"Single? Let's go on a date with Mark!" A man who failed on dating sites offers himself on a billboard
Tinder, Grindr, iBoys...there are countless dating platforms today. Unfortunately, however, they are not a guarantee of success, and on the contrary, many people often become depressed and frustrated after several unsuccessful meetings because of their inability to find a partner. Mark Rofe from the UK was in a similar situation and decided to go to the market with his skin in the game. Literally. He had his own advert of truly unprecedented proportions placed on a billboard in one of Manchester's busy streets. It features Mark himself (larger than life) lying on his side, with an invitation underneath for anyone who might be interested in going on a date with him. "Single? Come and meet Mark. Maybe this is the sign you've been waiting for," it proclaims. The billboard then also provides a web address for potential suitors, which leads to a website that contains more information about Mark. Its slogan is then "one man, one billboard, one mission."
On the website, Mark then provides additional information about himself, so everyone learns that he is 30, works in marketing, is 183 cm tall, and he also teases the prospective woman with the information that he has kissed at least three women in his life. And now he would like to find a fourth.
Mark decided to meet through a billboard because all his friends are already "paired". But he's still having trouble finding a match. "I tried dating apps but they just didn't suit me, so I tried to find another way to attract potential partners," he says. According to Mark, the idea of using the billboard came about in a pub while sitting with friends. "I was chatting to a friend and describing how I was struggling with all the dating sites. I also joked that I should probably start selling myself on a billboard," Mark said in an interview with the UK's BBC. "At first we all laughed at it, but eventually I realised it was a pretty good idea," he concludes, adding that he finds looking for a partner through a billboard quite funny, so hopefully he'll finally find the right one (with a proper sense of humour, which according to the website, Mark definitely doesn't lack).
And how much does such fun cost? Placing a dating advertisement on a 3x6 meter billboard cost Mark 425 pounds, or just under 13,000 crowns. And that's certainly not a lot for finding true love. Even considering that over two thousand people have already responded to Mark's billboard (and mind you, Mark has scored with men too...but according to his own words, he's not interested in them), it seems that dating success is within reach. Maybe Mark will already be able to celebrate Valentine's Day as a couple - and if not, he's ready to address the situation. In fact, he's organising a fundraiser which he plans to use to pay for more advertising space across the UK...
