Online Dating

Online dating is becoming one of the most popular services offered on the world wide web. According to Online Dating Magazine (2007), there 20 million people who would visit an online dating service or site in a month. About 31% of American adults are paying for an online dating service as stated in a project report released last March 2006 by Pew Internet and American Life. It?s no wonder that online dating has reached a financial growth of $642 million in 2008, according to Jupiter Research.

Why is it so popular? Some would say that they are able to build and meet relationship partners. But that is not the only reason why people are interested in visiting and becoming a member of different online dating sites and services. There may be risks, but there are still reasons why signing up for internet dating is a good idea for some.

? People tend to show how they really feel.

There are indeed some people who would make up things about themselves, post a magazine photo in their profile, lie about their identity but there are still some honest people on the net. Most people would easily and freely converse online, sharing their emotions and thoughts because they are not afraid of getting embarrassed. You get to know the ?real? person.

Aside from that, it is also easier for you since you do not have to impress the person. You can be yourself. If they don?t like it and rejected you, then it is not outright embarrassing. Some users would say that fear of rejection is no longer a huge factor with online dating.

? Inexpensive

Let?s start with the fact that there are free online dating sites, although some would recommend that it may be better to get a paid service, security-wise. But it does not mean that free sites should be avoided, just be extra cautious with the amount of personal information you give online. It is more inexpensive compared with going out in dates.

? Safety and Security

Now, some people may raise an eyebrow. After all internet fraud and scams are prevalent. However, what?s great (also one of its risks) about the internet is anonymity. Giving away or providing your personal information like contact details, is of course, your own discretion. There are also some online dating sites which would perform background checks on their members.

If the person you are talking to showed inconsistencies with language and attitude and eventually finding out that they are not what you expect, you could stop chatting with them. If there are some suspicious people online, then you could always inform the site administrator or flag them.

? Meeting in Person You do not have to rush and meet personally. You could take your time, getting to know each other more. This would make you feel more comfortable when you finally meet. Think about the awkward first dates and meeting. This is a perfect solution since you have already established a relationship or communication online. But never be too complacent, forgetting your safety and security. When dating people you have met online, it is better to meet them in the meeting area instead of asking them to pick you up or drop you off to avoid letting them know where you live.

Although, I have mentioned that honesty is important, it is still essential to protect yourself. Online dating could certainly provide you the opportunity to meet your soulmate, but it could also be a venue for scammers and frauds. You just have to play smart.

Online dating has gone a long way. During the early and mid-1990s, there are already 16 dating websites listed in Yahoo!. There were already web sites dedicated for sad people to meet and talk. In fact, meeting on the internet became an important factor in the 1998 movie You?ve Got Mail. Some would say that social networking sites were products of early dating sites.

But it was not always smooth sailing for this service. Online dating sites experienced slow growth during 2001 and 2002, but is now fully recovered. It has become one of the most lucrative online businesses, nowadays. According to web measurement firm comScore Media Metrix, about 39 million Americans or 26% of web users have visited dating websites in December 2003. Online dating and relationship is attracting more people since they are less intimidating compared with the normal dates. In fact, in a survey conducted by The Sunday Times, 72 % of women and 52% of men have had online romance.

With a huge following, the revenues are also increasing. In 2001, web users spent a total of $72 million on dating services, according to the Online Publishers Association. In 2002, the figures increased three times, people spent $302 million on personal paid advertising and dating services. Online dating services welcomed the first half of 2003 with a bang. Revenues were already $214.3 million in just six months of that year.

Online dating sites would allow users to search their database for possible love matches. The sites may recommend matches, but the users are still given the choice to communicate with them or look for other possible matches. These sites offer different ways to connect with other users like online chats, internet calls (voice over internet protocol), games, webcasts and message boards. Sites may be free or may require members to pay monthly fees.

The increase of online dating followers can be attributed to different factors. ? Potential choices. There are a lot of members of dating sites and a lot of possible matches. This would give you a bigger opportunity in finding true love.

? Compared with going out on ?real? dates, online dating is relatively more inexpensive.

? In a way, online dating sites provide you a great way of learning about other people more intensively without fear of embarrassment of rejection. For shy people, this would help them learn about the other person without fear of being humiliated.

If others consider online dating a great opportunity, others may regard this risky. There are some free sites who would claim their success in online dating, however, these sites would also attract huge numbers of scammers and prevents since they are free. In a study by the University of Texas Health Science Center, women who are up to online dating are vulnerable of stalking, fraud and sexual violence. There are also users who would fall victims to people who would assume a different kind of personality just to attract other people or any response.

Online dating sites are not perfect since they may also encounter some problems. For example, some sites would fail to update their database. They would claim a large number of members when majority are inactive. Others would complain because some profiles are just used as ?baits? that are used to attract more members. There are also some sites which use their member?s email address to send spam.

Online dating is all about chance in getting love and relationship. Some would get lucky, while others may be unsuccessful. After all, the game of love is a risky game whether it is online or offline.

Online dating sites would often times boast about their success in connecting people and helping them build relationships. This claim could actually be true, since 120,000 marriages every year happen because on online dating, according to Online Dating Magazine (2007). But not everyone is successful in online dating. There are some users who, after more than a month of posting their profiles, would still not solicit any kind of response. What are the secrets of these 120,000 happy couples?

There are different tips on how you can make yourself noticeable in online dating sites. The most important is the opening line or headline. Whenever people are searching for matches and your profile is a suitable match, the first thing they would notice is the picture and the headline. This would make the first impression, and you want to give them a headline that would peak their interest.

