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Online Dating Not For Losers, Weirdos, Or Geeks

Dawg — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:28:41 +0000

Like customs, old beliefs, stereotypes and attitudes die hard. They can tend to linger, sometimes long after they have long been debunked. Sadly, there is a lingering stigma or shame about online dating today, long after it has gained wide acceptance.

Once thought to be the domain of losers, weirdos and geeks, online dating is today an acceptable way of meeting a partner or even a spouse. It is estimated that one in five relationships now begin online. Why then, is there some trace stigma or shame attached to it still? I found an interesting post that re-visits this subject. Here are excerpts:

Online dating was once something that people did in private. But recently when someone told me she met her boyfriend "in line at the bookstore" and I later met him and discovered A.) he wasn't a "bookstore" kind of guy and B.) they actually met on Match.com, I was surprised. Isn't online dating kind of the norm now?
After all this time, I would think online dating would have long since surpassed the stigma it once had of weirdos in basements who pretended to be 6'2" lawyers when they are actually 5'1" and have no jobs at all. I have seen enough marriages come of online dating and now even celebrities (like Carrie Ann Inaba) are doing it like it's the norm.
Or maybe people are lying. Maybe more people are meeting online than are admitting it. So what's up with the stigma? It's 2011, people! Almost everyone I know has gone on at least one online date. See original story

I totally agree. No one should feel even remotely ashamed or embarrassed to say they met their significant other online. Not in the 21st century anyway. Your thoughts welcome (you can leave your comments below).

Online Dating Sites Can End Lonely Nights

Online Dating Advice For Men

Dawg — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:36:25 +0000

Tips And Online Dating Advice From One Who Has Done It

I am always in search for good (or great) dating advice. Though I am in a happy relationship, I will continue to do so as I have made it my job. I recently came across a great article that offers great online dating advice for men, by someone who has done it.

What makes this article great is not just that it is extremely well-written (to a point of making me a little envious) but also because of its unique insights. It is not just another online dating advice article that tells you to meet for coffee on a first date. Here are some excerpts followed by my own take on each point:

Important Online Dating Tip: Read Her Picture(s)

If you learn nothing else from my experiences, remember that the picture section of a girl’s profile is far and away the most important part of it. It’s literally the only thing you have to go on until you’ve physically met and spent time with her, and even then it can only take you so far.
The reason for this is that people can easily lie right through their teeth, and that’s doubly true when they can hide behind a keyboard and a user name in their profile. Sure, she might say she loves dogs and hiking and museums, but if she has pictures showing you that, then it adds a lot of credibility to the persona she’s selling you.
Another thing to keep in mind about pictures is that nine times out of 10, a girl is only as attractive as her worst picture. It sounds cruel, but it’s true. The picture that some girls select as their main profile picture often varies wildly from the ones you don’t see without looking for them.

Excellent points, above. I know that you shouldn't judge someone merely on the basis their online dating profile picture. Some people are just not photogenic. I wouldn't have thought of the "attractive as her worst picture" part. Yes, the main profile picture is not what you should go by alone.

Do Nice Girls Make The First Move?

First of all, nice girls don’t make the first move. I don’t know why, but it’s true. When/if you get an unsolicited email from a girl, they almost always reek of desperation, and in my experience, they aren’t much in the looks department. That’s not to say you should ignore them because you never know what might happen, but the desirable ones tend to know they’re desirable, so they have no incentive to reach out to you, because they’re getting 50+ emails per day and can take their pick. No, if you want to get the good ones you have to put yourself out there. I’m fine with that. It more or less mirrors real life. In doing so, you’ll probably want to read her profile first.

I do not quite agree with the above point, at least not the whole of it. Yes, cute girls do get bombarded with emails and instant messages (called flirts or winks in some dating sites). But hot guys do get lots of emails and messages too. Some of the prettiest and nicest girls I've met actually approached me first. My view is that online dating is a two-way traffic. A girl can and should contact a man who piques her interest and vice versa.

