Choosing an Online Dating Service

The problem with choosing a dating service is choice -- too much of it! There are hundreds of services. To choose a dating service that’s right for you, you need to be clear about what exactly you’re looking for. As a newcomer to online dating, unfamiliar with all the options, you might be a little hazy on this front. Here’s a rundown of the main areas in which dating services differ which will help you draw up a dating service wish list to compare sites to.

Relationship options

One of the most obvious things to think about when choosing a dating service is what kind of relationship(s) you’re looking for.

Some services, including top dating sites like Yahoo! Personals (singles dating) and eHarmony (soulmates) focus on one type of relationship only. The advantage of choosing a dating service that’s dedicated to a particular type of relationship is that everyone will be on exactly the same page as you are in terms of intentions.

If you’re not clear what your intentions are, you might be better choosing a dating service where members can pursue different types of relationships within the same site. Again there’s no shortage of choice. However, at some multi-relationship services it’s not immediately clear who’s looking for what and up to you to figure it out, using the search tools. If this sounds like trouble (and it can be), choose a service like Lavalife which has separate communities within the site for each type of relationship.

Members

Think about the type of person you want to meet. Are you open-minded, in which case a mainstream service will be fine, or do you have a lengthy list of “must haves” regarding your perfect match?

If you have set ideas about the type of person you’d like to meet, finding them in a mainstream service could be like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. (By “mainstream”, I mean that members are as diverse as the general population.) Instead, consider choosing a relationship service that specializes in bringing people together who have something very specific in common -- religion, political beliefs, ethnicity, body size, certain lifestyles, you name it.

Simply run a search for “dating (or matchmaking, or marriage)” plus whatever you’re looking for (vegetarian, republican, biker…) and it’s almost certain you’ll find a relationship service to match.

Matchmaking features

Dating sites have thousands if not millions of members so good search tools are important. However, it’s still up to you search out your perfect match and not everyone has time for this. Luckily many dating services have matchmaking features (more sophisticated search tools) that will help you find “the one” quickly and easily.

Matchmaking features range from the very simple, based on profiles and/or basic wish lists, to the sophisticated, based on personality and other tests as well as more detailed profiles and wish lists. Unless you’re unusually picky (or just very unusual), these one-click options will typically churn up a good selection of possible matches on a regular basis -- popular dating services attract many new members a day. You can usually opt to have these matchmaking searches run automatically on a regular basis and receive new match details by email -- another time-saver.

At some services, matchmaking features are part of a complete matchmaking service where the selection process is much stricter, usually because they’re geared towards serious relationships. Typically you’ll receive just a handful of potential partners over a length of time. For example, eHarmony (designed to help people into marriage) advises clients not to expect more than one or two matches a month. To accept this level of matchmaking you have to be happy with the idea of letting the “experts” have the final say about who’s right for you and who’s not.

Tests

Online dating services are about much more than dating. They’re also an opportunity to gain some valuable insights into yourself and the type of person you’re looking to meet which could help improve your love life, online and off. If this appeals to you, choose a dating service with personality and other tests for members to take.

For the most part, larger, well established online dating services have the most insightful and detailed personality tests because they have more resources to put into their design. Almost all personality tests are free to take and at many sites matchmaking tools draw on the results to find members who are compatible with each other. So, by taking several tests and judging the results, you’ll get a good idea of which site is going to do the best job of helping you find your perfect match. After all, if the results are a true reflection of what you’re like, they’ll be a true reflection of potential matches too.

Communications

There are two levels of communication to consider when choosing a dating service -- what you get for free and what you get as a paying member. On both fronts, some services offer a lot more than others.

Free communications matter because they let you get to know someone, or at least that the interest is mutual, before you spring for a subscription. (A subscription will let you communicate as much as you like.) At most services, free communications are limited to flirty icons and preset messages that members send to each other, but search around. Some services are much more generous than others.

