Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Beat the Dating Schemers

Beware the Schemers

Imagine you date or are thinking of dating through a reputable, online dating service. This will automatically give you reassurance about the company providing your dating prospects. But, let's be real. This does not ensure your dates are squeaky clean. That job is up to you.

Imagine giving your personal information to a stranger. To many strangers. Whom you know nothing about. Personal information exchanged through a dating service may be honest at your end, but there is no guarantee your prospect or date is being equally honest in the information they give you, or in their intent. Ditto for your in-person meetings or email exchanges.

You've seen it on television, in movies and read it in crime fiction books. Some people are up to no good. They are clever and work at setting up the conditions they need to achieve their goal. You, or someone like you, may be a means to an end for them.

Don't be squeamish. Name the Risk. What could they be up to? It doesn't take long for someone to learn a lot about you, your history, family, habits, work, friends and haunts and finances. It is possible someone may be prospecting for:

Money: a sugar daddy/mommy/family
Theft: a place loaded with goods and ripe for the picking
Sadism: someone to psychologically toy with
Scam: a gullible prospect for an investment scam
Hiding: a family and life to slip into and establish a new identify
Industrial espionage: getting inside information from you about your company/workplace/colleagues

Two-Step Risk Reduction

First, take precautions, just like you do in the bedroom.
Second, use due diligence, just like you do with a business partnership or your investments.

One - The Basics When it Comes to Precaution Until you know you want to take your date somewhere serious in your life, it is possible and advisable to have a line you don't cross. This information line relates to various aspects of your life and identifies how much of it you will or won't open up to your date. You choose.

It can include current information about yourself, your past, the details of your daily and weekly routines, areas of vulnerability, fears, your friends and their addresses and workplaces, and even where you live. This is to begin with and can remain so for as long as you feel the need.

A question of disclosure. You may want to meet for a while in venues you don't usually frequent. You may want to leave your car at home and take public transport, which keeps your car registration out of the picture and will expose anyone following you home to see where you live.

This line of what information you will give and withhold about your life is a form of simple self-preservation. A precaution. Don't hand over the keys to your life, until you want more intimacy with your date and have done the due diligence.

Two - The Basics When it Comes to Due Diligence Okay. So you want the relationship to become more serious, you want your date to come further into your life. Be clear with yourself sooner rather than later that this is what you want, and carry out due diligence before stepping up.

Run checks. You can do some of these checks yourself. Or you can hire a private investigator to run the checks for you. A PI may have greater access to forms of information than you do, for example, they may be a paying member of a website or organisation that provides more information about people than you can get for free on the internet.

Checks can include anything you have a 'nose' for. Anything that strikes you as begging for verification. Something odd your date has said.

Some of the more usual items to check are below. Don't be restricted by this list. If your gut or intuition is pulling your earlobe - listen. Act.

The usual items people ask to have verified. Name
Age
Address
Current Employment
Work History
Car Registration
Social Security
Criminal History
Financial History/Records
Property/Shares Portfolio
Associates/Friends/Childhood Connections
Memberships
Qualifications
Business/Social/Community Recognitions/Awards/Achievements
Hobbies
Marriages/Divorces/Previous&Current Partners
Unusual personal events, e.g. involvement in a car accident, house-fire, other.

Of course, discrepancies, gaps and contradictions between the information you have received directly and the information gathered in due diligence will raise anything from mild to serious questions for you. What you do with that is up to you. Generally, problem-solving with your head is a smart way to go; prevention is better than cure etc.

About the author:
R.T.Hág is a qualified, registered Private Investigator. She also writes crime fiction: short stories and novels and her free Crime Zine is available at http://www.seismicfish.com/crimezine.html

Dating and Relating: Holiday Gift Ideas for Him

Exchanging holiday gifts during the initial stages of a dating and relating poses many overwhelming questions; in particular, how much to give without appearing shuddersome? Over-gifting and even re-gifting are verisimilar to showing up at a celebration with an inappropriate party favorite. It's almost tantamount to bearing caviar and champagne to a tailgating party or showing up at a Passover Seder dressed in a Nazi costume.