Online Dating Advice On Communication

If I had to guess, I’d say that people try to encompass and summarize themselves as a whole, and in the process, it turns into generic drivel. In light of this, my best advice is to make your correspondence very short, as light as possible, and ending with an open-ended question.
That’s important because it’s the only thing that’s going to drive the conversation moving forward. In real life, social cues and surroundings can do a lot to inspire conversation topics, but via email, it’s up to the individuals to move things forward.

Indeed, online dating conversation can be rather dry as it lacks visual clues and stimuli. Open-ended questions are great in that they are engaging (since they can be answered in more than one way).

Advice On Meeting For The First Time

Once you meet, you realize that all of the prior emails and innuendos and witty banter go out the window. You know very little about this person and your only topics of conversation appear to be the standard “Where are you from?" "What do you do?” type questions, which are inherently un-sexy. It’s better if you’re good at talking about things going on around you (even if it’s just a sporting event on TV) and relaying a story about yourself that ties into it. This will hopefully encourage her to do the same. Also, booze helps. But not too much. On my very first online date, I was meeting a girl at a bar to watch a basketball game. The first words out of her mouth were: “Ugh, I can’t believe I’m binge drinking for a ninth night in a row.” It should be noted that it was a Tuesday night.
In regard to the venue, I always, always opt for happy hour, and preferably at a bar convenient to both of us. This may sound cheap or classless, but remember this is a stranger you’re meeting. There may be readers who want to whine in the comments about the death of courtship and guys like me being what’s wrong with the world, but I’m sorry -- I’m not shelling out a ton of cash on someone I’ve never met before.

Almost every online dating advice article or book pushes the "first meet for coffee" line. I totally agree with the happy hour point above, which I never thought of although it is in line with my online dating meeting articles. A happy hour will give you enough time to talk without making it too long, or getting too drunk if alcohol is in the mix.

Okay, if I could I would post the whole online dating advice article here as it is filled with great points. The full post, which I would encourage you to read, is posted at the AskMen website. Any comments, suggestions or additional tips welcome in the comments box below.

Online Dating: Tips On How To Avoid Bad Dates

Dawg — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:26:16 +0000

Online Dating Tips To Weed Out Losers

Okay, I don't like to use the word "loser" simply because it is… well, a loosely used word. But for lack of a better word I do make it an exception once in a while. Like now. You have perhaps read lots of online dating tips. These include tips on how to write a good dating profile, email tips, finding the right dating site, and even meeting for the first time. However, there is something missing in most pieces of online dating advice.

What is missing is advice on how to read an online dating profile. What we mean is, how to read between the lines so you avoid a bad date to begin with. This can save you a lot of time, not to mention headaches and heartaches. Someone wrote a very good post on this, from her own experience. Though the post is more appropriate to females – it is written by a female – both men and women can benefit from the insights.

Seattle online dating guru shares her "dealbreakers"
But after all her time in the online dating field, she does have some dealbreakers to share with those ready to put their hearts on the line.
Bergstrom uses Match.com. She said that she briefly gave the site eHarmony a chance, but wasn't a fan of filling out the large questionnaire. She suggests opting for the pay-per-month sites over free dating sites like OKCupid.com.
"When people don't have to pay for something, they perhaps don't take it as seriously," she said.
According to Bergstrom, pictures can say a lot about the person, but there are definitely some photo choices to stay away from. She said that if there are only pictures of scenery, that's a bad sign.
"If there is a picture taken of them only in a towel, taken with their cell phone, that screams d-bag," said Bergstrom.
She also said that obvious spelling and grammar mistakes, like men who can't spell "Seattle" correctly, should probably be avoided.
Luke shared a note that one TBTL listener had received in her online dating mailbox. The note praised her for her ethereal beauty and said that she didn't need to respond, but the man just had to share how her "perfection" struck him.
This lead Bergstram to another online dating faux-pas: "He didn't say anything specific, or that indicated he had read her profile." She said it's likely a note that he copy and pasted and sent to many women, getting a few responses back from women who mostly, above other things, wanted to be complimented. See original post

This brings to back to something I have said time and time again; for those seeking serious relationships, free dating sites are to be avoided. You will come across hordes of curiosity seekers, pranksters and people with just too much time on their hands when you use free sites.