Once you subscribe, the norm for communicating is by on-site email and instant messaging. Many of the top dating services, Yahoo! Personals included, have stuck with this simple set up and show no sign of changing any time soon. Others, like Match.com, are continuously adopting new technologies to offer members more communications options. Typically you'll pay more so think about whether or not you really need to to be able to access their services anytime, anywhere.

Entertainment

Think about what sort of experience you’d like to have with online dating services. Do you intend to focus on finding your perfect match or would you like to enjoy other activities as well? Many services offer entertainment features including light-hearted quizzes and polls, contests, articles and newsletters, as well as chat rooms and the option to sign up to meet new friends as well as dates.

Offline activities

If the idea of meeting someone online then having to meet them face-to-face at some stage is a little intimidating, look for a dating service that helps members meet and mingle, casually and as part of a group, offline too. Though some dating services go as far as offering singles holidays, offline activities usually involve meeting for concerts, shows and other events in your area or elsewhere.

You can get that all-important “feel” for someone in relaxed atmosphere with plenty of food for conversation and make as much or as little of the occasion as you like. If you haven’t met someone yet, offline activities are an opportunity to meet someone you might like to continue chatting with online, with the advantage that you’ve already met.

International dating

If you’re away from your native country, would like to chat in your native language or are planning to relocate or travel to a different country, some of the more established and successful online dating services have extended their services into countries other than the US. For example, Yahoo! Personals has a new Canadian service while Match.com is live in 27 different countries.

Cost & Payment Options

Most online dating services charge about the same for a subscription -- between $20 and $25 a month -- so cost isn’t going to be much of a deciding factor when choosing a dating service. Instead, look for value -- services might charge about the same but there are big differences in what you get for your money. Also, check out payment options. Several dating services accept money orders and checks as well as the usual credit cards.

Find out what discounts will be available if you sign up for several months at once, and if any special offers are available. Finally on this one, look for free trials and try out all the extra subscriber features before committing to a subscription.

More resources to help you choose a dating service

When you’ve drawn up a checklist of what you’d like in a dating service (and hopefully this article has helped) choosing a dating service will be a lot easier. You can compare your checklist to dating service reviews and, for more specific details, explore FAQs, help pages and “take a tour” options (all good dating services have these). And don’t forget, signing up is free and you can usually explore sites without having to post a profile first. Most of all, though it’s important to choose a dating service that’s right for you, one you’ll enjoy using and are mostly like to have success with, choosing a dating service should be fun. If one dating service doesn’t work out for you, move on and choose another!

Caroline Mackenzie is Co-Owner/Webmaster of The Dating Muse, a guide to online dating services and personals featuring reviews of the top online dating sites plus tips and ideas for finding friends, dates, soulmates and sexual adventure online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Caroline_Mackenzie

Finding Your Soul Mate With Online Matchmaking Services

Online matchmaking is hot. The continual growth in popularity of online matchmaking services has even some its harshest critics take a step back and say, "Well, looks like it works after all."

Indeed, the advantages of online matchmaking over other tried-and-not-so-true methods of meeting a mate, such as singles bars, blind dates, supermarkets and so on are undeniable and varied. These advantages include:

1. Matching: On many matchmaking sites you answer questions and specify what you are looking for in a mate. You can be very specific as to what you like and dislike, what you must have and what you cannot stand, and anything in between.

2. Convenience: You can search and communicate with prospective candidates at any time of the day or night.

3. Numbers: There are millions of people from whom to choose, of different ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, religions and geographical locations.

4. Interacting: While some people can say the right thing at the right time, some of us get the right ideas long after the fact. In online matchmaking, you have all the time to create opening lines or think up appropriate responses.

Exchanging email, instant/text messages, chatting, and phone calls help further in finding the right match as well as weeding out those who are incompatible to you or with whom you are uncomfortable.

5. Put Your Best Foot Forward: In online matchmaking you can broadcast your best talents and qualities by creating a profile that touches on all the interesting elements that make the real you.

