By HM Hovis

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!

About The Author

HM Hovis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. As a gifted writer, she writes both for fun and for work.

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