One of the best online dating tips offered is that about reading one's profile. If it appears that they did not read your profile, don't bother responding. Likewise, you too should read the other person's profile and mention something that interested you when making the first contact. Happy mate hunting.

Next, receive FREE online dating and romance dating ebooks full of useful tips today. Go to dating ebooks to find out more.

Online Dating: Meeting For The First Time

Dawg — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:52:53 +0000

Tips To Ace Your First Online Dating Meeting

You have been talking on a dating site for a few weeks. You seem to click (and not just with the mouse). So you decide it’s time to meet for real. Suddenly it occurs to you that though you have been preparing for this day all along, you’re completely unprepared. Don't worry; first dates happen all the time. Your first online dating meeting can be fun.

In fact, you are in a great position, since it isn't completely a blind date. You know the basics of this person from their profile and prior communication, and probably have a few things in common that you can discuss over a meal. It doesn't mean that an online dating first meeting isn't hard, but you already have a lot going for you, so don't stress out too much.

Online Dating Meeting: Where Do You Meet For Your First Date?

Virtually all online dating articles and books out there (with the exception of I Can't Believe I'm Buying This Book will tell you to meet for coffee and at a public place. It is advisable to meet at a place where you are surrounded by people as you don’t want to go hiking in the woods with a stranger. But it doesn’t have to be coffee.

Coffee is overrated. It does not help facilitate conversation. I don’t know about you, I find that I’m a better talker when I’m buzzed. You can have a drink or two but take care not to go overboard. This is a decision that should be based on how long the two of you have been communicating prior to this first date. You should also listen to your guts.

You first online dating meeting should be approached with optimism as opposed to suspicion. As I have said in previous posts, prepare to have fun but also be ready to exit fast if things go wrong.

Picking A Place To Meet

The decision on where to meet should, needless to say, be agreed upon by both parties. It is not really hard when the distance between the two of you is not too long. Of course “too long” is relative so I can’t give a number. Simply pick a place that is convenient for both.

Meeting someone from online dating can get tricky, however, when it is a long distance relationship. In that case, decide on who will do the traveling to the other’s city, village or town. Accommodation should be arranged in advance. Do not let someone into your house on the first date.

Never meet your online date at your favorite hangout. Once they know you, and know where you hang out, it will be pretty easy to spy on you and find out where you live. Also, stalking situations can and do happen.

A great way of meeting your online date and having fun is to do something both of you enjoy. This is one of the advantages of Internet dating; it lets you know what the other person likes. Of course not all pastimes render themselves well to dating. If you like reading, for example, you cannot read and talk. But you can discuss books that both of you have read.

Things To Remember With On Your Online Dating Meeting

Be punctual. This is the first time you are going to be meeting her/him, and you want them to see you in the best light possible. Being a few minutes late is fine, as sometimes new locales can be difficult to navigate, but anything more than that and you better call.
React well. This may sound like a bit of a strange point, but if you have only seen a person's photo, there is a chance they look slightly different. Whether that is a complete positive, or even if you feel that they weren't entirely honest, you should remain complimentary. You clearly got along enough to get to this point. We assume that you had honest yourself.
Respect. Just because you have spoken for the last couple weeks via emails and private messages, that doesn't mean you truly know this person yet. Before jumping in with a controversial topic, start with light fare. Sometimes people speak a little different online than when confronted with an online dating first meeting, so adjust accordingly.
Dress smart but be yourself. If you don’t normally wear suits, don’t wear a suit on your first online date meeting. All the same, if you are, say, a roofer, don’t go to that date wearing those worn out jeans with holes on the knees that you wear from day to day. Look good but be yourself.
Leave the flowers. Guys, some women find it embarrassing when a guy shows up with flowers on the first date.

Now, depending on what type of service you used, they might have limited how you interacted before the date. A more professional pay site is going to give you a lot more opportunities to interact, so if you are in the dark about your date, now's the time to learn. If that's the case, some of the above mentioned tips might need to be adjusted even further, since you are even less familiar with them.

One mistake many people make is to turn the first meeting into a job interview or, even worse, a cross-examination. Avoid this.