During the midst of a budding relationship, there are not any written rules defining the proper gift versus an inappropriate one. In the realm of exchanging holiday gifts, two objectives are necessary to impactful giving: matching a present to the recipient's personal style and making a memorable impression.

Maria Luciano suffers from the propensity of over-gifting. She lavishes her suitors with extravagant gifts that scare the good guys away and lure the wrong ones in. Her last boyfriend of eight weeks made off with an iPod. Quite often, her generosity is misconstrued as giving in the name of desperation. Consequently, Maria has very few enduring relationships to show for her high credit card bills.

Then again, Ralph Jacobs does the complete opposite. Since he is carrying a lot of baggage from a failed marriage to a materialistic vixen, he opts for recycling gifts. His concept of giving entails re-gifting presents from family and friends. As a result, his giving pattern makes him appear as a cheap, selfish nincompoop.

While giving is not a pre-requisite to a sustaining a long-lasting relationship, there is an art to giving good presents. The dilemma with over-gifting is that the person on the receiving end deems the extravagant gift as a means to their affections. As far as re-gifting is concerned, it is recommended only if the objective is to turn-off the interest -because the message articulates "please do not take me seriously..."

http://e-datecentral.com/archives/holiday_gift_ideas.htm

How to Write a Winning Personal Ad

This is fact. There’s competition in online dating. A winning personal ad is must if you hope to get the right guy or gal.

This article is not about revealing “secrets” of writing personal ads as there’s no such animal. But follow the following tips and you will stand out of the crowd, which you must do to get noticed.

First draft your ad on a separate piece of paper or type it on a word-processing document such as Word, WordPad, and Notepad etc. Here are 10 steps to writing a winning personal ad:

1. Be honest: If you’re serious about finding that special someone don’t, repeat don’t, lie. Nothing’s as disappointing as finding out the guy/gal who claimed in emails that he/she works out regularly at the gym is 300ibs of adipose (fat) tissue.
2. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Most people look at the photo before they even think of reading the ad. You may email, upload or mail the photo for scanning, all free. But please don’t use a picture of yourself when you were twenty if you are now 44! And oh yes, a smile helps too.
3. The top-rated dating sites allow you to upload a voice message with your ad. Your voice as well as manner of speech tells a lot about you. Use it the right way- no pretences please- and your ad will get attention.
4. Don’t just say what you think people want to hear. Example, if you say you have a healthy sense of humor, yet your ad is dull and boring… well, they just won’t buy it.
5.
Be realistic. Maybe you want to introduce some athletic genes into your family tree, but you will have a hard time finding an international Kenyan runner online.
6. Let your personality come through. Conversational style writing works best. If you have a sense of humor, use it but in good taste (don’t tell a dirty joke in a non-adult website, please). Ditto if you have a poetic touch- just don’t baffle them with Shakespearean talk.
7. Create an attention grabbing headline. Don’t be just another “DWM, 42, Seeking Love”. Be different. A little homework will help here. Study the personal headlines that grab your attention. Use these as model. You can even steal a headline or two, just don’t say I told you so (wink).
8. Describe yourself. You do know yourself, don’t you? Don’t be just another “Likes candle light dinners”. Who are you? What’s important to you? Do you enjoy long drives while appreciating nature’s beauty? Do you like Bach or Mozart? List these down.
9. This is more of an extension of #8 above: Instead of rambling on about the person you’re looking for, write about you own characteristics and personality. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and ask yourself what you would like about YOU. List these down. Please be honest. All the same, avoid cheap modesty. If you have a special talent (example, you can play the piano really well), let it be known. Just state it as fact and not brag.
10. Be positive: You may be desperate and miserable, but please don’t let it show. Negativity repels. Likewise avoid “this is me, whether you like it or not” mentality. Not only is it obnoxious, it also reeks of insecurity and/arrogance. Be yourself, positively.
11. Polish your ad: You wouldn’t show up on your first date with unkempt hair and dirty clothes, I trust? Then check your ad for misspellings, bad sentences etc. Remove all the bits that might not interest your potential date. Be brief without losing essence: patience runs very thin online. Re-write till you’re completely satisfied- this might seem a pain in the rear, but the payoff is worth it.
12. BE HONEST! This can never be overstated.

