e-DateCentral.com Dating Blog » internet dating tips

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 Advice: Success Tips

Dawg — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 20:29:23 +0000

Online Dating Tips From One Who Has Actually Done It

Finding true love is not an easy thing. There are ups and downs, even sideways. A look at online dating forums will tell you that some really like to bash this medium, claiming that “it does not work”. Of course, there are millions others who would say it really does work, but since they have no axe to grind they are mostly silent. Below is a great piece of online dating advice from someone who has actually done it.

Side note: Just so you don’t get confused, the writer is answering questions on Twitter and then expanded the answer (you don’t have much room on Twitter).

ONLINE DATING
@jaltucher: What are your feelings concerning online dating? Would you treat it like a new business, considering the interactions?
@jeehtoven: i treat online dating EXACTLY how i treated starting a business. And don’t forget to cut losses quickly!.
Expanded answer: I was online dating before I met Claudia. I tried every service. Heck, I even created a service! I was online 3-4 hours a night (when I wasn’t on a date) sending out messages to profiles I liked. I spent an hour filling out the eHarmony form and only at the end they told me I wasn’t qualified (“Our research shows that people who are separated usually do not have relationships that work out.
I cut losses very quickly. If a conversation started (some services allow for instant messaging) that I felt was going nowhere I stopped it. If a date happened and I sensed it wasn’t going to work out, I cut it short and that was that. Even if I felt like things could move forward, if I didn’t think it would end in long-term relationship, I stopped it.
(every guy who starts online dating starts off with this fantasy or related)
I had very clear goals. I wanted to fall in love. I wanted someone to fall in love with me. I didn’t want any games where we had to pretend to not love each other while we slowly eased into it. I work pretty fast.
But it was work. Every day sending messages. Every day trying different services. And then the actual dates. If you just try haphazardly you will never get anywhere.
And for me, it worked.

There you have online dating advice from one who has done two ways (dated online and ran a dating service). The full post - which includes business and other advice - is posted at LOVE, SEX, BUSINESS, DATING, and GREED (capitals from original post). I don’t quite agree that online dating should be treated like a business. In my opinion, it is more like finding a job, with your personal profile acting as your resume. Feel free to add your opinion in the comment box below.

More Online Dating Tips

Dawg — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:00:04 +0000

A Few Basic Online Dating Tips You Should Know About

If you're one of the millions of people trying to find a relationship match on the internet, there are some simple online dating tips that can increase your odds of success. Regardless of whether you are looking for a single night of memorable fun or the kind of love that lasts a lifetime, these strategies can help to ensure that your efforts are not wasted.

Focus on the profile

On dating sites, the profile is everything. Since other internet daters are looking for fun and exciting people to meet, it is crucial that your dating profile be positive. You should also focus on making it as dynamic as possible so that it stands out from all of the bland profiles that other daters may read. Finally, be sure to include an attractive photograph of yourself.

Be as truthful as possible

Think about what you write before you send any messages. Avoid lying, even if it is only a little white lie. No one wants to date someone who lies about his income, appearance, age, or any other aspect of his/her life. This is especially true for people who are looking for more serious relationships. Remember, these lies almost always end up coming to light at some point in the future.

Mind your manners

Online dating etiquette is important. Learn the rules for communicating with others on dating sites. Always be respectful, and try to spend more time talking about the other person than you spend talking about yourself. Avoid lewd comments, and learn to make a habit of treating others as you would like to be treated. If you decide to stop communicating with someone, have the courtesy to let her know that your interests lie elsewhere.

Know your goals

It is important to have a goal when participating in any internet dating service. Not everyone is looking for love, after all. Some people just want to have a good time and meet interesting new people. Always decide what your goals are in advance, and then be forthright about these objectives in your communications with others.

Be safe

Practice online dating safety at all times. Avoid giving out too many personal details to people when you first meet them on the internet. In addition, always make sure that any first date is in a public location, and never give out any personal phone numbers until you have had several dates with the person.

Meeting new people on internet dating sites should be a safe and enjoyable experience for every dater. By using these basic online dating tips, anyone can find success in his or her internet relationship search.

A Few Tips On How To Date Online And Keep Safe

Dawg — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Many people would like to know how to date online, using a real dating websites in particular. Online dating has increasingly grown in popularity, and more people at this point in time are finding their soulmates through the use of such sites and the Internet in general.

