The Twelve Golden Rules Of Online Dating

Whether you’re looking for marriage, romance, a casual encounter, or just new friends online dating has proved itself to be a successful method of bringing people together. With the number of sites now in the thousands the choice can seem bewildering and this is why Love Services concentrates on niche sites that provide a common starting point for its members rather than a large pool of people with whom the member may not have a lot (if anything) in common.

Whichever site you join you can benefit from these ten golden rules which when followed fully will multiply your chances of success by several factors.

1. When you first sign up and start building your profile you’ll probably have to tick a few boxes and then type in some text in answer to several questions. Type this out in your word processor first, run a spellchecker over it, proof read it, and make sure you are satisfied with the result. Save a copy on your computer so that you can use it again if you join more than one site.

2. Put some thought into what you want to say about yourself. Don’t just mention your interests; add some detail about what you’re looking for. Men can be particularly reticent and if you are a man try to avoid including overtly sexual references. Women on the other hand tend to write better descriptions of themselves so perhaps all they need to do is to hint at delights to come!

3. As you describe yourself keep to the positive and highlight your best features. Don’t dwell on what you perceive are your weaknesses or faults. Don’t just write one or two lines; no one is going to be interested in that. Anyone seeing something brief and vague is going to assume that you’re not really serious or interested in getting a date and they’ll move on.

4. Upload at least three photos. This is very important so I’ll say it again: UPLOAD AT LEAST THREE PHOTOS. If you can’t upload or don’t know how then make use of the alternatives i.e. email your pictures in as attachments or put them in the post. People will allow go for profiles with photos over those without so if you haven’t added photos to your profile you’re already off to a poor start.

5. Ask a friend or colleague to take a good selection of pictures of you with a digital camera. Try to include some head and shoulders shots as well as full length. Avoid including shots of yourself when drunk, asleep or any other way not at your best; it rarely makes a good impression. Don’t use photos in which you have cut out your ex-partner. Get someone to take a new picture.

6. If someone contacts you, think before replying. Make a good first impression but don’t get carried away. Read the other person’s profile before responding and pick out something that interests you. Avoid using BLOCK CAPITALS.

7. Do respond, even if you’re not interested. This person has taken the trouble to contact you so even if having viewed their profile you are not interested then at least let them down gently. A gentle let down is far preferable to being ignored.

8. If the site contains a Forum then participate in the discussions. People will gradually get to know you by your responses and comments and it’s a good way of making yourself stand out from the crowd.

9. Upgrade your membership i.e. become a fully participating member by taking out a subscription. It’s the only way you will ever be able to initiate contact and it will give you access to all the site’s functions. I know it means parting with hard earned cash but you’ll be paying the equivalent of a few drinks each month for access to a site that could change your life for the better in all kinds of ways.

10. Make sure you’re full aware of all the site’s functions, tricks, and statistics. Use the ‘Saved Searches’ function to keep you up to date with new members who match your criteria. There’s a lot of information to be had if you look for it. Also, read the dating tips and advice and learn from the experience of others.

11. Need help? Stuck? Check the Help and/or FAQ sections on the site. They are so named for very good reasons. FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions and the problem you are encountering has probably been dealt with before so check before asking for help. If the answer is not there ASK. That’s what the site administrators are there for – to give you support as well as deal with the technical side.

12. Lastly, when you have enjoyed some success on the site tell the administrators about it. Tell them how it worked, what you think of the site, how happy you are, and what your plans are. You’ll not only feel good about doing so but you’ll be shining some light on the road for those that follow behind you.

Your dream date or new friends could be online today looking for you, so start your search and follow these rules to be assured of a strong chance of success. It might take a few hours or it might take a few months so be persistent.

Many people who have joined one of the Love Services sites have remained members even though they have found a new partner simply because they enjoy the friendships they have also found there.