Proper profile writing would even boost the number of people checking your profile. Your profile should be written creatively without fabricating any kind of information. For example, if you?re an outdoorsy person, you do not say that straight-away, you let them know how great you are in the outdoors. Tell something about the most memorable outdoor event you have done.

Avoid negativity when writing your profile. Exhibit confidence, but don?t sound too overconfident or perfect. Crazy as it sounds, nobody wants to connect with somebody who is too perfect. Some would say that this is a sign of scam or fraud, while others say that they are shy to contact ?perfect? people.

Your profile should express your characteristics and what kind of relationship you are after. Indicate good characteristics, but also show that you have quirkiness in your personality, too. Don?t try to be somebody you are not. To encourage them to reply or respond, in your profile invite them to send you a message or chat with you.

Building relationships does not only rely on how your profile is written. Whenever you received an email from a person that does not attract you (based on the photo), do not disregard the person immediately. Read the person?s profile, first. When responding to their messages, be polite. Being uninterested does not give you any excuse to be hurtful and insensitive of other people?s feelings.

If you have sent a message and the person does not reply, be patient. It?s possible that he or she has received lot of messages and its taking him a while to answer them all. Actually, you could send messages to several people at once. Normally, you would be able to get one reply out of five messages sent.

When communicating, avoid talking about personal things like health problems, family issues and financial problems. After all, who would like to talk about these stories when you have just known each other. As the relationship progress, it is your choice to open up without giving away too much personal identification or information.

If you have met the person that you think is suitable for you, then you could start meeting online. The biggest problem of some online dating users is that they think that online dating means online/ virtual affair. Some members would often say that their online relationship is good, meeting face to face will just make the good things bad. That is not true. Remember your objective which is building relationships. You can never reach that and become successful if you?re always stuck on the idea that everything is virtual/ make-believe. Because they are not and more than 120,000 people every year agree with you.

Online dating is attracting more and more singles. In fact, according to web measurement firm, comScore Media Metrix, about 26% of internet users or 39 million Americans visited online dating sites in December 2003. Both women and men have testified to its success, in terms of finding relationships. According to Online Dating Magazine (2007), more than 120,000 marriages a year are results of online dating.

But the internet is full of scams. According to CyberSource Corp. survey, about $239.1 million was lost because of internet fraud and scams. Online dating is not spared from it. It is one of the largest sources of revenue since 2008. It generated $957 million and expected to grow by 10% by 2013.

The increasing popularity of online dating services is not only good news for those who are looking second chances in love. It is also good news for scammers. Scammers would use legal sites and they would target unsuspecting users. There are different dating sites which provide warning signs to their users against scammers and those who are taking advantage.

Online dating sites usually have filters that would separate scammers from those who are real users. Unfortunately, it could not spot all scammers. Most of the sites would rely on their members and users for reporting cases and suspicious users. Also, scammers would ask for your instant messaging or regular email. They would lure you away from the site, so they would not be noticed by the site administrators.

It is very easy to make a fake identity and personal information. They could even steal other people?s identify and or account and use it to their benefit. They could even do scams and fraud in different sites, simultaneously. There are different signs, if the person you are talking to online, is a possible scammer.

? Communication is very difficult. They tend to repeat what they say and would make statements very difficult to understand and would frequently commit spelling and grammar mistakes.

? The photos show that the person you are talking to, look like just a model. Upon checking other profile photos, they look like they were cropped from some internet site or model. The scammer may have used other peoples? pictures. Or they may even post a picture which is dark or blurred.

? They do not provide any home or personal address. All they provide is a post office address and even a phone number which they never answer nor does not have any voicemail.

? They would not even answer your questions. But they would willingly discuss things about themselves. They may be using standard emails and sending it to different people they are taking advantage of.

? They would share sob and sad stories. In the end, they would ask for help and project that you are the only person who can help them out with this problem. What happens is that, after helping them by sending them money, you will not be able to hear anything from them or again. In worst cases, they would come back and ask again and again for money.

Not all scammers would show their true colors immediately. For some, it would take about months or sometimes even years, before they start abusing or asking for money. Reporting the case to administrators is important, to protect their sites and other users. Never send money or continue with any kind of correspondence when they have already showed their true colors.

About 120,000 marriages every year started with online dating, that is according to Online Dating Magazine in 2007. Meeting possible love matches online is attracting more and more people. In the Pew Internet and American Life Project Report (released in March 2006), 31% of American adults have stated that they have used an online dating service.

But online dating is not without any risks. There are already numerous people who have fallen victims of online scammers. Scammers would often enter legitimate sites and befriend people, gaining their trusts. Eventually, they would secure enough personal information for them to take advantage, ask for money or worse steal your personality.

The online dating sites may say that they are doing background checks on their members. However, a background check cannot be performed that easily since there are different laws about this in different states. This is another reason why you should still be on guard when entering an online dating site.

Whenever you are entering any online dating sites, there are some precautions that you would have to keep in mind.

? Choose a good and reputable online dating site

It would be better to stick with paid online dating services. Free online dating sites are easier to access, even by dangerous people. Be aware if a particular dating site has privacy policies. These policies ensure that your personal information is safe from spammers and hackers. Also, if the site looks disorganized and lacks accurate information, then it may be better to visit other sites.

? Avoid giving too much information.

Be cautious when talking or chatting in online dating sites. Information like full name and home phone number can be used track your address and other personal information. Scammers, of course, would not ask for your social security number directly but there are ways for them to find out.

