For years now single men and women have been using the internet to meet eligible men and women in their area.
You've heard the good, the bad, and the ugly, but now you're ready to get out there and give it a try for yourself, but, where do you start? What dating sites are worth visiting? What do you do once you find someone you'd like to meet offline? These are questions all of us "seasoned" internet daters asked ourselves the first time we got online to attempt meeting someone on the internet.
The first step is finding the right online dating site for you.
There are a couple of questions you should ask yourself when scouring the vast sea of online dating sites.
First, are you looking for something very specific in a person? Maybe you want someone with the same religious beliefs as you, or maybe you are recently divorced and are looking for someone who is as well.
Although they might not have as may members as some of the more popular online dating sites out there, there are niche sites that cater to the more, shall we say, picky of the online daters.
But the trick is finding a mix of sites that caters to not only the type of people you'd like to meet, but has enough members in your area.
I always suggest that you join a couple sites.
Don't shell out money at first, but browse around, see what kind of people are out there..
see if there's anyone that catches your eye.
Once you find a few sites you like, most sites will allow you to join for free (with limited access of course).
But you don't want to start shelling out the cash until you find a site you're comfortable with.
Be Honest There are plenty of dating sites out there with millions and millions of single men and women all looking for someone to meet, date, and sometimes, if everything works out as planned, marry.
Now, I'm not saying that EVERYONE that's dating online is hoping to get married someday..
Not everyone who looks for dates online wants something serious, that's why it's very important to be very specific and very honest about exactly what type of relationship you are hoping to find.
Don't say you are looking for something more casual, if your actual goal is to find Mr.
or Miss Right.
More than anything else, honesty is what is going to help you be successful in the online dating world.
Write a Good Profile Writing a good profile is the next step to being successful with your online dating experience.
Don't feel like you have to write a novel, it's not necessary to blab for paragraph upon paragraph about yourself.
Be thorough enough to get your good side across without boring the reader to tears.
Be yourself, and remember to be honest about who you are and what type of man or woman you're looking for.
There is no point in lying because the truth will eventually come out.
A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to online dating is the picture they put, or don't put in their profile.
When it comes to internet dating, people want to see what they're getting, so if you want to be truly successful, you have to have a good picture for your profile.
Don't use a picture that's 10 years old.
Make sure you have a current photo of yourself at the ready.
It doesn't have to be professionally done, but good quality is important.
And remember to SMILE! Nobody wants to date a dud, or a dud-ess for that matter.
Ok, you're profile is up, complete with picture..
now what? Now, it's up to you to start showing interest in people that catch your eye..
Not everyone is going to show interest back..
It's ok..
this is how it works in the online dating world..
Don't be afraid of rejection, it happens to everyone! Once you've shown interest, or someone has shown interest in you and you're both interested in one another, now comes the next step.
If you don't have a paid membership, this is the time when you'll typically have to get one.
Usually, dating sites allow you to show interest in another member, but actually communicating with them, well, you'll have to get a paid membership for that.
Most online dating sites charge around $20/month for a membership.
A small price to pay, if you ask me.
It's better than hitting the bars night after night and paying those outrageous fees for drinks! And this way, you can talk to as many people as you want! When you're out there, remember, be safe, but don't forget to have fun.
You can meet some really great men and women online.
They may not all end up being the love of your life, but hey, there's nothing wrong with a few more friends, right? And if you do end up meeting that special someone, don't forget to send me a wedding invitation! lol..
Just kidding, but seriously, I wish you all the best of luck out there!