long text file. Send a user a message without ever leaving their profile. Add people to your friends' list; subscribe to others' blogs, as well as anything out there that has an RSS feed, like news sites.

Closer and closer. I set the beta launch date as January 1, but I don't really see it happening before February 1.

And of course it will still be free, free, free. When it's working right, and the bugs are removed, and the feedback is positive -- then I have another project I want to start on. It will be nifty beyond reason.

The new design for Singlesaints is coming right along. I'm working on some swell new features, and hope to have this thing launched soon -- though I'm afraid of committing to a date. Just rest assured, the new site will be swell.

So, Singlesaints is finally in the first throes of getting a face-lift.

Click for full-size


I'm excited. I could never do this stuff myself, though I used to think I could do anything. Hello? A color-blind guy trying to do web design? Bad idea.


The big thing, though, will be the programming that needs to happen. The new stuff I want to include on the site will be schpiffy, but I don't know when it'll happen. I need to set myself some rock-solid deadlines, and get Rebecca's permission to work on Singlesaints rather than more family-oriented stuff.

Well, I need to redesign Singlesaints. BADLY.

Correction: I need SOMEBODY to redesign Singlesaints.

There's a ton of competition out there in the LDS singles market. I'm talking more than a dozen sites, maybe more than a score. Overture says there were about 5000 searches last month for the term "LDS singles", down from 11,000 two years ago. Google says the search volume has remained pretty constant, though it's definitely dwindling.

So why would anybody choose Singlesaints over a different site if we looka like-a crap?

I have no idea. Some folks still join, thankfully, but like I said, the site needs work.

*sigh*

I'm ready to sell Singlesaints.

I think it's worth moo-la. Not sure how much, though, but I'm hoping I can get 6 figures for it.

More later. Blah blah blah, lds singles are great.

Another success story from Singlesaints:

I wanted to take some time to thank you for your hard work and for the simplicity behind whi, I think, you guys do what you do...you want people to be happy. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I am a 27 year old, recently divorced girl in the church...I thought I did everything right, I got married in the temple, I followed the commandemnets, I taught sunday school...but alas the marriage didn't work out (he left the church). So, one of my old college roommates (in a desperate attempt to have be get off my toosh and date) created my singlesaints profile and sent a message to a dozen or so guys. I had no interest or intention to write any of them back (I think it was the whole pride issue...you know, internet dating and all). Well, one email just stood out to me and I couldn't help but email him back...well, we started dating and we are now engaged. He is of the most spectacular quality of man and I could not imagine how Heavenly Father knows us each so intimately. I always had a testimony of the Plan of Salvation...but I always sort of thought of it as a plan for the collective whole...for "his children", third person, general. I, now, have a testimony of Heavenly Fathers INDIVIDUAL plan of Salvation for us...single saints helped me to gain that testimony. Thank you so much. Keep up the amazing work!!!

Just hope she's not rebounding.