You could use a free email account (Yahoo!, Hotmail or Gmail) which is different from your regular email address. When giving out phone numbers, it is safer to use your cell phone number or you could even have the calls in Skype or in Yahoo!. If a person makes you uncomfortable or you noticed some strange behaviour and inconsistencies, then you could stop communicating with the person.

? Take it slow

You do not have to be in a hurry when setting the first meeting. Get to know each other first, through emails and calls. When communicating with emails, pay attention to the content of their messages. Are they answering any questions or they just rant on about themselves? Scammers would usually create a standard email which he may simultaneously use in different online sites. Another warning sign is when you cannot get them in the other end of the phone line. The number may be unreachable or blocked by the cellphone user.

If a meeting is already arranged, make sure that you would be meeting in a public place. You could tell some friends that you are meeting the person and also provide the necessary details of the meeting. Preferably, drive or go to the meeting place or location, alone. Avoid asking somebody or the date to pick you up and drop you off, they would know immediately where your house is.

There is no rush in online dating. It is important to take your time and get to know the person you are talking to. Do everything according to your own pace. Don?t be afraid to report suspicious users. Site administrators would be able to perform their duties well if they are properly informed.

More and more people are becoming interested on online dating. It is one of the fastest growing services offered on the internet. In 2008, the industry has reached a financial growth of $642 million, according to Jupiter Research. Emerging as one of the major influences in building relationships, online dating has social manners different with ?regular? or ?tradition? dating attitude.

Conducting yourself properly while communicating online will earn you good friends and even the love of your life. But what are these online dating manners?

? Honesty is important. Truthfully answer the questions asked by the site administrator when setting up your profile. Don?t makeup things about yourself. What if you met a person online that could possibly lead into a relationship? They would surely learn about the things you?ve made up.

? Online dating allows you to connect with other people by sending emails. The main problem is when nobody responds to those emails. Is it okay to send messages to several people at once? YES, it is okay. According to surveys, in every three to five messages sent, you will be assured of one response.

? It is polite to reply to messages sent to you. But how do you respond to somebody you are not interested in? For some people not responding is rude, but actually it is a better way than telling people you do not like them. Just keep in mind that you do not have to take it personally if you did not receive any reply, either. However, being uninterested does not mean you would have to be rude. If a person has sent you a very nice letter, then reply and at least let them know that you are not interested.

? When sending replies, make sure that they are personalized and not a standard letter you send to everybody. Even if you have too much on your hands, respond appropriately. After all, you are dealing with people who have real emotions.

? Avoid asking personal questions like employment or personal address, especially if it is just the first time you have talked online. If someone persists on asking you this information you could always say that you do not share personal info with people you?ve just met.

? Don?t be pushy. Let things take their course. In short, take it slowly, give your friendship enough time to develop. You do not have to force somebody to meet you.

? When meeting face to face, for the first time, follow the safety and security rules. For example, meet in a public crowded place. To protect privacy, it is better to get there on the meeting place on your own rather than picking up and dropping off your date.

? After meeting face-to-face, send or say thank you even if there are no sparks during the date.

? If you and your date feel that there seems to be no spark in the date, then it is okay to gradually stop communicating or fade away. But if one party contacts the other, always acknowledge the person and explain that there seems to be something missing from the date and say that you are not a good match. Always say thank you.

? If you are already dating somebody you?ve met online, then take your profile down. Online dating sites would allow you to change your status, without cancelling your membership. Also, avoid corresponding with other people.

? Breaking up is another issue. Online dating experts would recommend that for those people who have only met the person once or twice, you could break up the relationship or dating through email. But if you have been going out on dates more than that, then you would have to break the news face-to-face.

Getting responses from online dating sites would depend on how you ?advertise? yourself. Your online dating profile would attract your possible matches. Because there are too many member users, getting your profile noticed may be a problem. Whenever you are creating your user profile in any online dating site, honesty should be exercised. Any kind of relationship is always rooted on honesty and trust. An honest profile means you are not changing any personal information just to attract more people.

? Photos

Studies showed that men are more visually-oriented while women would prefer checking the profile description. Photos are important since these will be what people would keep pictured in their mind whenever they are chatting with you. It may not be that important to you but it is definitely important to people who would be viewing your profile.

If you want people to know your special interests like hiking or outdoor trekking then let your photos speak for you. This would let people know something about you immediately and get the attention of those who have similar interests. But avoid posting a picture where users could barely recognize your face compared with the giant tree beside you. Post the most recent one.

? Personal information

You do not have to use your full name, this is an important precaution since a full name and home phone number could be used to trace your home address and other important information. Avoid using names like ?nutty? and similar nicks, such names would give a different impression. Don?t just list the good things about you, you do not want to sound ?too perfect,? they may mistake you for a scammer. Avoid writing sob stories like recent break-up or bitter previous relationships. Don?t make it too long.

? Caption/headers

Usually, profiles would need something that would catch the eye of the person looking at the database. Nobody wants to read a profile that is shouting with desperation like ?I?m begging you to check my profile.? Boring requests like ?please check my profile,? is not getting any attention either. Overconfident headings like ?I?m the sexiest man ever,? will sure capture interest but will fail to retain it if your photo and personal info do not match. The best thing to do is write a creative heading. You could change it from time to time. Make sure to provide some thought on it, you could even check favourite books if they may have something that would match your personality.

? Check, edit and update

Check your profile. The reason why you may not be getting any messages is that your profile may have incorrect grammar or spelling. Aside from that, you can change or tweak it a bit. Maintain a positive attitude in your profile.