Dating Conversation Tips

One way to avoid cross-examining your date is by asking open-ended questions. Asking open-ended questions gives the other person a way to wiggle out of tough spots and even save face. They also give the other person something to add to the conversation as well as bring her/him out.

“Open-ended questions are those questions that will solicit additional information from the inquirer. Sometimes called infinite response or unsaturated type questions. By definition, they are broad and require more than one or two word responses.” UCLA

Examples of open-ended questions are:

What do you think of/about…?
What made you consider…?
What inspires you?

And while you are at it, show interest in what the other person is saying. Be an active listener.

"Active listening is a way of listening that focuses entirely on what the other person is saying and confirms understanding of both the content of the message and the emotions and feelings underlying the message to ensure that understanding is accurate." UIUCU

Of course there are certain subjects you want to steer clear off unless otherwise related to the type of date you’re on or dating site you met at. Examples are sex and fetishes (unless you met on an adult dating site). Others are past relationships, politics and religion.

The subject of dating conversation is another article altogether, which I will be posting soon. Keep watching this blog.

At the end of the date, personally assess how it went. With an online dating meeting, you are realistically just making the first impression, with the hopes that both of you enjoy each other's company enough to give it a shot a second time. If he/she were everything you were looking for or even exceeded your expectations, make sure to let them know how much of a good time you had. If it is mutual, then you can guarantee the next time will be even better.

Next, receive bestselling dating ebooks full of dating and romance tips FREE today.

Can You Really Find Love Online?

Dawg — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:36:24 +0000

Find Love Online: True Stories Of People Who Did

Despite the popularity and numerous online dating success stories, some are still skeptical. The question keeps popping over and over again. So, can you really find love online? Put another way, can online dating sites really help you find your soul mate?

Marriage is still the ultimate indicator of people who are in love. Of course, it is not a perfect indicator as there are many other reasons people get married including money and "settling" for a certain individual. Also, divorce rates are ever on the increase meaning that people tend to fall out of love sometimes faster that they fell in love. But this applies whether the couple met online or in "real" life.

Without quoting figures, many marriages today have started from online dating. Below are some true stories of people from different backgrounds who have succeeded in finding love online. Some even had certain conditions that would have made it difficult to find love in the traditional ways (thanks to niche dating sites).

Find Love Online: Real Stories

Lots finding luck in love online
When Heather Thomas discovered that a friend created an online profile for her on Match.com, she decided to give the online dating service a try. Just over a year later, she is engaged and planning her wedding on Nov. 12.
” I didn’t want to go to the bars and find someone that way, so I decided to do it,” says Thomas, of Benton, La. Original story posted at the Daily Comet
Finding Love Online, Despite Health Problems
After some “horrible” results on other dating websites, Lana joined Prescription 4 Love and the STD-specific site Positivesingles.com. Both sites require members to disclose their illnesses upfront, clearing the air for what might be a deal-breaking revelation later. Within her first week on Positive Singles, she went on three dates and has since gone on seven more, which fostered one romantic relationship and a friendship over the past two years. She’s even rejected a couple dozen guys. Health.com
Finding Love Online
As first dates go, it rated four stars. The antipasto platter and pizza were good; the conversation was even better. Both spoke Online LoveItalian, loved Mediterranean food, and had lived in Florence, so there was plenty to talk about. The chemistry? “I knew from her pictures that she was beautiful,” says Dan Beltramo, MBA ’94, “but when we met, it was love at first sight.”
His date, Laura Cheney, must have agreed; before long they were dating steadily. But the couple was a bit hesitant to tell friends they had met via eHarmony, a popular online marriage and dating site. Instead, they claimed to have bumped into each other at a local BART station.
Beltramo, who went on to found Vizu, an online market research and ad measurement firm, and Cheney, a physical therapist and graduate of the University of California, Davis, married on June 17, 2006, 18 months after their first date. Stanford Alumni Magazine

There are countless stories of people, like those above, who have been able to find love online. Note also that some are, as in the last story, even hesitant to tell friends and family that they actually met online. Such is the residual stigma of internet dating. You can imagine how it was like when the real stigma was still there. If you are still looking, go and find love online now.

Need online dating tips to help you find your soul mate? Get a free online dating ebook today.

