Sally is new to dating coaching and started off with wanting to learn how to weed out the wrong men. She said, “Every time I meet someone on a dating website, they turn out to be completely opposite of what I read about them. How do I weed them out?”

I told Sally this is an excellent question, one that many women would like to know the answer to. It’s too bad that people aren’t as they describe in their profiles. The problem is most people don’t really know how to explain who they are and the majority of online profiles sound surprisingly similar. That’s why I help a lot of dating coaching clients write their profiles – so they can stand out from the crowd and get noticed more quickly.

The trick to weeding out the unsavory or wrong types is to read between the lines. For example, if he talks about sex in his profile, guess what his main interest in meeting women is? Yup – probably not looking for a long-term relationship. Sometimes you have to exchange a few email and talk on the phone. Sometimes you can’t tell until you meet face to face for an hour.

I totally understand how Sally feels. It’s frustrating to meet men who aren’t who they say they are, misrepresent themselves and just plain lie. But don’t think this behavior is limited solely to men. Women do it too. As a dating coach, I think it helps to remember that there are all kinds of people out there and bad behavior is not only for men.

With my dating coaching clients, we work on creating a system to qualify prospects before meeting them. Most clients have found with a few changes and some new savvy about the process, they get much better at reading between the lines and weeding men out who are not appropriate.

Keep in mind that in order to find your prince, you have to weed through a lot of frogs. That’s just how it works and there’s no way around it. But you will learn a tremendous amount about yourself, what you are looking for and what will work for you as you move through the process with your eyes, heart and mind open to men and love.

Sometimes women think the dating process should be instantaneous and easy since you can just pick the right man from the “online catalog” of Match.com. Unfortunately, that’s not realistic. It takes time, patience, faith and the ability to laugh and stay light-hearted!

Don’t let yourself get down about it. Look at it this way – every man you meet brings you one man closer to the right one for you. He’s out there, I know it. I found love over 40 and so many of my clients have found love. And that means, you too can find the love you want and deserve.

Every coin has two sides and so does online dating. Here is a list of its advantages and disadvantages.

Online dating is the name of the game in today’s age and world. The youngsters of today are open to dating and the fact that they are net savvy and spend maximum time online, online dating has picked up! As every coin has two sides, online dating also has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It all depends on how a person uses this medium to meet people, friends and soul mate! There are many real life stories of finding true partners online and at the same time people have sad stories of horrible dates and experiences. Like everything else, a lot depends on destiny and luck but there is no harm in trying!

Some of the advantages of dating someone via the internet are:

• You definitely have more options online than the real world. How many people can you really meet in your real life? Compare it to people you can chat and interact via the web. This number is humongous and thus chances of bagging your perfect date or better still, a soul mate is high here

• In a country like India, where dating is still a taboo, finding dates online is a risk free and taboo free alternative

• Many a times, when you first meet a person in real life, awkwardness sets in and you do not know what to talk! But if you have met the person online and chatted with him/her, then the actual first real life date becomes smooth and interesting

• Many of us face social awkwardness and we feel shy to open up in real life. The internet gives you the platform to be yourself and to be honest

But, be careful – There are flip sides to online dating too:

• There are tonnes of online profiles but no real way to verify their authenticity

• It is easier to fool the other person and lie about yourself in order to appear “cool”

All said and done, physical appearance plays a good role in deciding your soul mate. Via the internet, pictures and videos can be photo shopped and forged

• In worst case scenarios, social bullying and abuse can take place

Whether it is an arranged marriage, college love, affair with a colleague or online dating, matters of the heart are destiny oriented. All you can do is try and be honest in relationships!

Lately, I have been coming across a lot of online dating sites.

Being a single male I decided to join a couple sites that I have come across just to see what they were about.

I know there are literally a plethora of websites- so when deciding, do your research on the most trusted and reputable sites on the market.

Make sure you have an idea of what you are looking for and the kind of experience you would like to get from your time online.