When writing your online dating profile, make sure that it is simple and sincere. Always focus on what you want. Identifying what you want makes it easier for you to write your profile. Besides, knowing your prospect would be able to help you understand who you are and what you want.

Online dating opens up possibilities, meeting people, building relationships and even getting married. Once you have already signed for a service and uploaded your profile in the site, the dating site would come up with different possible matches.

Online dating sites would often times advertise their success rates. But how do they provide users of possible matches? They do not just pick out random people and put them in similar categories. There are test based online dating sites. They would ask users to answer different question. The scores would determine the prospective dates for a certain user.

Some experts say that test based sites could deliver better results compared with other online dating sites. Test based dating sites would be able to factor-in values, behaviour, and other psychological aspects when marching users. Free online dating sites would match people based on their age, location and other factors which are supplied while building the user?s profile. The user would then make a choice based on what he or she has seen on the profile and pictures of the possible matches.

In other sites, the user could state which attribute is important for them. They could rank their choices and each would be given a corresponding score. The accumulated score will help the site determine which matches may interest the user. Other sites make it more complicated. They would use surveys and mathematical algorithms to search for matches. These algorithms would be able to ?predict? compatibility and if relationship is possible.

Making the user profile is very important in internet sites. Physical attributes like height, weight, and body type are usually the things that people would look for their possible matches. Interests and activities even political and religious beliefs are factors when searching for dates. In some cultures, online dating sites are not mainly used for finding love matches. They would prefer having social conversations rather than date.

Adding or uploading a photo is another important step. Online daters are always reminded to be cautious with the personal identification information that they put in their profiles, like address, home phone number, full name and employer, most especially the social security number.

Online dating sites would consider different factors when sending possible matches to users. For example, men are said to be prefer a larger selection of matches belonging in a specific type. They are also more visually oriented which is why they would prefer responding to women who have attractive photos. Women, on the other hand, prefer to have ?super matches? sent to them. These ?super matches? are supposed to be perfect matches.

Online dating sites would include different applications for the members to use. They would usually have games, online chat, sending emails, calling, winks, emoticons, and sending virtual gifts to create venues where users could connect with other users and build possible relationships.

In the end, it is still the user who would have control. The user is still the one in control when choosing who to connect with, what information to provide and what behaviour and attributes important to them. Online dating sites only provide avenues and opportunities for people to meet possible love interest and even friends. It is still up to the user to communicate and build a foundation of a relationship over time.

Who says online dating is only for the young ones? Seniors show that those who are young at heart could find second chances online. According to the Lost Angeles Times (May 2004), in one of the largest dating sites, the membership for those who are 65 years old and above increased by 122% . The 2002 American census showed that the number of divorced people increased by 5% compared with its 1990 figure.

Technology is helping seniors to find their second chances in love. A survey conducted by American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) showed that online dating sites are becoming popular among their members. Aside from online dating, the survey also showed that they seniors are finding dates through singles? groups, thru friends, relatives and in their work. To help their members with this kind of relationship, they have included an advice column in their magazine, a part in their website for giving online dating tips and holding talks and discussions about online dating.

According to Mr. Ron Geraci, an editor at AARP Magazine, elderly people are joining online dating sites not only to find lasting relationships, but also to find friends who would be able to share social activities and other similar interests. What?s good about dating sites is that they can narrow the choices according to their geographical location, age and other preference.

The benefits of meeting or being involved in online dating is that seniors would be able to get to know the person more before they actually meet face to face. Aside from that, elderly people who have been out of the dating for a while would be introduced to dating gradually. They would also be able to know the people more before they actually meet.

Even if it has many benefits, safety and security should not be sacrificed. Online dating sites are not free from any kind of scams or fraud. Seniors should be warned with posting too much information online. Let them know that posting personal information like home phone number and full name may lead to knowing other valuable information like address and even social security number. In worst cases, online dating can lead to extortion.

It is also important to let them know that not all things that they may see online are actually true. This way, they would not be disappointed. For example, there are people who would claim that they are single when in fact they are really committed in a relationship. Signs that you are talking to a married or a person in a relationship would include late or irregular calling time. Phone calls are rarely answered and they refuse to provide home phone numbers.

Before proceeding with face-to-face meeting, seniors should be warned to take the necessary safeguards. In fact, online dating sites would give security and safety tips to their members when meeting for the first time. Meeting in a public and crowded place would be a better idea, and don?t allow them to pick you up or drop you off. It is not that you do not trust them, it is just you?re taking necessary precautions. The first date may lead to a second one and eventually into a relationship.

The number of people participating in online dating sites is increasing over the years. In 2005, Americans have spent about $500 million on personal advertising according to the Online Publishers Association (OPA). Hitwise Inc. said that in November 2004, there are about 844 lifestyle and dating sites. With a lot of choices how do we determine what service we want?

You will start by determining your reasons for joining a dating site. The type of online dating site would depend on your needs. There are some people who would register because they are looking for long-term relationships, while others are looking for friends and people who have the same interests.

Another looming question is whether you prefer paid or free online dating. Of course, who does not want any service for free? Free sites are great when searching for friends, but they also pose more risks compared with paid sites. Scams and fraudulent activities usually happen in free sites. Aside from that, they could also enlist perverts and dangerous people for free. Users who are seriously looking for relationships are usually found in paid sites. But it does not mean that paid online dating sites are risk-free. Safety and security should always be kept in mind, regardless if it is free or paid site.

Here are some types of social and dating sites that you could choose from.

? General online dating site. This site would require you to provide a profile which would be used to match you up with other users. Members are allowed to look for other user profiles in the database aside from those recommended by the site administrator.