6. Privacy: Online matchmaking services provide easy-to-use features as well as an environment that lets you communicate while maintaining your anonymity. You can remain anonymous until you are ready to reveal more about yourself to the right person.

You also get to check out any number of potential mates without their ever knowing you took a peek.

7. Familiarity: You get to "know" the people who seem promising before meeting in person. This eliminates the awkwardness of first introductions. You also have an idea of what your prospective mate looks like, as you will have exchanged photos.

8. Minimizing risk: Meeting strangers in bars, clubs and other similar places carries an element of risk. Though risk cannot be entirely eliminated in online matchmaking you can maintain safety with caution and commonsense. The fact that you have been communicating with the person for some time minimizes risk as you already know the person to a certain extent.

All in all, online matchmaking services offer many advantages over other dating methods. A reputable service can offer you a way to meet lots of compatible singles who are also looking for serious partners. Reputable matchmaking sites offer free trials.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Kamau

Matchmaking Dating Can Give You Great results

Thousands of people have found love through matchmaking dating websites. In the past few years, these sites have made so much progress that has enhanced the compatibility capabilities. If you are considering matchmaking dating, for the best results you should use a well established website. Unfortunately, the most popular sites require a monthly fee. Most people have no difficulty finding great people within just one month of using the service so your investment is minimized. The art of matchmaking has come a long ways and will continue to get better as new advances in data processing come out.

A standard procedure used by matchmaking sites is creating your personality profile for others to view. This is a necessity to making yourself available to potential dates. Your date needs some information from which to decide if there is a match. Being honest about yourself will get you the best outcome when searching for a serious relationship. Matchmaking dating is determined by your qualities and what you are looking for, compared to what other people are looking for and can offer to you. Matchmaking services should not be used for casual or "for fun" dating. They tend to be geared more towards people searching for that special someone or soul mate.

"Perfect Match" is a well reviewed website. With two million subscribers, it features the highly acclaimed Duet Total Compatibility System. This system determines compatibility between two people using important factors such as lifestyle and values among other things. It has been proven successful in finding marriage partners and soul mates alike. Consider giving it a try. The "perfect" date is waiting for you.

The "2OfaKind" matchmaking dating site has made over 10 million matches in 9 years. It also features real testimonials from people who found their soul mate through the website. You can also prioritize the features of your profile and interests to personally design your compatibility scoring system. You have the option of participating for free or you can order weekly matches for a low fee. Either way, you are sure to find "the person of your dreams".

Matchmaking dating is a great shortcut to your soul mate. It is not recommended if you are just looking to have fun. If you feel like you've been in the dating scene for entirely too long and are just stuck getting nowhere on your own, try using a matchmaker. You have nothing to loose and so much to gain.

Keith Londrie II is a well known author. For more information on Dating, please visit Dating Information Site for more information on dating online and offline.

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A Short Guide to Success in Online Matchmaking

Looking for love? When looking to meet the person of your dreams, online dating may just not be enough. What you need is online matchmaking. Just what is online matchmaking?

Matchmaking can be described as a process of introducing two people with a view towards marriage. Online matchmaking is simply matchmaking via technology. How does it work?

A matchmaking site requires one to input lots of details about yourself as well as the type of person you are looking for. This is in order to find your most suitable prospect(s), beyond mere physical attributes.

There many advantages to online matchmaking but the top ones are:

1. Numbers: A large and wide network of people all seeking mates. This offers you the best chance of finding someone who is also looking for somebody just like you.

2. Convenience: search for your soul mate any time of day or night, in the privacy of your own home.

Now let's look at what you need to do in order to find a soul mate online.

In order to succeed in finding your soul mate online, you need to compile six lists. These six lists will help you come up with a lively, attention-grabbing profile.

Not only that, but this will also help make answering online matchmaking questionnaires much easier. The six lists are as follows:

1. Things you must: these are things that your partner must have (personality-wise as opposed to material-wise) in order for you to be happy with him/her.

