Online Dating for Dummies
Whether you have been dating
for years, getting back in the game, or just starting
out, you could always use a bit of dating advice.
Not the kind you get from your mother, but rather
the kind that actually might get you past the
first date, on to the 2nd and perhaps on to a
happily ever after.
So you have decided to date and you are thinking
about the "online dating" thing? Well, why not.
To be cliche' everyone is doing it! In today's
action packed, hustle, bustle world, who had time
or energy to meet the traditional ways. Online
meeting has become a norm, and is gaining in acceptability.
Writing Your Profile
Many online dating services offer assistance in
writing your profile, if you are not a good writer
then this may be something you should consider.
Before you sit down to write your profile, find
out how others see you, so that you can more adequately
describe yourself as you are seen. (You don't
see yourself as others do - probably) The best
way to do this is ask around. You don't have to
tell anyone why - just ask for one word that describes
your looks, work habits, home environment etc
get a list and go from there. Chances are you
will come closer to a good description of yourself
that way than any other way.
To Post a Picture or Not To Post
That is the question Well are you photogenic?
You know even if you aren't there has to be a
picture somewhere of you that looks good. Find
it! Whoever said a picture is worth a thousand
words knew what the were talking about. And let's
face it - this is a shallow society - we are attracted
by looks in addition to pleny of other things
- but looks are definetly high on the list. Not
putting up a picture leads to suspicion of whether
you are attractive or not - what's wrong with
you! Put it up there.
Free Online Dating Services, Trials, and Charges
You get what you pay for - most of the time. Most
of the online dating services charge. It's a huge
market - just doesn't seem like it when you are
actually trying to find a date does it? The best
thing to do is find a trial service, or a service
that allows you to wink or send eye contact or
a smile to another party to let them know you
are interested. So if you both just send that
and then it goes nowhere you have to decide -
are they worth the fee to join the site to find
out more. If you do decide to join, keep in mind
that most of these sites won't let the other person
respond without also having a membership. That
does not mean however that you can't send them
an alternate method of contacting you. There is
nothing more frustrating than being contacted
by someone you would like to write back to, but
no way to do that unless you also join. Is it
worth the fees? Some site editors are not too
bright either and you can sneak little ways into
your profile that allow future interested parties
a way to find you. Such as saying something like
- "I have the same name where the little yellow
man is" would tell someone that your username
at AOL would be the same as your username on the
profile and they might then contact you without
you either one buying a membership.
If you choose to post on more than one site, try
to spice each profile up a bit differently. No
one wants to read the same thing twice, and what
you might have missed out on saying in one profile
may be the thing that catches someone's attention
on another profile. Use different pictures too.
What to be Cautious of
Online meeting has allowed us to move a bit faster
than traditional dating. Your inhibitions all
fall down when you are sitting behind a computer
screen and you can do or say or flirt however
you want and it's not as difficult as it is face
to face. What that usually leads to is assuming
you know someone better than you normally would
before you've ever had that first date - but beware
- their inhibitions were down too and they may
have come across a lot greater than they really
are.
Do You Take Down Your Profile When You Meet
Someone?
Well - did they take down their profile? If they
did, and you are serious about being exclusive,
then you should take down your profile. (on all
the sites you have it up on) But if they haven't
and you aren't then leave it up. Think how many
fish swimming around in the sea might nibble on
your bait while you have it out there!
Perhaps getting online and flirting and maybe
even meeting up with someone is the push you need
to get out more and enjoy life. Maybe it leads
to happily ever after. Whatever it leads to enjoy
it and yourself!
You can site specific advice and more information
as well as recommended sites by visiting my website
at www.themarketradar.com
About the author:
H M Hovis holds a degree in Mass Communication
with an emphasis in Public Relations, and currently
works in the casino industry.
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