? Niche online dating site. Niche sites do not have a lot members compared with other online dating sites. The good thing about this site is that members share common interests. It is easy for members to start connecting with each other since they have a common ground.

? Social networking site. They are not specifically meant for dating or relationship building. But this would allow you to gain and maintain friends and contacts on the net. It is also a great way of connecting with former classmates, friends and even with an old flame. Although they are not really dating sites, there are a lot of people who have met and dated thanks to different social networking websites.

? Relationship sites. Unlike the general online dating sites, relationship sites dig deeper. They would require the member to complete a thorough personal information form. Answers would be calculated and the site would be sending you possible matches. The user is not able to open other profiles aside from the matches provided by the website.

Before joining any site, it is recommended to check it first. Paid online dating sites usually have free trials. If safety is your number one priority, then check for sites that would conduct background checks on their members. However, still keep in mind, that each state would usually have its own law covering background checks.

Online dating could bring you good fortune or bad luck. Relationship is just a few hits from your keyboard. Signing-up may either make or break your heart. Love and relationships, anyway, are risky enough, even if it is not online.

Online dating has gone a long way. During the early and mid-1990s, there are already 16 dating websites listed in Yahoo!. There were already web sites dedicated for sad people to meet and talk. In fact, meeting on the internet became an important factor in the 1998 movie You've Got Mail. Some would say that social networking sites were products of early dating sites.

But it was not always smooth sailing for this service. Online dating sites experienced slow growth during 2001 and 2002, but is now fully recovered. It has become one of the most lucrative online businesses, nowadays. According to web measurement firm comScore Media Metrix, about 39 million Americans or 26% of web users have visited dating websites in December 2003. Online dating and relationship is attracting more people since they are less intimidating compared with the normal dates. In fact, in a survey conducted by The Sunday Times, 72 % of women and 52% of men have had online romance.

With a huge following, the revenues are also increasing. In 2001, web users spent a total of $72 million on dating services, according to the Online Publishers Association. In 2002, the figures increased three times, people spent $302 million on personal paid advertising and dating services. Online dating services welcomed the first half of 2003 with a bang. Revenues were already $214.3 million in just six months of that year.

Online dating sites would allow users to search their database for possible love matches. The sites may recommend matches, but the users are still given the choice to communicate with them or look for other possible matches. These sites offer different ways to connect with other users like online chats, internet calls (voice over internet protocol), games, webcasts and message boards. Sites may be free or may require members to pay monthly fees.

The increase of online dating followers can be attributed to different factors. 0x2022 Potential choices. There are a lot of members of dating sites and a lot of possible matches. This would give you a bigger opportunity in finding true love.

0x2022 Compared with going out on "real" dates, online dating is relatively more inexpensive.

0x2022 In a way, online dating sites provide you a great way of learning about other people more intensively without fear of embarrassment of rejection. For shy people, this would help them learn about the other person without fear of being humiliated.

If others consider online dating a great opportunity, others may regard this risky. There are some free sites who would claim their success in online dating, however, these sites would also attract huge numbers of scammers and prevents since they are free. In a study by the University of Texas Health Science Center, women who are up to online dating are vulnerable of stalking, fraud and sexual violence. There are also users who would fall victims to people who would assume a different kind of personality just to attract other people or any response.

Online dating sites are not perfect since they may also encounter some problems. For example, some sites would fail to update their database. They would claim a large number of members when majority are inactive. Others would complain because some profiles are just used as "baits" that are used to attract more members. There are also some sites which use their member's email address to send spam.

Online dating is all about chance in getting love and relationship. Some would get lucky, while others may be unsuccessful. After all, the game of love is a risky game whether it is online or offline.

Online dating sites would often times boast about their success in connecting people and helping them build relationships. This claim could actually be true, since 120,000 marriages every year happen because on online dating, according to Online Dating Magazine (2007). But not everyone is successful in online dating. There are some users who, after more than a month of posting their profiles, would still not solicit any kind of response. What are the secrets of these 120,000 happy couples?

There are different tips on how you can make yourself noticeable in online dating sites. The most important is the opening line or headline. Whenever people are searching for matches and your profile is a suitable match, the first thing they would notice is the picture and the headline. This would make the first impression, and you want to give them a headline that would peak their interest.

Proper profile writing would even boost the number of people checking your profile. Your profile should be written creatively without fabricating any kind of information. For example, if you're an outdoorsy person, you do not say that straight-away, you let them know how great you are in the outdoors. Tell something about the most memorable outdoor event you have done.

Avoid negativity when writing your profile. Exhibit confidence, but don't sound too overconfident or perfect. Crazy as it sounds, nobody wants to connect with somebody who is too perfect. Some would say that this is a sign of scam or fraud, while others say that they are shy to contact "perfect" people.

Your profile should express your characteristics and what kind of relationship you are after. Indicate good characteristics, but also show that you have quirkiness in your personality, too. Don't try to be somebody you are not. To encourage them to reply or respond, in your profile invite them to send you a message or chat with you.

Building relationships does not only rely on how your profile is written. Whenever you received an email from a person that does not attract you (based on the photo), do not disregard the person immediately. Read the person's profile, first. When responding to their messages, be polite. Being uninterested does not give you any excuse to be hurtful and insensitive of other people's feelings.

If you have sent a message and the person does not reply, be patient. It's possible that he or she has received lot of messages and its taking him a while to answer them all. Actually, you could send messages to several people at once. Normally, you would be able to get one reply out of five messages sent.