Online Dating Success Story

Dawg — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:35:15 +0000

Online Dating Success Story Of The Good, The Not So Good, And Funny

Many people are still uncomfortable about the idea of trying online dating to find a soul mate. While most of the stigma associated with dating online is gone, there still remains some residue. Yet many marriages today (Match.com puts it at 1 in 5) today start from online dating. I came across I very interesting online dating success story.

You’ve heard about the good, the bad, and the ugly. This one is about the good, the not so good, and the funny.

I'd approached online dating with some apprehension, which is to be expected. For many it has a social stigma attached. The preconception to sign up for an online dating site is admitting that you aren't having any luck in the ''real world'', but I don't really think that's the case.
RSVP claims that one in 10 Australian couples have met through its site, leading to 3 per cent of the country's marriages. Online dating is a symptom of the time-poor, work-focused modern society. You reach a certain age when you can't party at nightclubs, and aren't meeting the ''settling down'' type there anyway. I was at that point. I now look at those who meet in nightclubs as being the strange ones - you met someone in a distracting environment under the influence of alcohol?
I treated my dating profile like a bit of a resume - I'm the first to admit that I'm not male model material, but I was hoping that my winning personality could get me over the line. I tried to subtly promote my good sense of humour. I quoted a Stevie Wonder song. I double-checked my spelling and grammar, limited the number of exclamation marks I used, and kept my LOLs to myself.
I mentioned my university degree, no matter how underutilised. I glossed over a few points, and resorted to the cheap trick of including a photo of myself with a kitten. Ultimately, I kept it honest, which I hoped the ladies online would appreciate.
Let's just say that they liked what they saw. I wasn't keeping them away with a stick, but I got attention. Within a week I was on my first date with a Russian Australian, who was a nice lady. We made it to a second date before I didn't hear from her again.
After that there was the single mother whom I spoke to over the phone for a ridiculous amount of time every night for two weeks before she agreed to meet me. Unfortunately it was clear as soon as she opened the door that I wasn't what my phone calls had led her to believe.
There was the Indonesian girl who clearly had something in mind for me, which didn't include my winning personality. She knew next to no English, leaving us with a failure to communicate.
A few more first dates followed, with mixed results. There's a lot to be said for that first impression, and it's the failing of online dating. No matter how shallow it is, you can tell a lot about a person when you first see them, whether it's down to your type or attraction, or if you want to call it ''love at first sight''.
I was literally about to sign off from online dating when I got a message from a young lady that piqued my interest. She had a few photos, one on holiday, and one that I distinctly remember of her, arranging flowers with intense concentration. She had dark curly hair, hazel eyes … and as it turned out, she looked even better in person.

To truly appreciate, enjoy and grasp the story I would recommend reading it in full at Virtual love: how I became an online dating success story. This online dating success story has some important lessons and tips to learn. Three that stand out, at least for me, are:

Your dating profile is the most important aspect if you want to succeed. As the writer says above, this is your resume (or curriculum vitae as it’s known in some countries). Let prospective mates out there see you for whom you really are. Yes, you can include something out of the ordinary in the photo to help stand out from the crowd. This guy used a kitten (nice touch!). But don’t go overboard with this.
Be honest. Don’t lie and don’t brag. You can tastefully and subtly mention any degree(s) you have, or other accomplishments, but try not to sound like you’re bragging. I would avoid anything that gives the impression of someone with big bucks.
Be patient. Had this guy thrown in the towel after the first few not-so-good dates, you would not have read his online dating success story.

Next, you can download a free online dating ebook and other ebooks full of tips for romance and online dating success.

How To Get More Responses To Your Online Dating Profile

Dawg — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Make Your Online Dating Profile Work For You

There used to be a time that a stigma was attached to the idea of finding love over the internet. Fortunately, most of that has gone away. People are busy and computers and the internet are virtually ruling our lives. This article offers tips on how to get more responses to your online dating profile.

The key to having a successful outcome with your internet dating experience is to get as many responses to your online dating profile as you can. The more people that contact you, the greater the pool of individuals you will have to select from.

It is also easier to open up communication with someone who has contacted you first.