While browsing some sites it dawned on me that I did not really know how to stand out and get the kind of attention I’d like to have in the online dating world.

So it got me thinking…

What are the best things to do when it comes to online dating?

Tip 1: Finding the best site for you

Once you have an idea of what you are looking for with your online dating experience you will be able to select the best match for your interests.

There are generally four types of online dating services, which include:

General Online Dating – These sites are usually set-up for everyone to be able to view each other and make a decision on who may fit them best based off their profile. Most of the time people are just looking to date and get a feel for one another. Some people join these sites out of curiosity, boredom, or a recommendation. Site examples are Datehookup, POF, and Singlesnet.com.

Relationship – Relationship sites are designed to bring people together based on compatibility tests created by psychologists or relationship experts to determine the best match for you based off your answers/responses to questionnaires or tests given. Most of the good sites are paid membership. Site examples are eHarmony, Chemistry.com, or Zoosk.

Social Networking – These sites are free of charge and allow you to connect with people all over the world. They are not necessarily used as a dating tool, but can be used to effectively find you a date in the process or being a part of the website if you know what you are doing. Site examples are Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn.

Specific (Niche) – These sites are usually geared towards bringing people together with specific interest’s, passions, or desires. Site examples are Millionaire Match, Friend Finder, or Christian Mingle.

Tip 2: Create a meaningful and truthful profile

I always tell my friends… “Be careful who you speak to because you can be anybody you want to be online these days.”

Make sure that your profile is real and based off what you are about, who you are, and what you are really looking for.

People can usually tell how genuine or sincere you are once they communicate with you either through the phone or in person… if you even make it that far.

So make sure your profile gives them just enough to be enticed to send you a message, but not enough that you are telling your whole life story.

Be short, simple, honest, and to the point.

Tip 3: Spend time reading people’s profile and not just looking at their pictures

People like to know that you have spent some time actually trying to see what kind of person they are.

Nobody wants to spend time on creating a profile and not have anyone read what they wrote.

Send a message letting them know that you have read their profile and are truly interested in getting to know them for who they are and not what they look like.

Tip 4: Post recent pictures of yourself smiling and having fun

Statistics show that people are more likely to send you a message if you have a picture, but are also more likely to send you a message if you are smiling and look happy in your pictures.

Pictures of you smiling make you seem more inviting, honest, fun, and trustworthy.

Tip 5: Be respectful to others

The same rules apply online as they do offline.

Treat people they way you would like to be treated and you will have a positive online experience.

Nobody likes to be called names, ridiculed, or criticized.

So make sure you say and do nothing but positive things in your online experience and you will surely have an enjoyable one.

By following these tips I am sure you will have a positive outcome with your online experience.

If it is friendship, a partner, or a lover you seek I wish you the best.

Online dating can be used as a positive tool that can assist you with building character and developing friendships that can last a lifetime.

Best Wishes!

If you are interested in casually dating new people, the Internet is your friend. For most people, it is much easier to complete a profile on a website and start searching for the kind of individuals they would like to meet, than striving to find them in real life. The benefits of online dating are obvious, but, if you want to be successful in meeting new people, you need to obey all the unwritten rules.

Be honest

The whole point of using an online dating system is to find people that are as close to being a match for you as possible. You will not be able to achieve that if you are populating your profile with fake pictures and fake information. When you are going to finally meet someone in real life, after getting in touch online, you do not want them to feel like they were tricked. Either way, that date will not be a success.

Be clear about what you want

There is nothing worse than miscommunication in the world of online dating. For people who are looking only to date casually, this is particularly important. Not everyone is looking for romance, commitment, their soul mate and so on. But, if details are not discussed or disclosed upfront, a lot of unpleasant situations can stem from this.

Pay attention to your selection

One common mistake people often do when using online dating services is to send too many messages to too many people in the same time. Keeping track of all the communication can prove daunting, and you may end up making common mistakes, by not knowing who you are really talking to at some point.