When communicating, avoid talking about personal things like health problems, family issues and financial problems. After all, who would like to talk about these stories when you have just known each other. As the relationship progress, it is your choice to open up without giving away too much personal identification or information.

If you have met the person that you think is suitable for you, then you could start meeting online. The biggest problem of some online dating users is that they think that online dating means online/ virtual affair. Some members would often say that their online relationship is good, meeting face to face will just make the good things bad. That is not true. Remember your objective which is building relationships. You can never reach that and become successful if you're always stuck on the idea that everything is virtual/ make-believe. Because they are not and more than 120,000 people every year agree with you.

Online dating is attracting more and more singles. In fact, according to web measurement firm, comScore Media Metrix, about 26% of internet users or 39 million Americans visited online dating sites in December 2003. Both women and men have testified to its success, in terms of finding relationships. According to Online Dating Magazine (2007), more than 120,000 marriages a year are results of online dating.

But the internet is full of scams. According to CyberSource Corp. survey, about $239.1 million was lost because of internet fraud and scams. Online dating is not spared from it. It is one of the largest sources of revenue since 2008. It generated $957 million and expected to grow by 10% by 2013.

The increasing popularity of online dating services is not only good news for those who are looking second chances in love. It is also good news for scammers. Scammers would use legal sites and they would target unsuspecting users. There are different dating sites which provide warning signs to their users against scammers and those who are taking advantage.

Online dating sites usually have filters that would separate scammers from those who are real users. Unfortunately, it could not spot all scammers. Most of the sites would rely on their members and users for reporting cases and suspicious users. Also, scammers would ask for your instant messaging or regular email. They would lure you away from the site, so they would not be noticed by the site administrators.

It is very easy to make a fake identity and personal information. They could even steal other people's identify and or account and use it to their benefit. They could even do scams and fraud in different sites, simultaneously. There are different signs, if the person you are talking to online, is a possible scammer.

0x2022 Communication is very difficult. They tend to repeat what they say and would make statements very difficult to understand and would frequently commit spelling and grammar mistakes.

0x2022 The photos show that the person you are talking to, look like just a model. Upon checking other profile photos, they look like they were cropped from some internet site or model. The scammer may have used other peoples' pictures. Or they may even post a picture which is dark or blurred.

0x2022 They do not provide any home or personal address. All they provide is a post office address and even a phone number which they never answer nor does not have any voicemail.

0x2022 They would not even answer your questions. But they would willingly discuss things about themselves. They may be using standard emails and sending it to different people they are taking advantage of.

0x2022 They would share sob and sad stories. In the end, they would ask for help and project that you are the only person who can help them out with this problem. What happens is that, after helping them by sending them money, you will not be able to hear anything from them or again. In worst cases, they would come back and ask again and again for money.

Not all scammers would show their true colors immediately. For some, it would take about months or sometimes even years, before they start abusing or asking for money. Reporting the case to administrators is important, to protect their sites and other users. Never send money or continue with any kind of correspondence when they have already showed their true colors.

About 120,000 marriages every year started with online dating, that is according to Online Dating Magazine in 2007. Meeting possible love matches online is attracting more and more people. In the Pew Internet and American Life Project Report (released in March 2006), 31% of American adults have stated that they have used an online dating service.

But online dating is not without any risks. There are already numerous people who have fallen victims of online scammers. Scammers would often enter legitimate sites and befriend people, gaining their trusts. Eventually, they would secure enough personal information for them to take advantage, ask for money or worse steal your personality.

The online dating sites may say that they are doing background checks on their members. However, a background check cannot be performed that easily since there are different laws about this in different states. This is another reason why you should still be on guard when entering an online dating site.

Whenever you are entering any online dating sites, there are some precautions that you would have to keep in mind.

0x2022 Choose a good and reputable online dating site

It would be better to stick with paid online dating services. Free online dating sites are easier to access, even by dangerous people. Be aware if a particular dating site has privacy policies. These policies ensure that your personal information is safe from spammers and hackers. Also, if the site looks disorganized and lacks accurate information, then it may be better to visit other sites.

0x2022 Avoid giving too much information.

Be cautious when talking or chatting in online dating sites. Information like full name and home phone number can be used track your address and other personal information. Scammers, of course, would not ask for your social security number directly but there are ways for them to find out.

You could use a free email account (Yahoo!, Hotmail or Gmail) which is different from your regular email address. When giving out phone numbers, it is safer to use your cell phone number or you could even have the calls in Skype or in Yahoo!. If a person makes you uncomfortable or you noticed some strange behaviour and inconsistencies, then you could stop communicating with the person.

0x2022 Take it slow

You do not have to be in a hurry when setting the first meeting. Get to know each other first, through emails and calls. When communicating with emails, pay attention to the content of their messages. Are they answering any questions or they just rant on about themselves? Scammers would usually create a standard email which he may simultaneously use in different online sites. Another warning sign is when you cannot get them in the other end of the phone line. The number may be unreachable or blocked by the cellphone user.

If a meeting is already arranged, make sure that you would be meeting in a public place. You could tell some friends that you are meeting the person and also provide the necessary details of the meeting. Preferably, drive or go to the meeting place or location, alone. Avoid asking somebody or the date to pick you up and drop you off, they would know immediately where your house is.

There is no rush in online dating. It is important to take your time and get to know the person you are talking to. Do everything according to your own pace. Don't be afraid to report suspicious users. Site administrators would be able to perform their duties well if they are properly informed.

More and more people are becoming interested on online dating. It is one of the fastest growing services offered on the internet. In 2008, the industry has reached a financial growth of $642 million, according to Jupiter Research. Emerging as one of the major influences in building relationships, online dating has social manners different with "regular" or "tradition" dating attitude.

Conducting yourself properly while communicating online will earn you good friends and even the love of your life. But what are these online dating manners?

0x2022 Honesty is important. Truthfully answer the questions asked by the site administrator when setting up your profile. Don't makeup things about yourself. What if you met a person online that could possibly lead into a relationship? They would surely learn about the things you've made up.

0x2022 Online dating allows you to connect with other people by sending emails. The main problem is when nobody responds to those emails. Is it okay to send messages to several people at once? YES, it is okay. According to surveys, in every three to five messages sent, you will be assured of one response.

0x2022 It is polite to reply to messages sent to you. But how do you respond to somebody you are not interested in? For some people not responding is rude, but actually it is a better way than telling people you do not like them. Just keep in mind that you do not have to take it personally if you did not receive any reply, either. However, being uninterested does not mean you would have to be rude. If a person has sent you a very nice letter, then reply and at least let them know that you are not interested.

0x2022 When sending replies, make sure that they are personalized and not a standard letter you send to everybody. Even if you have too much on your hands, respond appropriately. After all, you are dealing with people who have real emotions.

0x2022 Avoid asking personal questions like employment or personal address, especially if it is just the first time you have talked online. If someone persists on asking you this information you could always say that you do not share personal info with people you've just met.

0x2022 Don't be pushy. Let things take their course. In short, take it slowly, give your friendship enough time to develop. You do not have to force somebody to meet you.

0x2022 When meeting face to face, for the first time, follow the safety and security rules. For example, meet in a public crowded place. To protect privacy, it is better to get there on the meeting place on your own rather than picking up and dropping off your date.

0x2022 After meeting face-to-face, send or say thank you even if there are no sparks during the date.

0x2022 If you and your date feel that there seems to be no spark in the date, then it is okay to gradually stop communicating or fade away. But if one party contacts the other, always acknowledge the person and explain that there seems to be something missing from the date and say that you are not a good match. Always say thank you.

0x2022 If you are already dating somebody you've met online, then take your profile down. Online dating sites would allow you to change your status, without cancelling your membership. Also, avoid corresponding with other people.

0x2022 Breaking up is another issue. Online dating experts would recommend that for those people who have only met the person once or twice, you could break up the relationship or dating through email. But if you have been going out on dates more than that, then you would have to break the news face-to-face.

Getting responses from online dating sites would depend on how you "advertise" yourself. Your online dating profile would attract your possible matches. Because there are too many member users, getting your profile noticed may be a problem. Whenever you are creating your user profile in any online dating site, honesty should be exercised. Any kind of relationship is always rooted on honesty and trust. An honest profile means you are not changing any personal information just to attract more people.

0x2022 Photos

Studies showed that men are more visually-oriented while women would prefer checking the profile description. Photos are important since these will be what people would keep pictured in their mind whenever they are chatting with you. It may not be that important to you but it is definitely important to people who would be viewing your profile.

If you want people to know your special interests like hiking or outdoor trekking then let your photos speak for you. This would let people know something about you immediately and get the attention of those who have similar interests. But avoid posting a picture where users could barely recognize your face compared with the giant tree beside you. Post the most recent one.

0x2022 Personal information

You do not have to use your full name, this is an important precaution since a full name and home phone number could be used to trace your home address and other important information. Avoid using names like "nutty" and similar nicks, such names would give a different impression. Don't just list the good things about you, you do not want to sound "too perfect," they may mistake you for a scammer. Avoid writing sob stories like recent break-up or bitter previous relationships. Don't make it too long.

0x2022 Caption/headers

Usually, profiles would need something that would catch the eye of the person looking at the database. Nobody wants to read a profile that is shouting with desperation like "I'm begging you to check my profile." Boring requests like "please check my profile," is not getting any attention either. Overconfident headings like "I'm the sexiest man ever," will sure capture interest but will fail to retain it if your photo and personal info do not match. The best thing to do is write a creative heading. You could change it from time to time. Make sure to provide some thought on it, you could even check favourite books if they may have something that would match your personality.

0x2022 Check, edit and update

Check your profile. The reason why you may not be getting any messages is that your profile may have incorrect grammar or spelling. Aside from that, you can change or tweak it a bit. Maintain a positive attitude in your profile.

When writing your online dating profile, make sure that it is simple and sincere. Always focus on what you want. Identifying what you want makes it easier for you to write your profile. Besides, knowing your prospect would be able to help you understand who you are and what you want.

Online dating opens up possibilities, meeting people, building relationships and even getting married. Once you have already signed for a service and uploaded your profile in the site, the dating site would come up with different possible matches.

Online dating sites would often times advertise their success rates. But how do they provide users of possible matches? They do not just pick out random people and put them in similar categories. There are test based online dating sites. They would ask users to answer different question. The scores would determine the prospective dates for a certain user.

Some experts say that test based sites could deliver better results compared with other online dating sites. Test based dating sites would be able to factor-in values, behaviour, and other psychological aspects when marching users. Free online dating sites would match people based on their age, location and other factors which are supplied while building the user's profile. The user would then make a choice based on what he or she has seen on the profile and pictures of the possible matches.

In other sites, the user could state which attribute is important for them. They could rank their choices and each would be given a corresponding score. The accumulated score will help the site determine which matches may interest the user. Other sites make it more complicated. They would use surveys and mathematical algorithms to search for matches. These algorithms would be able to "predict" compatibility and if relationship is possible.

Making the user profile is very important in internet sites. Physical attributes like height, weight, and body type are usually the things that people would look for their possible matches. Interests and activities even political and religious beliefs are factors when searching for dates. In some cultures, online dating sites are not mainly used for finding love matches. They would prefer having social conversations rather than date.

Adding or uploading a photo is another important step. Online daters are always reminded to be cautious with the personal identification information that they put in their profiles, like address, home phone number, full name and employer, most especially the social security number.

Online dating sites would consider different factors when sending possible matches to users. For example, men are said to be prefer a larger selection of matches belonging in a specific type. They are also more visually oriented which is why they would prefer responding to women who have attractive photos. Women, on the other hand, prefer to have "super matches" sent to them. These "super matches" are supposed to be perfect matches.

Online dating sites would include different applications for the members to use. They would usually have games, online chat, sending emails, calling, winks, emoticons, and sending virtual gifts to create venues where users could connect with other users and build possible relationships.

In the end, it is still the user who would have control. The user is still the one in control when choosing who to connect with, what information to provide and what behaviour and attributes important to them. Online dating sites only provide avenues and opportunities for people to meet possible love interest and even friends. It is still up to the user to communicate and build a foundation of a relationship over time.

Who says online dating is only for the young ones? Seniors show that those who are young at heart could find second chances online. According to the Lost Angeles Times (May 2004), in one of the largest dating sites, the membership for those who are 65 years old and above increased by 122% . The 2002 American census showed that the number of divorced people increased by 5% compared with its 1990 figure.

Technology is helping seniors to find their second chances in love. A survey conducted by American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) showed that online dating sites are becoming popular among their members. Aside from online dating, the survey also showed that they seniors are finding dates through singles' groups, thru friends, relatives and in their work. To help their members with this kind of relationship, they have included an advice column in their magazine, a part in their website for giving online dating tips and holding talks and discussions about online dating.

According to Mr. Ron Geraci, an editor at AARP Magazine, elderly people are joining online dating sites not only to find lasting relationships, but also to find friends who would be able to share social activities and other similar interests. What's good about dating sites is that they can narrow the choices according to their geographical location, age and other preference.

The benefits of meeting or being involved in online dating is that seniors would be able to get to know the person more before they actually meet face to face. Aside from that, elderly people who have been out of the dating for a while would be introduced to dating gradually. They would also be able to know the people more before they actually meet.

Even if it has many benefits, safety and security should not be sacrificed. Online dating sites are not free from any kind of scams or fraud. Seniors should be warned with posting too much information online. Let them know that posting personal information like home phone number and full name may lead to knowing other valuable information like address and even social security number. In worst cases, online dating can lead to extortion.

It is also important to let them know that not all things that they may see online are actually true. This way, they would not be disappointed. For example, there are people who would claim that they are single when in fact they are really committed in a relationship. Signs that you are talking to a married or a person in a relationship would include late or irregular calling time. Phone calls are rarely answered and they refuse to provide home phone numbers.

Before proceeding with face-to-face meeting, seniors should be warned to take the necessary safeguards. In fact, online dating sites would give security and safety tips to their members when meeting for the first time. Meeting in a public and crowded place would be a better idea, and don't allow them to pick you up or drop you off. It is not that you do not trust them, it is just you're taking necessary precautions. The first date may lead to a second one and eventually into a relationship.

The number of people participating in online dating sites is increasing over the years. In 2005, Americans have spent about $500 million on personal advertising according to the Online Publishers Association (OPA). Hitwise Inc. said that in November 2004, there are about 844 lifestyle and dating sites. With a lot of choices how do we determine what service we want?

You will start by determining your reasons for joining a dating site. The type of online dating site would depend on your needs. There are some people who would register because they are looking for long-term relationships, while others are looking for friends and people who have the same interests.

Another looming question is whether you prefer paid or free online dating. Of course, who does not want any service for free? Free sites are great when searching for friends, but they also pose more risks compared with paid sites. Scams and fraudulent activities usually happen in free sites. Aside from that, they could also enlist perverts and dangerous people for free. Users who are seriously looking for relationships are usually found in paid sites. But it does not mean that paid online dating sites are risk-free. Safety and security should always be kept in mind, regardless if it is free or paid site.

Here are some types of social and dating sites that you could choose from.

0x2022 General online dating site. This site would require you to provide a profile which would be used to match you up with other users. Members are allowed to look for other user profiles in the database aside from those recommended by the site administrator.

0x2022 Niche online dating site. Niche sites do not have a lot members compared with other online dating sites. The good thing about this site is that members share common interests. It is easy for members to start connecting with each other since they have a common ground.

0x2022 Social networking site. They are not specifically meant for dating or relationship building. But this would allow you to gain and maintain friends and contacts on the net. It is also a great way of connecting with former classmates, friends and even with an old flame. Although they are not really dating sites, there are a lot of people who have met and dated thanks to different social networking websites.

0x2022 Relationship sites. Unlike the general online dating sites, relationship sites dig deeper. They would require the member to complete a thorough personal information form. Answers would be calculated and the site would be sending you possible matches. The user is not able to open other profiles aside from the matches provided by the website.

Before joining any site, it is recommended to check it first. Paid online dating sites usually have free trials. If safety is your number one priority, then check for sites that would conduct background checks on their members. However, still keep in mind, that each state would usually have its own law covering background checks.

Online dating could bring you good fortune or bad luck. Relationship is just a few hits from your keyboard. Signing-up may either make or break your heart. Love and relationships, anyway, are risky enough, even if it is not online.