Finished? Now you can transfer (or copy and paste) your extraordinary ad on to your favorite dating site and submit.

About the author:
David Kamau is the owner of http://e-datecentral.com. Receive updates, tips and articles about the e-date scene in you mailbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today at http://e-datecentral.com/subscribe.htm.

Dating Safety: 10 Tips on How to Stay Safe When Dating Online

Worried about online dating safety? Approached right, it is one of the safest, if not the safest forms of dating especially compared to random dating, blind dating or bar room dating. But that’s subject of another article. This article is about giving you tips to stay safe.

Nature has put women in a much more vulnerable position than men when it comes to safety. Therefore, these tips are mainly addressed to the ladies.

1. From the word go, never give out your personal details such as your real name, address, personal email, phone number or where you work until you’ve met and you are comfortable with the person. Never use your real name as your screen name.
2. Use a reputable dating site that has a good privacy policy posted on their site. Reputable dating sites protect your privacy, and even offer email address specifically for online dating.
3. Start slow. Don’t be pressured to meet or call the person. Ask questions (but don’t turn it into an interrogation). Begin communication by email only, and build up gradually.
4. Insist on picking the meeting place and stay away from home. Pick a place that is crowed and well lit. Avoid your favorite hang-outs as you could later be tracked from there. Don’t accept suggestions that will make you leave your safety zone (example, “let’s take a walk”).
5. Avoid alcohol. If you must drink, keep it well under control. Alcohol clouds judgment and makes one careless. Assaults have been known to be committed by seemingly “nice guys” under influence of alcohol.
6. Never leave your drink unattended. Something nasty could be slipped in. And don’t accept a drink ordered in your absence (while on visit to the ladies room, for example).
7. Ladies, never walk the man to his car or let him walk you to yours. This is danger zone. Leave in separate ways and at different times. Stay alert in case you’re being followed. Never drop your guard.
8. Trust your instincts. If you get bad vibes or something makes you uncomfortable, get out and leave. Be alert for inconsistencies and exaggerations and/or evasiveness.
9. Let a friend know of your meeting, time and the place. Give him/her a copy of your prospect’s photo, profile, and user name. Have your friend call you at designated time(s). You could also use the call as an escape if uncomfortable. No photo? Then no date. Never meet someone whose photo you don’t have.
10. When calling, block your number or use a calling card that can’t be traced back to you. You would be surprised at how much information a computer-savvy person can dig up about you with just a phone number.

Don’t let the above tips scare you from online dating. They are simply safe-guards against the (remote) chance of coming across the wrong type of person. As with almost everything else in life, approach internet dating with good judgment and good old common sense. Be safe… and have fun!

About the author:
David Kamau owns http://www.e-datecentral.com, which reviews dating sites. Find top-rated, reputable dating sites. Be e-date savvy, safe and successful: receive articles, tips and free ebooks=> http://www.e-datecentral.com/subscribe.htm

Online Dating: Are Free Trial Offers Worth Your Time?

Looking for the right dating site? Browse dating sites, and you will not fail to notice just how enticing they can be. How do you find out what really lies behind that enticing, graphics-laden home-page? How can you tell that the site is a good fit for you?

Most dating sites do offer a trial membership, which allows you to assess the quality of their service. In fact, you should be wary about joining a dating service without a free trial. But wait. There are a few other things to consider.

Knowing that most people online have become addicted to “quick fixes”, most dating sites offer what’s known as a tour, which is not a real trial. What’s the difference?

A tour is just that, a tour. You browse pictures of happy couples tied in loving embraces- you can almost feel chemistry flowing between. As intended you will likely get the unrealistic impression that those couple(s) found their love and happiness through that website.

A tour is quick and easy to take but also misleading. It is a waste of time, as it does not allow you to actually experience the features and benefits of site.

In contrast, a true free trial involves some degree of sign up. You may be required to answer questions and/or post a profile. A willingness to fully answer questions indicates commitment on your part and goes to show that you’re not just another joker with too much time in his/her hands.

