An Exploration of the Most Widely Used Online Internet Dating Sites

There are literally hundreds of dating sites online, and picking the right one has become a bit of an overwhelming task for some people. Quite a few people end up jumping around from one website to another, often spending months before finding a service that works for them. By reading this article and doing a little research of your own, you can save yourself much time and money.

The first thing you need to decide is what style you prefer when searching for a date

Ask yourself if you prefer to read through many profiles and make your own decision on who to contact, or if you would rather be "matched" using a scientific matching system. If you prefer to pick your dates yourself, then sites like Match.com and Yahoo Personals are probably the most appropriate, given the millions of members that have profiles on such popular sites.

On the other hand, if you would rather use a matching system to help you narrow down your choices, a site like eHarmony would probably work better, since it employs a unique compatibility system and only delivers the matches that are considered to be a good match to your personality.

Another consideration is whether to choose a general dating site or a niche site

A niche site is one that focuses on a certain segment of the dating population, such as single parents, interracial couples, people who love pets, or any other category of people involved in the dating scene.

Although niche sites are a great way to focus only on the specific type of person you are seeking, it is also important to remember that even if you pick a general dating site, if it is a large site with millions of members, your chances of meeting someone with similar interests are pretty high. A niche site is most appropriate for people who consider a particular characteristic to be a "must-have" for their date.

A general dating site will usually offer more members to choose from, increasing the odds you will meet someone with whom you will click

A final consideration when choosing a site is the quality of the members listed. This is somewhat subjective, but there are many sites that leave inactive members on the site for months or even years, making many of the profiles you search outdated.

On such sites, the profiles you are viewing may belong to people who have moved on and are no longer looking for a date. Through trial and error, you will learn a lot about which sites have active, up-to-date members and which do not.

Dating online is not much different from dating in real life - the only real difference being the initial method by which you connect. In many ways, it is faster and more efficient than traditional ways of meeting people.

• Intuition and Romance
• How to Pick a Dating Site

8 Simple Dating Profile Tips

1. Post a photo A picture is worth a thousand words. That is why profiles with pictures get far more responses, often 8 - 10 times more than a profile without a photo. You don't have to be the best looking person in the world - most of us aren't. But people will feel more comfortable approaching you if they have some idea of what you look like.
2. Have more than one photo Generally, more photos are better than one. Show yourself in different environments, doing the things you enjoy. If you like hiking, include a photo of yourself at your favorite hiking trail. Try to avoid photos that show other people, especially people from your past relationships. The photos should be about you.
3. Smile If you are at a party, you would probably be more inclined to talk to someone who smiles at you. The same is true for online dating. So smile!
4. Be positive Negativity is a turnoff to most people. A profile is like an ad, so say positive things about yourself while remaining truthful. There are a lot of profiles out there that start with something like "I don't really believe in online dating but I figured I'll try it anyway..." Try to avoid this kind of approach. It makes you sound like you aren't interested in what you are doing.
5. Don't tell your life story Nobody wants to read a whole novel about your life - at least not when they first meet you online. So keep the profile informative, but try not to get too carried away.
6. Be honest about what you are seeking Being honest will help you attract a person who wants the same thing. So if you are looking for true love, then say so. On the other hand, if you are just looking for a friend, go ahead and state that as well.
7. Show who you are instead of just describing it Instead of saying "I have a great sense of humor," why not make a joke in your profile and show it? Saying "I love to travel" is fine, but a better way to say that is to mention that you went to France last year and you are planning a trip to the Grand Canyon next summer.
8. Reread your profile, and check your spelling Spelling and grammatical errors annoy some people, so why take the chance? It only takes a minute to reread what you wrote and run a spell check.

Major Internet Dating Sites: