Whether you’re putting yourself back out there, or venturing out for the first time, online dating may be a good place to start. It’s a safe and private way to embark on a very personal matter. However, there are so many sites out there; it’s hard to tell which one may be right for you, without first spending money to find out. I just really don’t want you lurking around seedy bars drinking up all the gin anymore. It’s time to take a little action.

The best overall dating site is Match.com because it really is the largest and most refined service out there. It’s easy to find reviews raving about its ease of use and superior search options. It allows you to create your own profile, compose emails, post video profiles, and offers instant massaging. It has a very sophisticated keyword search function and two-way matching that checks for common interests in both profiles. You can always search or browse for free, but you will need to subscribe to be able to communicate with other users. It is a really fun, laid-back site that has the most diverse range of members out there.

If you’re a little more serious about finding a significant other, then you might want to try Chemistry.com, which is an offshoot of Match.com. It’s similar to the popular eHarmony, but it’s less expensive.
Its membership policy is also less restrictive, an area where eHarmony has recently fallen into question for being exclusive and judgmental. The way it works is you fill out an extensive personality test, and then the system tries to match you with other users, based on your answers. You cannot, however, search other peoples’ profiles; instead, you have to wait for them to send you matches. Unlike other dating sites, they request your feedback on the level of interest you have in your matches so that you can basically train the computer to find better matches for you. The first five matches are free, but again, you need to subscribe before you can contact any of them.

Both these sites great tools, but if haven’t got the cash, then you should go check out Plenty of Fish, which is a free online dating service that hosts over a million members. The most interesting part about their history is that they have grown solely by word of mouth. It’s just like any other site, offering you a profile and the ability to search by age, gender, or location. It even has a unique feature where members can rate each other in a forum. However, it lacks the savvy profile matching and communication features as the previously mentioned sites. But, hey, it’s free!

As always, you should be a cautious online dater. Most well known sites are usually a safe bet to take, but you never know; you can never be too careful. There are lots of ways you can protect yourself in the online dating pool. Always be wary of giving out your full name and contact info, until you’re absolutely sure. Also, if you chose to meet someone in person, be sure it’s in a safe place where there are a lot of other people. If you’re still not sure about someone, especially if you are meeting in person, then there is no harm in running a background check on a trusted site like PrivateEye.com. You can obtain lot of valuable information from these easy to use and inexpensive reports.

So, go forth and date online! I hope you find your match, and I hope your match loves gin.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 22nd, 2007 at 6:06 pm and is filed under Where Would I Be Without Friends and Family?... A Vacat. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.