How to Utilize Online Dating

• Step 1

  Formulate a clear idea of what your wants and needs are in a dating service in order to find the one that is right for you. There are several thousand services available online, so you will need to make sure that you research your options and ask for recommendations from people you know.

• Step 2

  Once you sign up for a service, your first step (after creating a username and password) will be creating an online dating profile. Online dating profiles are what other users (potential suitors) will have as a first impression of you. It is important that you are honest, mention interesting facts about yourself and double-check your grammar, spelling and punctuation before posting your profile.

• Step 3

  Before you post your profile, read and check the content of what you wrote. Edit your content from the perspective of what you want to attract. Ask yourself if you were honest and if you avoided generic or oft-used taglines such as "I'm the one for you."

• Step 4

  Online dating services will usually ask you to upload a profile picture to their site. It is very important that you post a picture (profiles without pictures will usually get little to no response). Make sure that you choose pictures that are not blurred and are a good representation of what you look like. Post a picture of yourself smiling.

• Step 5

  Once you start receiving responses from your online dating profile, make sure you respond in a timely manner. Ask questions and get to know the person you are communicating with. Read the other person's profile to make sure you are asking him things relevant to what he wrote about himself. Avoid using generalized messages as a first form of communication, such as "Hi! I'd like to get to know you."

• 2
• Internet connection Digital headshot
• Internet connection
• Digital headshot
• Speaking over the phone before you meet someone for a first date will give you a better idea of how you will get along.
• Speaking over the phone before you meet someone for a first date will give you a better idea of how you will get along.
• Make sure that you always meet a first date in a safe, public place. Do not share too much of your personal information online before getting to know the other person.
• Make sure that you always meet a first date in a safe, public place.
• Do not share too much of your personal information online before getting to know the other person.

References & Resources

• Cosmo: The 5 Secrets of an Alluring Dating Profile
• N.Y. Times: Hitting It Off, Thanks to Algorithms of Love
• Chicago Sun Times: Keys to online dating
• Match.com
• eHarmony.com