While using an online service is a good idea, it is not as easy as it may seem. It may take some practice to use even paid sites in the most effective manner possible. A discussion of how to accomplish this follows.

To begin, you should first determine what you are looking for in the perfect partner. This will aid you in creating a unique and eye-catching profile. Such a profile will include interests, hobbies, personality traits, and more. The key is to create a profile that will attract perfect potential mates who have mutual interests.

Knowing what you want in a partner can also help you find the right dating website. Getting on the wrong site can lead in frustration, and can feel like trying to swim upstream. If you're looking for a long-term relationship, you will not like the experience of being in a site designed for people seeking weekend flings.

Your personal profile is your online showcase. Make it work for you. The good thing is that it never sleeps, and if done right it will work for you 24/7 even while you're sleeping. Nothing is better than to find a few emails from people interested in knowing more about you and possibly meeting you. That's how powerful a good personal profile is.

An online dater should also avoid writing anything negative or disturbing in his or her profile. Such information may prove to be of concern to a potential mate who reads it. The person reading the profile has nothing else to go on but the negative words, and this will most likely cause him or her to have a poor opinion of the individual who composed the profile. With this said, it is best to sound positive and pleasant at all times when on the online dating scene.

Your picture is perhaps the most important aspect of your profile. People begin their search by browsing photos. You should put up at least one good and recent picture. Most dating services now allow you to post more than one picture, which can be helpful as it allows you to show different aspects of you. A picture with you smiling is a good thing, but you don't have to smile. Interestingly, there are people who look attractive with a frown and if you are one of them… well, give them that frown.

There is nothing more deceptive than posting placing up pictures of oneself that are old and outdated. It establishes a sense of distrust right from the very start, as it will be obvious if and when the couple meets in person, that one or both dates posted outdated pictures. As always, honesty is the best policy.

Internet daters need to be extremely careful about becoming involved with scammers or just about anyone who asks for money period. While it is even more suspicious when a person asks for financial assistance right away, asking for money in general should serve as a red flag that it would be best not pursue a potential relationship, no matter how long the two of you have been communicating. There are sadly many documented cases of men and women who tried to find love online, only to encounter financial predators that ruined their credit and swindled them out of thousands of dollars.

One way to possibly scare away a scammer is to ask potential suitors to chat with you live on webcam. Webcams are available at relatively low cost at stores like Amazon and most of the good dating sites support live video chatting. You can, say, ask them to wave hello on the webcam to ensure that the who clip was not pre-recorded. It should be of concern if someone is completely opposed to doing this. What if they claim to be in country that is not technologically advanced and therefore he or she cannot appear on live video?

In that case, run. This is the most common ruse that online dating scammers use. They will often claim to be deployed overseas by the military or working for the Peace Corps or something of that nature. It is safer not to believe them.

There a number of things you can do to make your online dating experiences more of a success. These include determining what he or she is looking for in a potential suitor and signing up with the right dating site. Others are avoiding writing anything negative your profile; putting up recent pictures; avoiding anyone who asks for money; and checking looking out for potential swindlers.

You can download free books online dating and romance tips. Just go to our dating ebooks page now.

Finding A Good Dating Site That Fits With Your Personality And Relationship Interests

Dawg — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Knowing what is or is not a good dating site can be difficult. In recent years, there has been less of a stigma once attached to internet dating. It is no longer seen as the preserve of the nerdy man in his basement or the single lady who owns a herd of cats.

This should not really be a surprise. If you are prepared to buy insurance, houses or earn money online then you should be able to find your future life partner on the internet. Like any other service it should be something you should look carefully online.

Free sites can be useful depending on what you want. If you do not have the money to use the regular dating websites they can help you to arrange more dates and meet more people. However, you should be aware of what you are getting into. Con artists and other creeps like these sites, as security is lax. The right common sense approach should be applied at all times.

The first thing to remember is that people will often lie or exaggerate on their profiles. It is often said that men exaggerate their height while women lie about their weight. However, it has to be said that men and women will often lie about both!

Some free sites should have messaging services. These will give you the chance to talk and get more of an idea about them. You may want to use search engines or social networks to see if you can find out about them. It is recommended that you get to know as much as possible about your online date before meeting him/her in person. But also realize there is a fine line between finding out information and stalking, so be careful. Meeting in a neutral location such as a coffee house is less intimidating than a formal date and can help you see them for yourself.