Also, a true trial allows you enjoy most of the site’s features without paying, for a period of time. But note that the trial is geared towards getting you to become a paid member (which is fair and reasonable) therefore you’ll get a teaser here and there regarding features only available to paid members. Well, stick with the free trial till it’s over.

There are, basically, two types of free trial memberships. One is unlimited (to an extent) in features but limited in period. The other is limited in features but unlimited in period. Some sites offer something across the two, giving or taking features and/or trial period. Which is better?

It is best to go with the first type; unlimited in features but limited in period. Why?

Because this allows you to get a true “feel” of the site by letting you enjoy most of the benefits of a paid membership, without making a commitment. It’s the best way to learn what makes the site tick (or not).

Before signing up for a free trial, bear in mind that it will only be available for a limited time, therefore be prepared. Have your photo ready to submit along with your profile. Once you’ve hit the “Submit” or similar button the clock starts ticking.

You should take full advantage of the free trial while it lasts. If you’re new to online dating, this is a great way to gain some experience and get over your fears and/or any prejudices.

Start initiating as many contacts as possible, right away. Send as many emails as you can. Answer to all emails except, of course, those with inappropriate massages.

While on the free trial keep in mind that your purpose is to find out whether the site is a good fit for your particular needs.

Browse as many profiles as you can. Check whether the site has large numbers of the kind of people you seek, in order to open up your choices.

You should also be able to search prospects by specifics such as age, gender, and even hair color and education level if these are important to you, as well as geographical location.

Other features to look for are private chat rooms, so you may talk with prospects and a private email address specifically for dating messages- most top rated dating sites offer this to protect your privacy. By all means, attempt to use all the features available to you.

When the trial period ends, assess whether it’s a good fit to your personality and needs. Be prepared to ready to sign up for full membership or opt out. If you opt out… well, at least you did not waste your time, and you have gained some experience for free.

Now, don't play shy. Sign up for a free trial with a dating site or two that interest you and have a great time meeting new people. Your perfect match may be waiting right now to spark a little romance into your life!

About the author:
David Kamau owns http://www.e-datecentral.com. Check out top-rated online dating sites that offer free trials at: http://www.e-datecentral.com/personals/free_trials.htm

10 Tips on How to Respond to Personal Ad

Looking for the right dating site? Browse dating sites, and you will not fail to notice just how enticing they can be. How do you find out what really lies behind that enticing, graphics-laden home-page? How can you tell that the site is a good fit for you?

Most dating sites do offer a trial membership, which allows you to assess the quality of their service. In fact, you should be wary about joining a dating service without a free trial. But wait. There are a few other things to consider.

Knowing that most people online have become addicted to “quick fixes”, most dating sites offer what’s known as a tour, which is not a real trial. What’s the difference?

A tour is just that, a tour. You browse pictures of happy couples tied in loving embraces- you can almost feel chemistry flowing between. As intended you will likely get the unrealistic impression that those couple(s) found their love and happiness through that website.

A tour is quick and easy to take but also misleading. It is a waste of time, as it does not allow you to actually experience the features and benefits of site.

In contrast, a true free trial involves some degree of sign up. You may be required to answer questions and/or post a profile. A willingness to fully answer questions indicates commitment on your part and goes to show that you’re not just another joker with too much time in his/her hands.

Also, a true trial allows you enjoy most of the site’s features without paying, for a period of time. But note that the trial is geared towards getting you to become a paid member (which is fair and reasonable) therefore you’ll get a teaser here and there regarding features only available to paid members. Well, stick with the free trial till it’s over.

There are, basically, two types of free trial memberships. One is unlimited (to an extent) in features but limited in period. The other is limited in features but unlimited in period. Some sites offer something across the two, giving or taking features and/or trial period. Which is better?

It is best to go with the first type; unlimited in features but limited in period. Why?

Because this allows you to get a true “feel” of the site by letting you enjoy most of the benefits of a paid membership, without making a commitment. It’s the best way to learn what makes the site tick (or not).