People use casual dating platforms to meet others who want the same thing. But this does not mean that they are not interested at all in those they intend to meet. Some common grounds must be reached, and some common interests must be identified. Of course, this brings us to the same issue of communication and how it is supposed to provide the best information possible.

Come up with ideas

No one likes a person without initiative. After making the first contact with someone looking like a good match, do not hesitate to come up with ideas about where you two should meet and what activities to engage in. This will also make for a great conversation started, as you will get the other involved and engaged in your common date.

Be personal

Do not make up a message and send it to everyone. This will only show the people you contact that you did not really take the time to look at their profiles and read the basic information provided there. The more personal you are, the better your chances will be to be contacted by the others.

Are you single and retired? Ready to explore dating once more?

You are not alone. The fact is, there are a lot of people aged 50 and up who are looking for a new partner. Most often than not, seniors turn to the Internet to explore online dating for finding a new partner or simply to look for new friends.

For those who have lost a partner or someone special, times can be a very tough and also very lonely. Senior dating might just be what you are looking for after long years of grieving and living alone. Opening yourself towards new companionship may help you realize that life still has a lot to offer.

Yes, you do still have your children and grandchildren that mean the world to you and bring you joy and happiness. At the same time, it might not be enough to replace the emptiness within your heart. It makes all the difference in the world when you know you have that special someone with you all the time. Someone who you can open up to by sharing all your stories because you know they will understand.

There are a lot of online dating sites for seniors, which can help you meet others just like you. These sites serve as place where you can socialize and communicate with other single seniors who are also interested in dating. These sites will usually ask you to fill out a form where you can include details about your personal information and dating preferences. What you choose to include is up to you and the information you submit will be used to create your online profile. In return, the site will match you up with other individuals who are possibly compatible based on your online profile and preferences.

Of course like with anything new, there can be some skepticism at first if these sites really work and if your information is secure. These sites have actually put in measures in place to ensure your profile is secure and that is a big reason there are millions catching onto this new phenomenon. As a matter of fact, people have been finding their true loves online and even getting married which is growing rapidly by the tens of thousands.

How many friends and family do you know that have gone on dates to only find out that the other person isn't really that compatible? What if they were just always on their "best foot forward" and it became difficult to break ties with that person? This is the beauty of the Internet as it can allow you to connect with possibly your "soul mate" with literally the click of a button.

If you decide to join an online dating site, just be sure to keep these things in mind for your safety:

1. Investigate. Be sure to sign-up only on reputable online dating service sites. Ask friends and even do a search online with your favorite search engine. Within the site, you should find information showing if they are "TrustE" or "Hacker-Safe" certified. This is where the site has to undergo a strenuous process and strict privacy guidelines to be compliant. You can usually find this information within the sites "Privacy" link or "About Us" section.

2. Be Cautious. Do not give out too much personal information too soon. It is advisable not to reveal your real name, email address, your home address or work address and phone number unless you are absolutely sure that you can completely trust the person and that the date is real. You can even take a friend with you and meet in a public area if you want to be 100% comfortable.

3. Take advantage of free sites. Before signing-up to any senior dating services online, be sure to check if there is a fee to join. Also, ensure to "read the fine print." Tip: There are a lot of top, reputable online dating sites that offer their services for free.

When creating your online profile, remember these tips to make it easier to find the right person:

1. Be honest. Be sure to put the correct information and do not lie about your age, otherwise, you will mislead people, making it harder for you to find your match.

2. Think. Make sure to ask yourself about the important qualities you are looking for in a partner before filling out the profile form.

3. Promote yourself. It will help if you focus on your positive traits and things that you can offer in a relationship.

4. Be realistic. You cannot replace your spouse that you have lost. Therefore, when looking for a new partner, try not to compare the person to your previous partner. Remember, everyone is unique.

5. Be patient. Do not rush. Keep in mind that things don't happen overnight. Be sure to know the person as much as possible. Take it one day at a time.