5 Tips On How To Get More Responses To Your Online Dating Profile

1. Post a photo and make a high quality one.

There is no reason why the picture you include as your profile picture should be fuzzy or dark. This is your chance to make a great first impression, so be sure to use your best photo as your profile pic. Most digital cameras being sold now are 3+ megapixels, and this is sufficient enough to provide high quality photos. Although it may be tempting, don't use an outdated picture of yourself because you look better in it. This will only lead to future disappointment and mistrust when someone eventually meets you later on.

2. Use as many photos as allowed.

Most online dating sites let you upload several pictures to include on your online dating profile. Try to use a variety of pictures with you doing different activities. A good idea would be to include pics with close friends and family. Now, be careful here too, as you do not want to take attention away from yourself. This is about you. It's also recommended that you upload pictures that show you being happy. Positive-looking people tend to get more responses.

3. Complete as much of the profile as possible.

The worst thing that you can do is to just fill out the basic information on your online dating profile. The more details about you that you add to your profile, the easier it will be for a greater number of people to connect with you. Write like you speak and let your personality come through. Be specific, about yourself and what you want. This is critical to getting the maximum amount of possible responses.

4. Show your humor.

Having a sense of humor is a quality that both men and women rank high in what they are looking for in a mate. You don't need to be the next Jim Carrey. But being able to make someone who is reading your dating profile smile or laugh will drastically increase the number of people who want to get to know you better. Don't force humor though as this does not work. It is better to not use humor at all than to turn people off while trying to be funny. You probably know a professional comedian or two who have had to do some serious damage control after their humor backfired. Humor can be risky.

5. Emphasize your positive qualities and understate your flaws.

Be sure to highlight those unique qualities about yourself that make you special. What unusual hobbies do you have? What exotic places have you visited? What are the awesome things your friends and family say about you? Along with your positives, you should also mention negatives that may be an issue down the road. You don't have to write a book about it. Just mention it quickly, and then say how much of a learning experience it was. Lying or being deceptive is never suggested. In the long run, honesty is always the road to travel.

The internet has made it much easier for people to find the love and happiness that they have been searching for. When trying to find a person online to share your heart with, you need to make your online dating profile sparkle. With thousands of other profiles competing against yours, you have to do everything that you can to stand out.

Next, check out these free dating ebooks full of tips on improving your romantic life.

How To Start Dating Online

Dawg — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Tips On How To Start Dating Online And Start Meeting Lovely Singles

The incredible growth of the Internet over the past decade has changed many facets of daily life, including how people shop, get their news and even find a person to date. Though no longer a new concept, many folks are still not familiar with its ins and outs and can use a few pointers about how to start dating online.

The truth is that online dating can be a much better use of time and money than trolling around bars and nightclubs hoping to find Mr. or Ms. right. For one, it allows you to conduct your search from the comfort of your own home and without two drink minimums or pounding house music. For those seeking a fun date too, or no-strings kind of relationships, online dating is great for finding these too.

Here are three things to know that will help you when you start dating online.

How To Start Dating Online: Find A Site You Can Trust

There are thousands of dating sites are based in North America, varying in size, efficiency and trustworthiness. Some are created by scam artists hoping to have a love affair with your bank account. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the site.

Take some time to do some research in order to gather as much information and feedback about the site as possible. Want to know how you can cut you research time by half or more? Well, just read objective dating site reviews.

It can be rather difficult to find the right dating site for you if don't know what you want. Therefore, first decide on the kind of relationship you want. Maybe you want someone to spend the weekend with, or a long-term relationship, or even a spouse. General dating sites such as Match.com and FriendFinder.com serve virtually types of people, with varying interests. eHarmony and Perfect Match are made for those seeking long-term relationships or marriage. There is also a niche dating sites for people with specific interests. The different types of dating sites, is subject of a whole different article.

Some say that using several sites at once can be confusing and expensive and you should therefore want join only one in the beginning. We beg to differ.

You see, all the good dating sites do offer a free trial period. You can use this free trial period to test the site. You should choose two or three in the beginning and then decide on one (or more if your budget allows it). Just be aware that some sites offer a rather short trial period; don't let it expire before making use of it.

