Finding the Best Internet Dating Sites
As a busy professional with a demanding career and thoughts of going to grad school, I simply don't have time to go out there and try to meet men. I have never been all that big on the singles bar scene or the type of people that frequent those places, so that approach isn't a viable option for me. Still, I do get lonely and sometimes long for someone to talk to and laugh with on Saturday nights when everyone else is out on dates. When a friend of mine first suggested trying Internet dating sites, I immediately declined, but now I'm having second thoughts.
I've done some checking, and a few Internet dating sites out there are very reputable as far as delivering good results for users. Of course, a significant number of these types of websites are worthless for prospective daters that are serious about finding a mate, so I decided to start making a checklist to help determine what makes for a good online matchmaking service. Here are the results of my highly informal survey.
First, I've learned that a lot of Internet dating sites cater to a particular kind of client. For instance, there are personals websites specifically for single parents, twenty-somethings, the over-50 crowd, Christians, and more. So if you're not having any luck on the catch-all Internet dating sites, you might want to narrow your scope to focus on a particular group of people that appeals to you the most.
Another thing that can help you predict whether or not certain Internet dating sites will be effective for you is to look at how many active profiles are available before you join. Some of these websites get relatively few visits and therefore wouldn't really be worth your time. On the other hand, many Internet dating sites have tens of thousands of members (some even boast of memberships of a million or more), which obviously gives you a better chance of finding true love -- or at least a good date!
In addition, I think it's important to try to figure out the general intent of members on a particular singles website. Some of these places are frequented by those looking for long-term relationships, while others are clearly geared towards those looking for short-term hookups. Just be sure you know what you're getting into before you take the plunge.
And finally, check around for what other customers have said about the Internet dating sites that you want to join. There are plenty of online reviews of these places from past or current participants, which should give you a pretty good idea of what you can expect from your own experience with a specific site. If other daters are having good success with a site, then it's likely ok to sign up. If they report negative experiences, however, there's no reason to expect that your time on the site would turn out any different.
After doing this bit of research, I'm actually looking forward to trying out a few of the most popular Internet dating sites out there. Lots of other people have found the perfect mate through these websites, so that means I can too!