6. Upload your best photo. Upload you nicest picture as your profile. Based on recent studies, members of online dating sites look at profile pictures first before making any effort in getting to know other members better. It might not be right, but this is reality. Don't stress out too much about this as the saying goes: "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder."

7. Don't be too picky. Try to lessen your search criteria in order to get more possible matches. People who tend to be too picky end up not finding Mr. or Ms. Right. Be sure to set realistic and attainable expectations.

Follow these tips to ensure you'll have a very positive experience online and possibly find the companionship you have been looking for.

Copyright © 2008 La Dolce Living, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

If you are currently a single woman, chances are that you have thought about trying out an online dating service. Millions of singles like you are going online and finding successful matches every day. Still, there is a lot to worry about when trying to find a date online. What kind of guys will I meet? Are they just trying to hook up with me? I’ve asked these same questions myself, so let me share with you a couple of online dating tips to help you get started.

The first thing to know is that if you are at least somewhat attractive, you will receive a ton of responses when you create your online dating profile. Be ready for this, and don’t let the emails overwhelm you. On most dating sites, there are usually many more guys than girls signed up. Many guys will send out the same generic type email to many girls at once in hopes of getting a few decent responses. To combat this, look at any email’s subject line and make sure it mentions something specific on your online profile. That way you know that the person is writing specifically to you, and not 50 girls at once. This at least tells you a guy has a legitimate interest in you and actually took the time to write you a personalized email.

My second online dating tip is to be an active participant on the site. Sure, you can sit back and relax, and only check out the guys who send you messages. However, this is severely limiting the quality of datable guys to interact with. Instead, be assertive, and look for guys that show the qualities that you are looking for. One thing that I like to do is to hide my public profile for a few days which most online dating sites let you do. This lets you avoid getting overwhelmed by the flood of emails that every girl gets and allows you to focus on finding a guy that interests you.

Dating online definitely works if you approach it in the right way. More and more, women are using these online services to to find dates that lead to successful relationships and even marriage. Just keep in mind that you will have to show some patience as you will definitely meet a few duds along the way. However, when you finally meet that right guy, you will definitely find online dating to be worth it.

Looking to spice up your life a little or add some romance…or maybe find that perfect love connection?

Cool! Jump right in…the online dating waters are just fine and you will have lots of company. There are over THREE MILLION others already splashing around when you do decide to take the plunge!!

If you’re new, or relatively new to the online dating scene, this article should get you headed down the right path. Follow the tips and recommendation presented here and your initial experiences will be more enjoyable, and yield better results.

Do a search of “online dating” and you will be presented with more than 2.9 MILLION web pages from which to make your selection! Hmm… a bit overwhelming to say the least. But don’t let the huge numbers discourage you. Try the dating preparation and selection methods described, and you will easily find your perfect dating site match.

So your first order of business is to get yourself matched up with one or more online dating sites that fit you and your needs. The questions below should help you narrow things down.

What Type Dating Site?

Plain Vanilla – no ethnic, religious, or cultural themes. Asian, Black/Ebony/African American, Italian, Jewish, Senior Citizen, the list goes on…

Do some searching using the terms below as a guide.

“online dating” + senior

“online dating” + Christian

“online dating” + African American

“online dating” + Asian

“online dating” +

Get the idea? A search on each of the examples above will pretty much yield what you would expect.

If you’re on a tight budget, just add the word “free”.

“online dating” + free

“online dating” + senior + free …etc.

You will need to look a little harder to find high quality free dating sites or personal services. REALLY FREE dating sites with lots of members, lots of activity, and lots of member services are pretty hard to come by. You’ll understand better after you do a few searches for free dating websites.

A search for dating reviews and forums can also be helpful.

“online dating” + review OR reviews

“online dating” + forum OR forums

With the dating related forums, you can read about good and bad experiences others have had with particular dating and personals web sites.

Dating services reviews will give you some good info as well. Look for genuine, unbiased reviews. Many of the dating review sites out there are willy-nilly listings someone threw together to earn commissions.

