On page 18 of this week’s Newsweek, there is an article titled “An Algorithm for Mr. Right“, covering the online dating service, eHarmony. The site’s 20 million users complete a detailed 256 question survey, “then, with the help of a complex algorithm, it matches people with much in common.” Sounds familiar.

We’ve often fielded (heated) critique that boils down to: “an algorithm is not the way to choose an attorney.” True, it should never be the only tool someone uses to choose an attorney. But, can an algorithm serve as a great starting point to help narrow down the immense potential field to a useful shortlist based on an individual’s specific requirements, just like our friends over at eHarmony? Absolutely.

According to eHarmony, every day 236 of their users get married not always to the number one on the match list and presumably after six coffees, three movies and one long walk on the beach.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 am by Conrad Saam, Sr. Marketing Manager and is filed under Marketing for Lawyers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.