It may help to go on a site for specific needs. These range from people in uniform, plus size dating sites for larger people and different types of sexual orientation. For those seeking marriage or long-term relationships, matchmaking services are the place to go. Some people may believe in opposites attracting. Nevertheless, it is more common that people bond over shared interests. If you are a vegetarian, it is unlikely you will bond with someone who loves going out for fried chicken on a Friday night!

A good dating site is the right one for your individual needs and makes it clear what it is offering for you. Check for the padlock symbol to make sure any transactions are secure on any paid sites. Most will offer free trials that can help you get an idea what is right for you. You can also check reviews and feedback online to see if one is ideal for your personal needs.

Tips for Online Dating Success: A Guide to Smart and Safe Internet Dating

Dawg — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:09:07 +0000

Dating sites can be a great tool to find that special someone. They give you the opportunity to seek out a potential partner that you may not have met under normal circumstances. Just like finding a partner under those normal circumstances, there are some tips for online dating success that can significantly increase your chances of getting the date that you want.

Everyone only gets one first impression. This is no different on Internet dating sites, where your profile picture is oftentimes the first thing potential partners are scrolling through when they are looking for a match.

Find picture of yourself that shows you in your best light. Typically the first picture should be a headshot. If you can, post at least one more picture that shows you doing an activity such as a favorite hobby. (The good dating sites allow more than one picture). This is a good way to grab someone's attention that has the same interests.

After you have attracted someone with your picture, you do not want to turn them away with a poorly written profile. In summary, you should make your profile positive, interesting, articulate, and most of all, honest.

You will want to avoid making your profile sound like you are uneducated (no pun intended), but at the same time do not make yourself seem condescending. Make your profile sound like you are positive and upbeat while avoiding negative and sad remarks like being lonely or just coming out of a bad relationship. If you can, try to incorporate some humor but don't be overly funny or make any remarks that could be perceived as offensive.

One critical thing to keep in mind is that you should be a hundred percent honest. It is never a good idea to start off a relationship with dishonesty. Just like any other relationship, your potential partner will most likely find out about your lies. Be yourself and don't act like somebody else. You might want to be like that magnetic cousin or friend, but the fact is that you are not that person. Listen to the words of Desiderata:

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.

You're sure to find somebody online that you are attracted to and you will want to contact them through e-mail. You will want to follow some of the same steps listed above when e-mailing them, but there are some additional steps you should consider.

Your e-mail to them will be just like your first impression to them. It is always nice to give them complements but avoid using too many complements because the reality is that you do not really know them yet.

One of the major differences between online dating and seeking a partner elsewhere is response. If you are serious about online dating, do not leave people waiting for responses.

Even not responding for one day may make the other person feel like you do not care about getting to know them or that you are not interested in them. Try to talk to them as much as possible and let them know that you are interested in communicating with them. Of course, this too should not be overdone as you want to avoid appearing like a stalker or wacko.

Perhaps the most essential part of online dating is your safety. Overall, most of the people using online dating services are genuine and are seeking a good relationship with the right person. But there are some that are of ill-intentions. Do not let this dissuade you from using online services; just keep in mind that you must take extra steps for your own safety.

One simple thing that you can do for safety is to never give out any personal information such as your full name, address, or phone number.

If you do choose to meet your online date in person, approach this with an attitude of positive cautiousness. Be prepared to have fun, but also be aware that things could go wrong. Make the first meeting (or several of them until you're comfortable) at a public place. It is a good idea to meet at a place where you can do something both of you enjoy, such as a bowling alley or skating rink.

Additionally, park your vehicle away from your meeting point. Do not let them see your vehicle or your license plate. And, especially you ladies, do not let them walk you to your car. Do not choose a meeting point that is close to your home. Lastly, always trust your gut instincts. If something seems out of place, it probably is.

Now download best-selling dating ebooks full of tips for online dating success and romance.

Online Dating Tips For Men – Tips for Using Dating Websites

Dawg — Wed, 12 May 2010 00:20:17 +0000

There some men who seem to always get right when it comes to getting women online or offline. For the rest of us, we have to learn. Which is why we need online dating tips for men.