Another way to find good dating sites is by asking friends and co-workers who may have tried, or are using online dating or personals services. You may be surprised to find out how many of your single friends are members of a personals site.

How Much?

Monthly fees vary widely, but the average is around $24. Most dating and singles sites will give you a discount if you pay for two or months in advance.

I would suggest you only buy into a one month membership with any new dating service you join. If you decide you like it simply extend your membership. If you don’t like the service, you cut your losses at one month, and avoid the hassles of requesting a refund, or canceling billing.

Tight Budget Dating Tip: Most free dating sites have low activity, and member activity is what makes personals and dating sites tick.

Solution: Join 3, 4 or more free dating sites. If you find that their combined activity serves your needs… you’re good to go. If not, you’ll have gained a good familiarity with online dating, and a better understanding of what you want, when and if you decide to plunk down some bucks for a paid membership.

Telling Your Pool-Side Story

Now write your story (aka: member profile). No great detail; just write like you’re writing to the man or woman you seek. Write a little about you, stating one or more of your unique qualities. Write a little about the person you’re seeking.

You’ll save some time if you write and save all your profile data to a text editor or word processor file. Then, you can COPY and PASTE it to the proper areas of your online dating profile.

As things change, and as you grow, you will want to update and modify your profile statements.

A Picture IS Worth a Thousand Words

You will generally get 3 to 10 time better response with a posted photo than without. People don’t generally spend much time on profiles with no photos… so take the hint.

If you don’t own a digital camera, web cam, or scanner, take a few photos and a diskette to your local Office Depot, Staples, or general office supply store. They should be able to scan and copy your photos to your diskette. Then you can easily add one or more to your dating site profile. You could also ask friends and relatives who own a digital camera or scanner.

Digital cameras are very inexpensive these days. Check eBay for some of the best deals.

Stay Focused and On-Track

You may want to start a journal, (on paper, or in a text file), to log your “love search” progress. Make notes of URL links of sites you like (you should also bookmark these sites), restrictions, any new member specials, member benefits and services, monthly fees, etc.

When I first started, I also wrote out a statement describing what I wanted to accomplish by joining a dating site. You may want to do the same. These statements and a well-kept journal will help keep you focused and organized. Organized endeavors always yield greater results than haphazard approaches.

Safe-Date Policies

This is actually part of the title of an upcoming article, but I mention it here to stress the use of common-sense, safety, and caution when dealing with ANY dating situation – on or offline.

Now… jump in your skivvies and take the dive!

There are many gay online dating sites on the Internet and one should take time to find a site that best suits their needs. There is no doubt that gay online dating service is being used by millions of gays from all over the world but you have to do your research well before joining the first site that comes your way.

Most gay online dating sites cater for gay men and women. However, there are sites that are exclusively for gay men or gay women. These sites work to bring gay singles together giving them an opportunity to find their soul mate by using the services offered by them.

All of us usually want to find that special person to spend the rest of our lives with but work pressures make it hard for us to date and socialize. Gay online dating sites are perfect for busy individuals who do find the time to socialize and meet the type of people they would want to. In addition, even today in our society there are very few places where gay people can go and meet other gays and as a result they hardly get an opportunity to really get to know a person before getting into a relationship.

Online gay dating gives you the advantage of being anonymous before you jump into anything. So you have nothing to worry about. You can reveal your true identity only when you have developed a certain level of trust and comfort with the other person.

You should check the gay online dating sites thoroughly before opting for paid membership. There is hardly any point of joining a site that is based in Australia when you live in the U.S. because after some time it is natural that you would want to meet the person you have been chatting and corresponding with.

Gay online dating has made lives of many gay people easy and now all gay people have the opportunity of finding their soul mate through these sites without worrying or feeling insecure.

If you’re bored of regular dating or you’ve heard of this thing called online dating and you’re curious to try it out, why not? Similar to dating you can still meet women, make friends and perhaps even more! But online dating is not all fun and games and there are a lot of things that a person has to know about online dating before one gets into the intricacies of it. Online dating may seem to be the simplest thing in the world but it is not. It should be viewed in all earnestness or things could go hay wire. Every game has its rules and unless you know all the rules you just can’t become a good player and eventually a winner.

