How to Get Started with Online Dating

Are you looking to add some romance...or maybe find that perfect person for a lifelong relationship?

If the answer is yes then the online option for dating may be just what you are looking for and you will have lots of company. There are millions of other people just like you doing the same thing.

If you've never tried or have just started looking at the online dating scene, this article should get you headed down the right path. Follow the tricks, tips and recommendation presented here and your initial experience will be more enjoyable, and should give you great results.

If you do a search of "online dating"; you will be presented with more than 2.9 MILLION web pages from which to make your choice! That is overwhelming to say the least so don't let the huge numbers discourage you. You can use the dating preparation and selection methods described, and you will easily find your perfect dating site match.

Our first order of business is to get yourself matched up with one or more suitable online dating sites that fit you and your needs. The questions below should help you narrow things down.

What Type Dating Site?

Plain Vanilla - no ethnic, religious, or cultural themes. Senior Citizen, Asian, Black/Ebony/African American, Jewish, Italian, specific locale, the list goes on...

Do some searching using the terms below as a guide.

"online dating" + senior

"online dating" + Christian

"online dating" + African American

"online dating" + Asian

"online dating" +

Do you get the idea? A search on each of the examples above will pretty much yield what you would expect it would give you.

If you're on a tight budget, just add the word "free".

"online dating" + free

"online dating" + senior + free ...etc.

You will need to look a little harder to find high quality free dating sites or personal services. Sites that are really free, I mean really, really free that have lots of members, lots of activity, and lots of member services are pretty hard to come by. You'll see why and understand better after you do a few searches for free dating websites.

A search for dating reviews and forums can also be helpful.

"online dating" + review OR reviews

"online dating" + forum OR forums

With the dating related forums, you can read about good and bad experiences others have had with particular dating and personals web sites. Always remember that people who are dissatisfied are generally more likely to tell others about their experience than satisfied users.

Look for dating services reviews that give you some good info as well. Always look for genuine, unbiased reviews.

Another way to find good dating sites is by asking friends and co-workers who may have tried, or are using online dating or personals services. You will be surprised to find out how many of your single friends are members of a personals site.

How Much to Spend?

Monthly fees may vary widely, but the average is around $24. Most dating and singles sites will give you a discount when you pay for two or months in advance.

My suggestion is that you only buy into a one month membership with any new dating service you join. You can then decide if you like it and can simply extend your membership. If you don't like the service, you cut your losses at one month. This can help you avoid the hassles of requesting a refund, or canceling billing.

On a tight budget, you will find that most free dating sites have low member activity and that is what makes personals and dating sites tick. So the solution is to join 3, 4 or more free dating sites. You may find that their combined activity serves your needs. If not, you'll have gained a good familiarity with online dating, and a better understanding of what you want if you decide to splurge for a paid membership.

These few tips will help you get started with online dating.

Jack Strom is an expert in personal relationships. Check out http://www.datingfgo.com for more articles on dating and online dating