Last Updated on May 17, 2011 by Mike
Advice on Online Dating – finding a relationship
Tired of cooking for one every single night? Does it seem like all of your friends have that special someone to hang out with? Do you want that special someone too? It is 2011 and online dating websites seem to be gaining more popularity. It really is the age of technology, so why not try dating that way too? Looking for love seems to be an impossible task sometimes, but online dating websites have made the process simple and easy.
Before you begin making your dating service profile, it is important to keep several tips in mind. Shop around for the best site for you. There are many different types of dating services available and you need to pick the site that works for you. Some sites such as match.com allow you to look at absolutely everyone’s profile and is used mainly for dating services. Other sites, such as eharmony are geared more towards serious relationships or marriage. It is completely up to you what you decide, finding a relationship is a personal decision and only you know what is best for yourself.
Another tip to consider when looking at an online dating service is safety. Remember that this is still the internet and you do not know who is on the other side of the screen. Be careful about giving out too much personal information too quickly. If nothing else, trust your intuition. If you have a bad feeling about somebody, move on to the next person. You are better safe than sorry.
Now we can actually begin making your profile. You have chosen your perfect dating service and are looking forward to finding that special someone in your life. Remember that the first thing someone else will see of you is your personal photo. It is important to choose a picture that shows your personality. Cookie cutter pictures won’t make you pop off the page. If you enjoy sports, take a picture of yourself tossing a football around. Show off your best qualities in the photo, people will take notice of what a fun person you are!
Never lie in your profile. This is a mistake that many people new to online dating do. However, say you end up really clicking with the person you told a white lie to. They may be turned off by this fact if they find out about it and you may lose a potential great relationship. Be truthful, you want to be with somebody who likes you for you and not somebody that you made up.
Use effective communication techniques. In the beginning stages the majority of your communication is going to be electronic. Whether this be email or telephone, you need to use proper etiquette. It is very easy for communication online to come off differently than it is meant. The first email is the first impression therefore it is important to be personable and show off that personality in the first email.
Alright, so now you have your profile set up, the first communication sent and you are waiting for somebody to sweep you off of your feet. Be patient, it may take awhile for someone to take the bait. It is also possible that many people will reply, but you will not be interested in any of them. It is okay to be picky, after all you are looking for a potential soul mate. The waiting game might be the hardest part of the entire process, but in the end it will be most rewarding when you find the person you have been waiting for.
The first date may be a very nerve racking experience. You have found someone online, been talking to them back and forth and have both decided that it is time to arrange a face to face meeting. You agree to meet at a local coffee shop for the first time. It is always a good safety tip to arrange your first meeting in a public venue. This experience is scary, exciting and fun all at the same time. Again, it is very important to be yourself. You have been chatting with this person for some time now, and they like you not somebody you have made up. It might be a good idea to have some conversation topics set up in advance, in case either of you becomes tongue tied and there is an awkward silence. If you know some hobbies that the other person is interested in, bring up topics in that area. Generally if a person is very interested in something, they can talk for hours on the subject.
After the first date, you may have a decision to make. Are you going to see this person again? Looking back on the date may help you decide if you should continue to see this person. Did the conversation flow well? Was there smiling and laughter? Did you guys have anything in common? Where you physically attracted to this individual? There are many questions to consider. If you had an excellent date, then of course you will want to see each other again. If it was horrible, you have your answer as well. However, if it was just an okay date, you may be wondering if you should see this person again. It might be a good idea to try one more date in a different setting. It could be that the other person was very nervous and had trouble starting conversation. Who knows they might turn out to be the love of your life.
Overall, online dating services are great experiences for many different people. Technology is rampant in this day and age and it can be an exciting experience to meet people you may not get the chance to meet otherwise. Remember to research different sites before you choose the one that meets your needs. Be safe when meeting potential people because you never know who is using the website as well. Finally, have fun! You may be meeting your potential soul mate soon, so enjoy the dating process!
I love all the options for internet dating, from Christian sites, to eHarmony, I’ve met some really wonderful people through a few sites, no marriage match yet, but I have met a few great friends. It’s nice to find people online that you normally would never meet…though there are a few trolls you wish had never crossed your path. At least they make for good dating horror stories. LOL
I’ve never done online dating, though I’ve been trying to psych myself up to give it a try. I like all the tips here – especially about using proper etiquette when chatting, emailing, etc. I’m a bit nervous about meeting someone face to face, but I would not only meet someone in a public place, I’d make sure it was a place I had been to before – just to be safe.
I think the best aspect of online dating is the potential it has to match up people who are truly compatible versus coming together solely because of physical attraction (which happens nightly at bars and clubs everywhere). The internet is a safe and fun way to get to know more about a person before actually meeting them and permits someone the opportunity to date a much wider variety of people then they would ever be likely to meet offline going about their daily routine. It also bridges the gap between long distances, although anyone who has ever been in one can tell you long distance relationships create their own problems! Just watch out for liars and scammers. As “The Gipper” used to say, “Trust, but verify!” Good advice when it comes to online dating!
I have some friends who are married and met each other on an online video game. It’s great that the internet is bringing together people who would not be able to have a relationship without it.