Online dating is, to put is very simply a free dating service that with the help of a machine namely the computer via the Internet. That in itself makes the idea and the process a very novel one indeed. Hundreds of happy single people across the globe have been successful in finding suitable partners by the means of online dating.

The reason is pretty simple. It is very much the same reason that the internet itself became so popular. The Internet opens up a whole new world of communication and contact. Online dating is fast, you can have as much privacy as you want and it’s cheap!

In order to enjoy it and succeed at online dating there are a few rules to remember and they are:

o If you don’t know where to start internet dating, just hit some chat rooms of your interest. There you’ll be able to meet interesting people who have the same hobbies and preferences.

o You can either write your own personal ad or get a dating service to do it for you. It’s of course better if you can write your own personals to give it your special touch. Feel free to embellish on certain details but as much as possible be honest with what you put in it. It is of course important to remember that people will judge you depending on what you write so you might want to be careful about that.

o After you’ve met someone you think you’re interested in, get to know them better by moving into a private chat room with them. Women also enjoy conversing through email and the quicker she replies the better your chances are of getting a date. Do note though that women hate waiting so its best to return her emails promptly.

o Don’t worry about making mistakes and goofing up when you’re trying out online dating. You are hidden behind the anonymity of the internet and you can erase your mistakes a lot easier than you could if you had goofed up in real life. So just go out there and chat up a storm with anyone who seems remotely interesting.

The problem with choosing a dating service is choice — too much of it! There are hundreds of services. To choose a dating service that’s right for you, you need to be clear about what exactly you’re looking for. As a newcomer to online dating, unfamiliar with all the options, you might be a little hazy on this front. Here’s a rundown of the main areas in which dating services differ which will help you draw up a dating service wish list to compare sites to.

Relationship options

One of the most obvious things to think about when choosing a dating service is what kind of relationship(s) you’re looking for.

Some services, including top dating sites like Yahoo! Personals (singles dating) and eHarmony (soulmates) focus on one type of relationship only. The advantage of choosing a dating service that’s dedicated to a particular type of relationship is that everyone will be on exactly the same page as you are in terms of intentions.

If you’re not clear what your intentions are, you might be better choosing a dating service where members can pursue different types of relationships within the same site. Again there’s no shortage of choice. However, at some multi-relationship services it’s not immediately clear who’s looking for what and up to you to figure it out, using the search tools. If this sounds like trouble (and it can be), choose a service like Lavalife which has separate communities within the site for each type of relationship.

Members

Think about the type of person you want to meet. Are you open-minded, in which case a mainstream service will be fine, or do you have a lengthy list of “must haves” regarding your perfect match?

If you have set ideas about the type of person you’d like to meet, finding them in a mainstream service could be like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. (By “mainstream”, I mean that members are as diverse as the general population.) Instead, consider choosing a relationship service that specializes in bringing people together who have something very specific in common — religion, political beliefs, ethnicity, body size, certain lifestyles, you name it.

Simply run a search for “dating (or matchmaking, or marriage)” plus whatever you’re looking for (vegetarian, republican, biker…) and it’s almost certain you’ll find a relationship service to match.

Matchmaking features

Dating sites have thousands if not millions of members so good search tools are important. However, it’s still up to you search out your perfect match and not everyone has time for this. Luckily many dating services have matchmaking features (more sophisticated search tools) that will help you find “the one” quickly and easily.

Matchmaking features range from the very simple, based on profiles and/or basic wish lists, to the sophisticated, based on personality and other tests as well as more detailed profiles and wish lists. Unless you’re unusually picky (or just very unusual), these one-click options will typically churn up a good selection of possible matches on a regular basis — popular dating services attract many new members a day. You can usually opt to have these matchmaking searches run automatically on a regular basis and receive new match details by email — another time-saver.