Men have one disadvantage when it comes to dating: we are expected to make the first move. This is a fact of life and unless you look like Tom Selleck in his heydays you just must face and accept it. It’s the way it was yesterday, is today, and most likely will be tomorrow.

Back to online dating tips for men, the first thing you need to do is sign up with the right dating site. Many people are of the impression that all dating services are the same. Not so.

You see, even the popular general dating services have certain differences. It could be the type of singles they serve, type of relationships, or even the cost of membership among other aspects.

And, talking of cost of membership, it may be in your own best interest to avoid free sites. Why?

Well, unless money is really a problem, you should avoid free dating services because 1) member service is weak or non-existent, 2) non-serious people with lots of time to waste like to hang there and 3) there is no paper trail so crooks like to hide behind fake profiles. If you’re seriously seeking a long-term or even a short-term relationship, avoid free sites including social networking sites.

The next thing is the actual choice of a dating service. Those seeking a long-term relationship or marriage are best served in matchmaking websites. For some reason women tend to outnumber men in matchmaking services, while it is the other way around in other types of dating sites. Those seeking less serious (at least in beginning) relationships should proceed to general dating sites. Those seeking amorous adventures are better served in adult dating services.

There are also specialized dating sites for virtually every interest under the sky. Like big women? Proceed to BBW dating sites (BBW stands for Big Beautiful Women). Those seeking single moms can try single parent dating sites. And this is to name but a few.

Perhaps the most important thing about internet dating tips for men is your personal profile, also known as personal ad. Some good-looking men have failed to find dates online while some not-so-good-looking men get multiple dates, simply because of their dating profile.

Your personal profile should cast you in the best light without being braggartly. And no, it has nothing to do with writing talent. Just write like you speak but do watch your grammar and spelling. Your dating ad should read like you are talking to just one person.

You should also initiate contact. After all, isn’t this what a man is “supposed” to do? However avoid trying to contact every woman whose photograph catches your eye. Read their profiles and find something that interests you, or something you have in common and comment on it. In many cases, the woman will like the fact that you took time to read her profile.

Finally, be patient. If she does not respond to your email or instant message (or other forms of contact) right away do not shoot her more contacts to soon. This could actually scare her as stalking cases are not stranger in the internet dating world. Women tend to get way too many responses, often in proportion to how good she looks.

Which dating site is right for you? Check out top-rated dating sites for various interests at => Top 10 Dating Sites now.

Internet Dating Tips – About the Different Types of Dating Sites and How to Find the Right One for You

Dawg — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:14:50 +0000

When seeking internet dating tips most people tend to by-pass the most important aspect of online dating; choice of dating site. There are thousands of sites out there and signing up with the wrong type could mean not getting the type of person or relationship you want.

In order to make easier the process of finding the right dating site for you, first you need to look within. Ask yourself what type of relationship you want, as well what type of person you seek. But don't stop there.

You also need to list down the things that are most dear to, that you cannot live without. This means things that are must haves for you to live a happy and fulfilled life. Why do you need this?

Well, a compatible partner must have the same interests and passions at best, or be willing to support you and live with your must haves at minimum.

Next, know the type of relationship you want. This may seem easy but most people will not tell you what they really want beyond just "a date" or "a partner". Well, it is okay to just want a "date" and most of the general dating sites are made for that (we'll come to the different types of dating sites shortly). But you need to go a little deeper.

If you're a seeking a soul mate, lifetime partner or a long term relationship, you should be able to point this out without a problem. This includes those seeking a marriage partner.

This is not to say that only those seeking serious relationships should find the right dating site. There are dating sites for virtually any interest you can think of. Let's take a look at some of these now, shall we?

The Different Types of Dating Sites

Like I've already pointed out, there are many different types of dating services that serve different needs and interest. Now assuming that you do know what you want, here are a few examples:

Generalized dating sites: These are also called popular dating sites because they are… well, popular. In these sites, everything goes except adult personals which are a different category altogether. These are best for those seeking relationships that may or may not be serious. Generalized dating services are often profile-based; you post a personal profile which is a sort of "about me" essay. Examples of such sites are Yahoo Personals, Match.com and FriendFinder.

