WHAT IS AN ONLINE DATING SITE?

Quite simply an online dating site can be defined as an Internet web site that has been designed with the primary purpose of allowing individuals to share information about themselves in the pursuit of developing a personal, sexual or romantic relationship. It is an excellent way of ascertaining whether or not there is some basic form of chemistry or compatibility between two single people prior to meeting them.

There used to be a certain kind of stigma attached to being associated with an online dating site, however in recent years it has become a phenomenal force in social media networking and quite different from that of sites such as Facebook and Twitter. It Is estimated that there are over 2000 dating sites with a subscription rate of around 20,000 new members of all ages signing up everyday. This trend shows no sign of slowing up. It is no longer considered sad, unhealthy or promiscuous to frequent such sites.

From a personal perspective, having found myself single after a twenty year marriage, dating sites can be a great way of easing yourself back into the dating loop, gaining the confidence to chat with and eventually meet people again.

2 HOW DO I GET STARTED WITH ONLINE DATING

Firstly select the right site for you, there are numerous to choose from and they vary in the type of person that they attract, from professional types who are looking for someone of similar or higher social and financial status to ‘No strings attached’ persons seeking casual sex and/or intimate relations

Dating sites also vary in what they charge to subscribe to them so be very aware of this. My advice would be start off with a site that guarantees to be 100% free to use, be careful with the wording on such claims as some sites advertise the fact that they are 100% free to join but once you start using the facilities of such a site you will be blocked from communicating with prospective dates until you pay a monthly fee.

3 HOW TO STAY SAFE

OK so now that you have chosen the dating site that best suits your needs it is time to fill in the dreaded profile, this is the section were you fill in some basic statistics about yourself followed by a brief description of your personality, likes/dislikes and an optional profile photograph of yourself. Listed below are some tips on how to guard against potential undesirable persons. This is not meant to cause alarm, the majority of online dating experiences will be pleasurable, it is merely a list of things to be mindful of during your prospecting

1. Try to use a reputable dating site, google it first to see if there has been any adverse reviews about it

2. Don’t use your normal e-mail address, acquire a free one from the likes of G-mail or Hotmail

3. Use a nickname or make up a user name for your profile, never use your own true identity

4. Do not add any phone numbers addresses or any other social network address that you may have

5. When communicating with potential dates take your time to ask lots of questions, be aware of how they write, the manner in which they write and also the tone. Beware of the person who is pushy, over eager and wants to meet up straight away, this should be cause for concern.

6. Make sure they have a recent photograph of themselves and if they only have one try and ask for others, look for some clues as to the date they were taken. Also chat on a web-cam prior to any meeting, that way you know the photo matches their face.

7. Try to get the other persons phone number first. When making the first call it is always advisable to block your caller ID so they can not see your number

8. If you have the slightest ‘gut instinct’ about this persons trustworthiness cease communicating with them, trust me your gut instincts are very rarely wrong. If the person harasses you then block them immediately, or report them to the dating site moderators.

9. Keep copies of all correspondence until you feel safe about your prospective date

10. Google their user name to check for any unusual abnormalities, for example they may appear on several dating sites, this could mean they that they are likely to be serial daters and should be avoided at all costs, unless of course that is what you are looking for..

4 HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE DATE

So congratulations are in order, you have managed to find somebody online and through the avalanche of ‘ping pong’ correspondence between you both have mutually decided it would be a good time to meet up. Time to see if there really is the chance of romance.. This is always the nervous part and once again there are some words of caution to adhere to at this point.

Firstly choose a venue that is very public and central to where you live, avoid somewhere that is out of the way and not very well known. A well known hotel reception or popular restaurant/coffee house should be suffice.. Tell a close friend or family member where you are meeting and at what time, arrange for them to ring you at a certain time to check everything is OK, take your car, my advice would be to keep it a short meet and greet rather than arranging an elaborate date, that way you both have an exit strategy that is not awkward should you not get on. Finally when the date is over ask them to text you when they get home, that way, even if you do not intend to see them again at least you will know that they have arrived home safely.

SUMMARY

Dating sites can be great fun and you can meet some very interesting people. The basis of this article was written with my own personal experience of dating online in mind. Whilst I am not and never profess to be a serial dater I have experienced quite a few memorable nights out in the pursuit of my soul mate. As long as you are mindful of some the advice set out in this article and that you are prepared for the fact that the odds of hitting it off with someone on the first date are quite high, you should gain confidence and experience a very fulfilling journey. Be yourself and be honest because the truth will always find you out. Happy dating.

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