At some services, matchmaking features are part of a complete matchmaking service where the selection process is much stricter, usually because they’re geared towards serious relationships. Typically you’ll receive just a handful of potential partners over a length of time. For example, eHarmony (designed to help people into marriage) advises clients not to expect more than one or two matches a month. To accept this level of matchmaking you have to be happy with the idea of letting the “experts” have the final say about who’s right for you and who’s not.

Tests

Online dating services are about much more than dating. They’re also an opportunity to gain some valuable insights into yourself and the type of person you’re looking to meet which could help improve your love life, online and off. If this appeals to you, choose a dating service with personality and other tests for members to take.

For the most part, larger, well established online dating services have the most insightful and detailed personality tests because they have more resources to put into their design. Almost all personality tests are free to take and at many sites matchmaking tools draw on the results to find members who are compatible with each other. So, by taking several tests and judging the results, you’ll get a good idea of which site is going to do the best job of helping you find your perfect match. After all, if the results are a true reflection of what you’re like, they’ll be a true reflection of potential matches too.

Communications

There are two levels of communication to consider when choosing a dating service — what you get for free and what you get as a paying member. On both fronts, some services offer a lot more than others.

Free communications matter because they let you get to know someone, or at least that the interest is mutual, before you spring for a subscription. (A subscription will let you communicate as much as you like.) At most services, free communications are limited to flirty icons and preset messages that members send to each other, but search around. Some services are much more generous than others.

Once you subscribe, the norm for communicating is by on-site email and instant messaging. Many of the top dating services, Yahoo! Personals included, have stuck with this simple set up and show no sign of changing any time soon. Others, like Match.com, are continuously adopting new technologies to offer members more communications options. Typically you’ll pay more so think about whether or not you really need to to be able to access their services anytime, anywhere.

Entertainment

Think about what sort of experience you’d like to have with online dating services. Do you intend to focus on finding your perfect match or would you like to enjoy other activities as well? Many services offer entertainment features including light-hearted quizzes and polls, contests, articles and newsletters, as well as chat rooms and the option to sign up to meet new friends as well as dates.

Offline activities

If the idea of meeting someone online then having to meet them face-to-face at some stage is a little intimidating, look for a dating service that helps members meet and mingle, casually and as part of a group, offline too. Though some dating services go as far as offering singles holidays, offline activities usually involve meeting for concerts, shows and other events in your area or elsewhere.

You can get that all-important “feel” for someone in relaxed atmosphere with plenty of food for conversation and make as much or as little of the occasion as you like. If you haven’t met someone yet, offline activities are an opportunity to meet someone you might like to continue chatting with online, with the advantage that you’ve already met.

International dating

If you’re away from your native country, would like to chat in your native language or are planning to relocate or travel to a different country, some of the more established and successful online dating services have extended their services into countries other than the US. For example, Yahoo! Personals has a new Canadian service while Match.com is live in 27 different countries.

Cost & Payment Options

Most online dating services charge about the same for a subscription — between $20 and $25 a month — so cost isn’t going to be much of a deciding factor when choosing a dating service. Instead, look for value — services might charge about the same but there are big differences in what you get for your money. Also, check out payment options. Several dating services accept money orders and checks as well as the usual credit cards.

Find out what discounts will be available if you sign up for several months at once, and if any special offers are available. Finally on this one, look for free trials and try out all the extra subscriber features before committing to a subscription.

More resources to help you choose a dating service

When you’ve drawn up a checklist of what you’d like in a dating service (and hopefully this article has helped) choosing a dating service will be a lot easier. You can compare your checklist to dating service reviews and, for more specific details, explore FAQs, help pages and “take a tour” options (all good dating services have these). And don’t forget, signing up is free and you can usually explore sites without having to post a profile first. Most of all, though it’s important to choose a dating service that’s right for you, one you’ll enjoy using and are mostly like to have success with, choosing a dating service should be fun. If one dating service doesn’t work out for you, move on and choose another!