Matchmaking sites: These are for people seeking long-term relationships or marriage. If a soul mate is what you seek, these may be the best route to take. Matchmaking sites go beyond the profile. They are personality-based, meaning that you answer a number of personality questions, which are then used find compatible partners. Most matchmaking sites do the matching for you but often also let you do your own searches. Examples of matchmaking sites are PerfectMatch, Chemistry and eHarmony.

Matrimonial sites: As the name suggests, these sites are marriage based. They are more or less like matchmaking sites (above) but cater to certain cultures and social-ethnic groups where open dating is not allowed or is considered taboo. An example of a matrimonial site is [Indian Matrimonial Network].

Specialty sites: Also known as niche or special-interest sites, these cater to specific interests or hobbies. There are specialty sites for virtually every interest (and even body types) you can think of. These include:

Sites for big beautiful women (BBW)
Sites for big handsome men (BHM)
Senior dating sites for singles 40-50 and over
Interracial personals for those seeking someone outside their own race.
Religious sites for those seeking a partner of a certain religious faith.
Dating sites for dog lovers
Dating sites for fitness enthusiasts
Military dating sites
[Single parent dating sites]
And many more than can be fit into one article (see specialty dating sites).

Ethnic dating services: These cater to those seeking someone of a certain ethnic origin or culture. In a way, they tend to overlap with religious sites as certain religions are predominantly composed of one ethnic group (Jewish dating, for example). See ethnic dating sites.

Adult sites: Needless to say, adult dating sites cater to those seeking erotic pleasures without strings attached as well as other things of the adult genre such as fantasies and the wild. Examples include Adult FriendFinder, SexyAds, and IWantU Adult Club.

Alternative personals: This is adult dating, but on the kinky side. This is where you'll find things like swinging, S&M and BDSM, bondage, spanking… well, you get the picture. Examples of alternative personals sites are Alt.com, IWantU Alternative Club, and BDSM Sexy Ads.

Webcam personals: These are dating sites that facilitate live video chat, where you can actually see and talk to the person on the other end like she/he were just across the table. Many of these are adult-oriented as most people are also seeking eye candy. Examples include Cams and Webcams.

Speed dating sites: As the name suggests, these are sites that support the concept of speed dating (dating in a hurry). You get to meet as many potential mates as possible within a given time. Each person submits names of persons they would like their contact information given to and if two names correspond, there's a match. An example of a speed dating site is Hurry Date.

Internet Dating Tips to Help Find Love Online

Dawg — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:05:08 +0000

Internet dating has become all the rage in recent years and there is good reason why. It is very convenient to sign on with and explore an internet dating site. This allows those with frequently busy schedules to still craft a dating life even though their schedules do not permit the traditional approach to the process.

But, merely signing up with an internet dating site is not going to automatically dictate success. There are a few common internet dating tips that need to be followed in order to increase the odds of success.

First, you need to realize that an internet dating site is no different than traditional dating meeting processes. The only main difference is the variant on the way people communicate. Once you get beyond this, you will discover interactions with people are the same.

This is one of the most important internet dating tips to swallow. Far too often people will assume that because the site is designed for dating, none of the traditional rules of dating change. This is simply not the case! Never deviate from the established rules of dating or else problems will ensue and success will prove elusive.

Another one of the more popular internet dating tips would be the notion that you need to have a lot of patience. This is a truism for all forms of dating and meeting people. Trying to rush through the dating process because you have a time sensitive membership on a dating site is not going to yield success. The process just does not work that way.

And having a little bit of patience in regards to meeting the person is another important component to weigh. Remember, until you have known someone for quite a while the person is, essentially, a stranger.

This does not mean you should be standoffish towards the person but rushing into meet someone is not always a wise move. Test the waters on the person's personality through email and instant messaging and VOIP (voice over internet protocol). This will improve the odds of success since you can weed out the potential troublemakers

Among the most helpful of internet dating tips is the need to take all profiles that you read on the internet dating sites with a proverbial grain of salt. Why is this? Well, people have a tendency to exaggerate their attributes on a profile and keeping this in mind will often prevent a lot of disappointment down the road when you actually meet the person.

Those that have traveled the road prior to you are always a good resource for online internet dating tips. When someone else has had success with internet dating, they can provide a great deal of information on the subject. Why not look towards such a person as a fountain of information on the subject? It can greatly aid in your ability to succeed with internet dating. Those that have achieved success will have a tendency to want to duplicate it.