Before signing up for a free trial, bear in mind that it will only be available for a limited time, therefore be prepared. Have your photo ready to submit along with your profile. Once you’ve hit the “Submit” or similar button the clock starts ticking.

You should take full advantage of the free trial while it lasts. If you’re new to online dating, this is a great way to gain some experience and get over your fears and/or any prejudices.

Start initiating as many contacts as possible, right away. Send as many emails as you can. Answer to all emails except, of course, those with inappropriate massages.

While on the free trial keep in mind that your purpose is to find out whether the site is a good fit for your particular needs.

Browse as many profiles as you can. Check whether the site has large numbers of the kind of people you seek, in order to open up your choices.

You should also be able to search prospects by specifics such as age, gender, and even hair color and education level if these are important to you, as well as geographical location.

Other features to look for are private chat rooms, so you may talk with prospects and a private email address specifically for dating messages- most top rated dating sites offer this to protect your privacy. By all means, attempt to use all the features available to you.

When the trial period ends, assess whether it’s a good fit to your personality and needs. Be prepared to ready to sign up for full membership or opt out. If you opt out… well, at least you did not waste your time, and you have gained some experience for free.

Now, don't play shy. Sign up for a free trial with a dating site or two that interest you and have a great time meeting new people. Your perfect match may be waiting right now to spark a little romance into your life!

About the author:
David Kamau owns http://www.e-DateCentral.com which reviews dating sites. Receive FREE dating, relationships and romance ebooks, plus advice and tips. Go to http://e-datecentral.com/subscribe.htm

Is Online Dating Right For You?

Negative news sells. This might explain press penchant for nightmare experiences with online dating, or internet dating if you prefer.

Added to this are negative views and stereotypes such as, "online dating is for geeks" and "online dating is for the desperate". This article is about dispelling some of the common negative views and stereotypes by presenting facts.

Common Fallacies and Truths about Online Dating

Fallacy: "Online dating is not safe; I've heard too many nightmare stories."

Truth: Nightmare stories you've heard are actually rare and more likely to occur in bars, night clubs and free chat rooms. They only appear common-place due to publicity they get from the press.

Reputable dating services go out of their way to ensure safe and secure dating environment for their members. Plus, the cost commitment eliminates many practical jokers and lowlifes.

Fallacy: "Online dating is for geeks."

Truth: Surveys show that the majority of online daters are normal people with at least a college education, a career, above average income and are socially active. Most are interested in a serious relationship.

Fallacy: "You have to be good with computers."

Truth: If all you can do is click a mouse and send an email (which you can learn in a few minutes), you are ready for online dating. Popular dating sites make it easy for you and will guide you through.

Fallacy: "Online dating is for liars, losers and the desperate."

Truth: Online dating sites indicate their members tend to be significantly higher educated and earn above average incomes, are sincere and honest people in search for serous relationships.

Fallacy: "It's not safe to meet strangers online."

Truth: It's never really safe to meet strangers anywhere, least of all bars and night clubs. Online dating lets you remain anonymous till comfortable enough to reveal more to the most suitable prospect.

Fallacy: "It takes/requires a huge time commitment."

Truth: Online dating is the only medium right now that allows you to go mate-hunting at your convenience. It is open 24/7 and you can do it in your spare time.

Fallacy: "People lie and misrepresent themselves."

Truth: People lie and misrepresent themselves in person too. With proper checks, some online dating education, and good old guts you can learn to uncover deception easily and quickly.

Fallacy: "I'd be too embarrassed if someone found out."

Truth: What are chances of someone who knows you stumbling upon your personal ad among millions in one dating site among hundreds? And what would they be doing there in the first place? If they are surfing, they are on the same boat with you.

Fallacy: "I'd be embarrassed to tell friends and family that we met online."

Truth: But you wouldn't be embarrassed to tell them that you met in a bar? What's important is that you find someone who makes you happy, not whether you met in a bar, church or through a modem. Look around and you'll find couples who met online and are happy, even proud to say so.

Fallacy: "You have to be good at writing."

