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7 Online Dating Tips to help you Get the Most Out of Online Dating
1. Which sites should I join?
Before you start thinking about which specific websites to join, you first need to think about and determine what type of online dating experience you're looking for. For example, are you looking for a serious long term remationship or casual dating? Looking to date within your religion, ethnicity? Looking for only webcam chat? Determine the type of expeience you're interested in - with so many dating websites online today you will be able to find one that fits your lifestyle and expected online dating experience.
Once you determine the type of experience you're looking for, we recommend you use this website and browse descriptions of sites by category. Then, register with 2 - 4 sites. We recommend joining more than one or two sites because the goal is to expose your profile to as many people as possible to increase your chances of a match. And since most sites allow you to join and build a basic membership profile for free, joing more than one site will not cost any more money. It's a great way to try out many different sites and see where you get the most interests.
2. Is Free Really Free?
Here's the bottom line on free registrations - Are they really free? Yes. Do you get FULL features? No. Most sites will allow you to create a full profile including photos and videos for free. However if you want to send an interest or wink at someone or have an instant messenger conversation with them, you'll have to upgrade usually for a low monthly fee. Sites offers various levels of free membership, read our reviews for a full breakdown.
3. Evaluating Site Features
The goal of joining a site is to find a profile of someone that interests you and then make contact with them. So a stable instant messenger and email system is a must. Some sites today now have audio and video instant messengers systems that allow you to watch and talk to people through IM - we love this feature and recommend you use it.
Here our recommended list of features:
- Email
- Audio / Video Instant Messenger
- Video Profiles
- Cam Chat
- Personality Tests
- Interest Alerts
- Advanced Searching
4. Do I need to upload a photo?
YES! Posting a photo is the single most important thing you can do to increase your chances of finding a match online. Profiles with photos receive 10x the interests that a non-photo profile receives.
Here are some photo tips:
a. Be sure to post a current photo: Keep your photo no older than 6 months. It's no fun meeting someone and realizing their photo was from 50Lbs ago and they don't have any hair. It's not fair to anyone, so keep it current.
b. Smile in your photo: We know it sounds basic, but you wouldn't believe the number of photos people post and are not smiling.
c. Look presentable: Yes another piece of common sense advice, but we couldn't believe the number of photos of people in awful outfits. Some of the worst photos we saw were a. people laying in a dirty bed. b. photos with ex boyfriends/girlfriends c. In their kitchen in front of a pile of dirty dishes.
d. Use the best lighting possible: Proper lighting is a very important important factor in photo quality. If you have a
digital camera, go outside, set your camera to black and white and take a couple pictures of you standing, smiling.
If your only digital camera is your Webcam, be sure to use proper lighting - DO NOT take a photo with only your computer
monitor on - there's nothing worse than the blank stare illuminated by catho-ray tubes. Turn on other lights in the room...
take a couple test shots and adjust your lighting accordingly.
e. Use Black and White: Most people look better in a black and white photo.
Here are some common dont's:
-Do not submit a photo of yourself infront of your dirty kitchen dishes or on your unmade bed
-Do not stare into your webcam using your computer monitor as the only light source
-Do not submit a picture with your ex- especially snuggling up close together.
-Do not scan you license photo
5. Using Video Profiles
We think video profiles are the most useful tool in the profile building process. If you have a web cam creating a video profile is very easy and you'll be able to preview it before you upload it so you can ensure it's a good recording. A video profile is a great way for someone to show their real personalty. You don't need to be too elaborate or tricky, most video profiles are :15 or :30 so you don't have much time, a simple introduction maybe a quick sentence about the type of person you're looking for and a nice smile is a great place to start. We recommend you think about what you want to say before you turn the camera on - reherse, reherse and nail it! Remember you want to make a good first impression, so don't settle for less that your best!
6. Instant Messenger
Instant Messenger is a great way to introduce yourself and make the initial connection with someone you're interested in. Most sites have instant messenger functionality and the more advanced sites have audio/video instant messenger which allows you to see the person you're chatting with and talk to them directly throught the IM interface.
7. First Dates
You did it. You joined a couple dating sites, had some conversations with some interesting people and now you've agreed to go out on a first date and meet this person for the first time. By this time you should have had considerable email, IM conversations and exchanged a couple of photos - if they've been honest, their appearance should come as no surprise. The variable is how you two will interact and how your personalities will mesh. That's why it's important to follow 2 basic rules for your first date aranged through an online dating site.
1. Meet in public - Making plans to meet someone you met online for the first time should always be done in a public situation.
2 Plan a Short / low commitment first date - Your first date does not need to be a fancy dinner and there is No need to map out your lives together. Meet for coffee in the afternoon, or meet for a late lunch at an informal dinner. If things go well, you can always extend the date. However, there's nothing worse than being on an all-day tour when you realized five minutes into the date that you have no future together.
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