A little prep work and info gathering up front can go a long way toward helping you find the dating site that is the best fit for you.

How To Start Dating Online: Be Truthful

When people first start dating online, the knee-jerk reaction is to embellish truths such as age, weight and annual income. Some deceptive people even go so far as to use old pictures in their profile, which is certain to backfire if any actual face-to-face meeting ensues. Avoid the natural urge to sugar coat reality and simply be truthful about yourself.

No strong and long-lasting relationship has ever been built on a foundation of deception and lies, so calling yourself the manager of a bank when you work there as a teller is not a wise move. Potential dates will often be far more put off by lies and misinformation than they will be by an old car or a lower-paying job. You want someone who will love for whom you really are.

This having been said, you should feel free to put your best foot forward when taking your profile picture and describing your accomplishments in life.

Be Open Minded And Flexible

Online dating can help you find the person of your dreams. But it is not the key to the gate to fantasy land. If you start dating online with one specific vision of the perfect mate that you are hoping to find, you will likely overlook a sea of worthy candidates.

Flexibility and open mindedness will allow you to interact with an abundance of potential mates, which brings with it confidence and valuable experience. Which in turn allows you to get the most out of your time and money. And possibly meet a wonderful partner.

Next, check out free dating ebooks full of dating and romance tips now.

Online Dating Scams: Don’t Lose Your Shirt In Your Search For Love

Dawg — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:30:01 +0000

About Online Dating Scams: How To Recognize And Avoid Them

According to the Match.com, 1 in 5 relationships begin online. Okay, they probably meant 1 in five relationships in technologically advanced countries, but it's still a huge number. This makes it very attractive to scammers. Not surprisingly, online dating scams are on the rise. Don't lose your heart and your money.

The reason scam artists seem to have a love affair with online with online dating is because:

A of multitude of people (call it the numbers game, the more the merrier etc.).
Emotions are part and parcel of the game. There is no person as emotional as one looking for love, and scam artists appeal to human emotions.

Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to apprehend an online fraudster as they typically operate from overseas, Nigeria being among the countries as usual, and thus under different laws. And, of course, they use fake names. Your best defense is prevention. Here then are some tips to recognize and avoid online dating scams:

How to Recognize a Scam Artist
The relationship may not be what you think, especially if your sweetheart:
wants to leave the dating site immediately and use personal email or IM
claims love in a heartbeat
claims to be from the U.S., but is traveling or working overseas
plans to visit, but is prevented by a traumatic event or a business deal gone sour
Scammers also like to say they’re out of the country for business or military service.
What You Can Do About It
You may lose your heart, but you don’t have to lose your shirt, too. Don’t wire money to cover:
travel
medical emergencies
hotel bills
hospital bills for a child or other relative
visas or other official documents
or losses from a temporary financial setback
Don’t send money to tide someone over after a mugging or robbery, and don’t do anyone a favor by making an online purchase or forwarding a package to another country. One request leads to another, and delays and disappointments will follow. In the end, the money will be gone along with the person you thought you knew.
Report relationship scams to:
The Federal Trade Commission
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center
Your state Attorney General
Original post at: On Guard Online

Be sure to enroll with a reputable dating site too. Some sites are made by organized con artists and may not even have real members. But the rule of thumb is, if someone asks for money end that communication immediately. This is why you should never share your primary email, phone number or mailing address with someone you have met online until you have met him or her and feel comfortable.

Online Dating Secrets (Video)

Dawg — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Perhaps you are struggling to find success in online dating. You may be wondering how people who claim they found their soul mate through online dating did it. Or how some appear to get date after date with what looks like ease. Well here’s a short video about online dating secrets:

We agree being honest to fundamental to success in online dating, especially when seeking a long-term relationship. Avoid even the so-called white lies. You know, lying about your age, height, weight and such. However to the two most vital things (the real online dating secrets for success) are:

1. How you present yourself in your personal profile.

2. How you respond to a personal profile.

Get those two things right and the rest will be much easier. And oh, finding the right dating site for you is extremely vital too. This depends on what you want. There are matchmaking services for people seeking serious relationship or marriage, general dating sites that serve all kinds of people and interests, and niche dating sites that serve specific interests.