Truth: Actually, conversation-style writing works better as it has a personal feel. Just write like you talk and you are good to go. Use a spelling checker, which comes with most word processing documents such as Word or WordPad. Some of these do check your grammar also.

Fallacy: "Online dating is for the young and restless."

Truth: Surveys indicate that the fastest growing segment in online dating is 40 years plus. This is partly due to other methods not being as open to this segment, and the fact that career and other commitments tend to peak at around that age.

Fallacy: "Online dating is for old, naughty or desperate people."

Truth: Older people are the fastest growing segment in online dating, simply because it provides them an easier and quicker way to meet potential mates. But younger people still make the majority, especially those who are busy in careers.

Fallacy: "It's for people who are not social and have trouble finding a date."

Truth: At the risk of repeating, online dating membership is mainly composed of professional, sincere and romantic people who are also socially active. Internet dating simply offers them an easy and time-saving way to meet like-minded people.

Fallacy: "It's too impersonal. There's no real chemistry doesn't feel real."

Truth: If you've ever read a story that drove you to tears you know that writing does convey emotions. Also, top dating sights now offer voice chats and video conferencing. You can look and talk to the other person, making an almost personal date.

Fallacy: "It's too expensive."

Truth: How much is the (potential) perfect partner worth to you? Online dating actually costs much less than traditional dating that involves costly dinners before you even find out if you have anything in common.

Dating online allows you to find out if you have something in common, and to know each other to a reasonable degree before the actual meeting.

Conclusion: Online dating is one of the most wonderful, healthy and appealing ways of finding a companion or even a lifetime partner. If you have not tried it, you owe it to yourself to do so. Top-rated dating sites offer free trials before you commit, so why not try online dating today?

About the author:
David Kamau owns http://e-datecentral.com. Sharpen your online dating skills and check out top online dating picks: receive hot dating articles, tips, and updates as well as free dating and romance ebooks go to: http://e-datecentral.com/subscribe.htm

How to Find the Best Dating Site for You

Which dating site? With thousands of dating sites all over the web and more popping up everyday, finding the best dating site for you can be overwhelming. This article will give you some tips on how to test the sites and find the good ones.

Side bar: This article is not about touting certain websites. It is about helping make your search easier by letting you know what to look for, and narrowing the field down to one or two good sites.

There are two common ways to select a dating site. One is to follow the advice of a friend or family member. Not a bad way, but also error-prone. Remember we are talking about the best dating site for you.

The second, and recommended, option is to do some good old fact-finding through research. Don't panic, this article is about making it easier on you.
What Is the Best Dating Site?

The best dating site is not the biggest, nor the most features-laden. The best dating site is the one that best fits who you are or matches your personality/need(s).
Types of Dating Sites

There are, basically, three types of dating sites:

1. Popular or General

2. Specialty or Niche

3. Community or Special Interest

Now let's now briefly describe each for a better understanding:

1. Popular or general dating sites: These Cater to the general public and all ages, ethnic groups, religions, sexual orientations etc. Usually they will have huge databases, often running to the tens of millions of members.

2. Specialty or niche dating sites: These cater to specific interests such as religion, ethnicity, age groups etc. Their members have something in common.

3. Community or special interest dating sites: These are similar to specialty or niche sites (#2 above), but cater to even narrower interests. Examples; Catholic (not "Christian"), swingers (not "adult"), Filipino (not "Asian")… you get the picture.

So, which way to go? The first step towards success in finding the best dating site is to be clear on what you are looking for. You do know yourself, don't you?

If you have some online dating experience, consider specialty or community sites. But if just starting out, your best bet is to go with popular/general dating sites. Why?

Because popular dating sites serve most interests and you'll get faster results. This will give you some experience as well as a feel of the features. Subsequently, this helps build your confidence while also learning online dating "lingo" and sub-culture.
What to Look For In a Dating Site

The top ten things to consider when selecting a dating site are:

1. The number of profiles: Online dating is a numbers game. The larger the database the better your chance of meeting the right person.

2. Features: These include search and safety.

3. You should be able to search by age and gender as well as height, hair color, vocation etc. if this is important to you.

