Many people seeking love, romance and companionship online ask the question, "What is the best internet dating service?"

Indeed, is there a way to determine whether or not a dating service will help you meet your long-term (or even short-term if that's what you want) partner?

There are virtually all types of dating sites. To determine the best one for you, you will have to narrow down your search. Actually the question should be "what is the best dating internet service for me (meaning you)?"

First, you should know what you want. Are you looking for a long-term or short-term relationship? Are you looking for fun of the adult genre? Are you looking for a potential marriage partner? Answering these questions is what will help narrow down the field and find the right dating site.

Here is a small list of categories of dating sites you will come across:

General or popular dating sites: These are profile based sites, meaning that you will be required to post a profile of yourself and often answer multiple choice and/or essay questions. These types of dating sites cater to virtually all interests. If all you want is a partner, short-term or long-term, or a relationship with the potential for getting long-term somewhere down the road, this may be the right site for you.

Matchmaking or matrimonial dating sites: These are for people seeking marriage or a long-term relationship. Matchmaking sites are usually personality-based, as they do the matching for you (you can also do your own matching) with potential compatible partners, based on your personality profile. Matrimonial sites are more or less like matchmaking sites, but are designed for people whose religion or culture does not allow for open dating (where dating is taboo).

Special-interest dating sites: These are for people who seek partners who share an interest such as culture, religion, ethnicity, body type, or passion among other things. Examples are biker dating, Christian dating, big women dating, speed dating, dog lovers etc.

As you can see, the only way to find the best internet dating service for you is to first know what you want. Once you narrow it down, get a free trial with at least two or three sites of similar category and test them out. And just by the way, social networking sites are not dating sites. If you are serious about finding a partner, go to a real dating site.

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3. Tips on Selecting the Best Internet Dating Service
4. Find Love Online – Tips for Finding Love and Romance On the Internet
5. Finding Best Online Dating Service to Meet Your Needs