2. Things that would be nice to have but you can do without. You know, are the icings on the cake.

3. Things you cannot stand (your "no-no's"). These are characteristic that you absolutely will not tolerate.

4. Your endearing characteristics and attributes.

5. Your activities, interests and hobbies.

6. Things you must improve in yourself.

A look into your lifestyle and activities will help you come up with the above lists. If necessary, enlist the help of a close friend or relative. This might seem to be a lot of work, but it is well worth the effort. Remember it is your soul mate that you seek.

Another way to come up with a list of things that you want or don't want in a partner is to take a look at your past relationships. What are the things that you really liked? These are things you want. What did you not like or what made the relationship(s) flop? What characteristics caused problems in the past? These are the things you want to avoid.

Once your six lists, you are now ready to begin searching for your soul mate. The best route is through a reputable online matchmaking site. Not to be confused with a general dating site, a matchmaking site is tailored towards serious relationships.

There are, basically, two types of matchmaking sites:

1. Those that do the matching for you. You cannot view other members' profiles. They inform you when a compatible match has been found. With this type, you have little control over whom you get matched with. Some of the most successful matchmaking sites operate this way.

2. Those that do the matching for you as well as let you do the searching. With these, you have more control and flexibility, though this does not necessarily guarantee greater success.

It is not the place of this article to tell you which type of online matchmaking site to go for: that is a personal decision. But you cannot compromise on the quality of the site as you would be compromising on the quality of your love.

In this day and age of quick fixes, some people expect to sign up with a matchmaking site today and find the person of their dreams tomorrow. This is possible, but unlikely. Patience is a virtue.

Expect to communicate and meet with several prospects before finding the right one. It might take days, it might take weeks, or it might take months. It's all worth it if you finally nail "the one", don't you think?

Now don't waste time. The sooner you start your search, the sooner you'll be able to find him or her. Find a reputable online matchmaking site and sign up for a free trial today.

David Kamau offers objective dating site reviews and online dating tips at his website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Kamau

Discreet Dating Services within Matchmaking Personals

To find love online is becoming a easier than ever, so easy and well-known that now adult dating matchmaking personals are catering to free discreet dating services. Dating sites now have a high burden in managing your discreet dating services downright confidential. By searching through an adult dating and personals site review one can call up hundreds and thousands of these unique discreet dating services.

Through joining a free adult dating service, members who favor to hurdle into the adult dating meeting online services discreetly can by choosing that as their preference. This discreet dating is best for married men who need to fall upon some beautiful sugar babies or vice versa. These wealthy men or seductive womoen are looking to cast some action into their married life from discreetly dating a young sugar baby. Discreet Dating for adults is the quickest approach to get connected with young married women or men who are looking for fun, excitement and no abandon. Countless adult dating matching personals are aware of these needs and refined discreet dating a extensive bit of their free adult dating site features. One also can acquire a great adult dating free service information guide to explorer out the latest discreet dating websites and free adult dating sites.

A question comes up, does this bold discreet dating actually work, it seems very possible since so many adult dating matching personals are tailoring to their free adult dating service features. Discreet dating is a carefree way to meet millions of paired couples who want to embrace a bit of excitement in their life. Since there is people out there such as a billion or so, Online Discreet Dating is attracting a wild new service for adult dating matching personals.

In getting together an account to launch your discreet dating it is often important that the adult dating matching personals site stands by their word that your secret is held confidential. The last thing one would want is having their spouse find out that they are on a discreet dating site searching for a new relationship or just some part time fun. While opening your journey in discreet dating you will get to many attractive and wealthy adult singles that are eager to take that risk to call up new love and introduce a new private online relationship with you. Discreet Adult Dating is turning into very popular and almost a way out of some fairly boring relationships for many flurried people. By discovering excitement in a discreet relationship adult singles are becoming alive and free to take that step to conform others while being in a lifeless and dried up relationship.

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