So you want to meet someone!
You’ve tried the usual routes - hanging out at bars, going to clubs, joining a gym, and enduring the occasional “blind date” set up by family or friends.
Because of the amount of time they spend there, many people end up dating or relating to someone they meet at work or through their jobs.
Because of corporate policies that discourage laisons between co-workers, and because of the unpleasant prospect of having to continue to work professionally with someone that a relationship “hasn’t worked out” with, an increasing number of people are turning to online dating.
But should you try online dating? Absolutely! Even if you continue to pursue other avenues of meeting people, online dating is a fun, exciting, and totally “hip” way of meeting new friends, expanding your social circle, and increasing your chances of finding a perfect romantic match!
Traditional dating services and matchmaking agencies have been around for many years. Since the rise of the Internet in modern culture, online dating services have grown by leaps and bounds.
The reasons are simple. Online dating services are relatively easy and inexpensive to set up, appeal to a virtually unlimited world-wide audience, and can focus on any number of specialty “niches”, based on interests, hobbies, personal characteristics, or whatever!
They are also safe, and can be accessed easily and confidentially in the comfort and privacy of your own home. You can connect with, correspond, and even chat live with any number of prospects, and then only meet when you are ready to.
With an entire generation having grown up with computers and the idea of connecting with other people online, more and more singles are choosing to join online dating services. An increasing number of people have or will at some point have become members of such sites, if only out of curiosity.
Here are some reasons why online dating is a good option for you:
It’s FUN!
Let’s face it - if it weren’t fun, most people wouldn’t do it, or at least not for very long. It can be relaxing and enjoyable to browse through the profiles of people just like you, who are seeking to meet someone, just like you! You don’t have to dress up, you don’t have to go out, and you can spend just as much (or as little) time as you want, any time of the day or night!
With the proliferation of websites, operators constantly have to come up with new and fun ways to attract members. As a result, such websites have become an incredible library of information on dating, romance, lovemaking, and relationships.
With advanced features such as photos, email, instant messaging, chat rooms, audio clips, and even video clips or live video streaming, you can quickly and easily meet any number of fresh, eligable singles, with a click of a mouse, and right in your own home - day or night, 24 hours a day!
It’s EASY!
Online dating and personals websites have thousands and even millions of members. Many sites offer basic levels of membership, and advanced services are available, often for a very reasonable monthly fee. You can join and quit at any time.
Because of the huge number of members active at these sites, you have an enormous number of options from which to choose. Generally, you can conduct a search for other members who match just the characteristics that you specify.
If a profile does not interest you, you can easily move on to the next. You also have the option of posting your own profile, and waiting for someone to contact you, indicating their interest. If they interest you, you can respond to their contact and correspond with them until you decide that you actually want to meet in person.
If they don’t interest you, a simple “thanks but no thanks” is usually sufficient - and if they persist, most good sites have a function enabling to to block further communications from that member.
Benefits
We could probably sit here all day and come up with lists of ways that online dating services can be of benefit to you.
The most obvious of course, as we’ve mentioned, is the sheer number of potential prospects that are available to you online.
While you may only encounter a small handful of people in your day-to-day circles, online dating sites have thousands if not milliions of members!
And these members are hot prospects! They are there for precisely the same reasons you are - they want to meet someone, perhaps someone exactly like you! Like you, they are open to a contact or relationship, actively looking, and are usually very positive and responsive to you.
How To Choose
There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of online dating and personals ad sites out there today, with dozens more being created on an almost daily basis. 
Many of these come and go. Some offer little support, or may have only a few members. A few are outright scams.
But most are quite reputable, and offer excellent value. The very best offer tremendous support, and a quality experience.
So how to choose? Here are a few factors to consider.
1. Do some budgeting. Many sites offer at least a basic or trial level of membership for free, or for a low introductory fee. This gives you the opportunity to access and participate in the site, while deciding if it is right for you. A few sites are completely free to use, and make their revenue through the sale of advertising or other products on the site.
Some sites will charge an annual or monthly fee for advanced services and features. It is usually best if you can “try it” for a month or so, to determine if the features justify the additional cost for you. Most such sites will also offer a discount package if you sign up for a longer period, such as several months or a year.
This can seem like a very good deal, but what happens if you find your “true love” within the first month or two?
If you can, first join a number of sites that interest you, taking advantage of any free or “trial” memberships that they offer. Then, as you gain experience with them, you can better decide which will give you the best blend of benefits and results. Probably it will not make sense to have full or extended (paid) memberships in more than one or two of the sites that you will use the most often.
Even one site has the potential to give you more action in a month than you’ll be able to handle in a lifetime!
2. Seek recommendations. If you have any friends or colleagues who have tried online dating, ask them for recommendations as to which sites they think are the best, and which to avoid.
You can also learn a lot just by browsing the different sites, reading the reviews and recommendations posted at various site directories, and from user comments posted in various forums.
Remember too, that what might have been right for THEM, may not be right for YOU.
Whether or not you seek outside input, you will generally be quite quickly able to decide for yourself which are the best sites, just by checking them out, and maybe joining. What features does each have? Which features do you use most? What features are missing that you find yourself wishing they had? What kind of responses are you getting to your posting or contacts?
3. Check available sites. One good list is here: http://The-Ultimate-Romantic.com/x/Best-Online-Dating-Sites.htm . You can also do an online search for “online dating”
4. Consider specialized sites. As we’ve mentioned, there are hundreds upon hundreds of specialized “niche” dating sites, that cater specifically to certain interests or groups. Some might be for seniors, others for different religious or ethnic affiliations, and still others for specific interests such as horseback riding, motorcycles, camping, sports, fitness …. you name it!
If your interests are more … ahem …. “adult” in nature, there are sites that cater specifically to individuals seeking sexual “hookups”, for homosexuals, or for those who share interests in various specific sexual “fetishes”.
5. Weight the pros and cons. If you use a list such as the one at http://The-Ultimate-Romantic.com/x/Best-Online-Dating-Sites.htm, pick out half a dozen or so of those sites that appeal to you most. Browse the sites, and make note of their costs and features, and the type and tone of the members and their postings.
Join the best of these sites using the “free” membership option (if one is available), or a short-term “trial” membership. Check out the advanced features offered. Are they easy to use? Do you get any responses to your postings?
Other factors to consider are the success rate of the site, success stories, testimonials from satisfied members, the number of active members, number of “paid” members (who are generally more active and serious), features such as a site message system (that protects you against spam and also helps protect your identity), and other available resources on the site, such as articles and advice, a online magazine, newsletter, etc.
Narrow your search down to the top one or two sites, and invest in the more advanced membership level. Unless you find that you want to participate in several “niche” sites that cater to your different interests or hobbies, you probably will not want to try to be active in more than three sites at one time.
If you find that you’ve chosen a site that is not giving you the results that you want, or that proves to be too cumbersome or awkward to use, then delete your profile there, cancel your membership (or make it “inactive”), and switch to a different site. There’s something (and someone) out there for everyone!
Whether you are in the market simply for friendship, a hookup, a long-term romantic relationship, or even marriage, online dating sites now give you more options than ever, with only a few clicks of the mouse!
But the name of the game is meeting people - so quit reading, check out the list at http://The-Ultimate-Romantic.com/x/Best-Online-Dating-Sites.htm, and go have some fun! :-)
Desiree Satin is a popular romance author and expert in lovemaking and affairs of the heart. This article may be freely reprinted or posted, as long as the article is not altered in any way, and this resource box and links are left intact. More information and articles may be found at http://The-Ultimate-Romantic.com .