4. Privacy: Most high-popularity dating sites provide you with an email address specifically for online dating.

5. Availability of chat rooms and private chat rooms so you may talk with your prospect(s) once a contact has been initiated. Web video would be an additional benefit.

6. Some top-rated dating sites will alert you when someone has responded to your email or expressed interest in contacting you. Not the most important feature but nice to have all the same.

7. Relationship intentions: The site should cater to the kind of relationship you seek.

8. Location: The site should have a sufficient number of members in your geographical area, especially if you are not for long distance relationships.

9. Detailed profiles: If a site allows members to skimp on details about themselves, chances are they are doing it. This makes it a mere photo contest.

10. Cost: Don't just go for the cheapest or free sites (there's a price to pay for that), but if they are way above average they should give a very good for this.
Signing Up for a Free Trial

Having narrowed your search to one or two dating sites using the above guidelines, it is not time to commit yet. It is time to sign up for a trial run, which most highly popular dating sites offer. Make sure it is a real trial run and not just a tour. What's the difference?

A tour is just that, a tour. You get to browse pictures of seemingly (may I add unrealistic) happy couples who have "found" happiness using that particular dating site. Don't buy into this. It is crap and a complete waste of time.

A trial run lets you enjoy most of the site's features without paying, for a period of time. But note that the trial is geared towards getting you to become a paid member; therefore you'll get a teaser here and there. Just stick to the trial till it's over.

Take full advantage of the trial run. This means initiating as many contacts as you possibly can. And post your photo immediately on sign-up. The point is to find out if the dating site is a good fit for your personality.

When the trial period ends, be ready to sign up for full membership or opt out. If you opt out, take heart that at least you didn't waste your money or time. And you now have some experience. Find another site and do another test. The best dating site for you is out there waiting to be discovered.

About the author:
http://e-datecentral.com/archives/best_dating_site.htm

10 Reasons Why Online Dating Is a Good Idea

Talk of allure. Online dating, or internet dating, has attracted millions of people worldwide in just a few years of existence. What's the magic or power behind the phenomenal pull?

If 40 million plus people are doing it, then something is right. So, what draws people to online dating in such vast numbers? Well, here are a few benefits and advantages of online dating over traditional dating:

1. Volume: Perhaps the foremost advantage is the almost limitless supply of people online, all with one common goal: to find a date. The huge numbers of available singles improve the odds of meeting the Mr. or Miss/Ms. Right. And, there are always fresh "supplies" as new people continue to join dating sites.

2. No guessing (in most cases) as to whether the other person is available or not, as they wouldn't be on a dating site if they weren't.

3. Wide net: Online dating offers you the opportunity contact multiple prospects at the same time. After exchanging emails and/or phone calls you can determine which if any is worth keeping. If none, just continue your search.

4. Online dating eliminates the awkwardness of first introductions. The first encounter is always the hardest for most people, and getting over it makes the rest of the dating experience much easier.

5. Speed: Online dating is designed towards a fast and efficient initial contact. Once the contact has been made, you can slow things slowed down to find out if you have a match.

6. Convenience: For people who are busy, prospecting online is the way to go. It is open 24/7 and you can also spend the amount of time that is convenient to you.

7. Privacy: You can exchange emails and/or phone calls until you are comfortable enough to reveal more, or to meet in person.

8. Web video chat and conferencing option allows you to see and talk to the other person, making it an almost personal interaction. Sorry, there's not yet a way to touch or smell the other person through a modem (wink).

9. You already know, to a reasonable degree, what your prospective date looks like as well as his/her age, height, education etc. Compare this to blind dating.

10. Low Cost: The cost of internet dating is far less than traditional dating which usually involves coffee outings, dinners, movies etc.

If you haven't yet tried online dating, aka internet dating, you should at least give it a try. Most of the reputable dating sites offer free trials. Who knows, the right person could be waiting for you right now!

About the author:
David Kamau is the owner of http://e-datecentral.com, which specializes in online dating reviews and updates as well as tips, resources and advice. Receive free dating and romance ebooks when you subscribe to his newsletter. Go to http://e-datecentral.com/subscribe.htm for details.