10 Major Rules for Successful Online Dating ...

My mother met her husband, my step-father, using an online dating service. So did my friend Liz and my cousin Jacque. I asked them how they found their Prince Charming using online dating, and here’s what they said…

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Be Honest

Most important of all, when completing your online dating profile, or corresponding with a potential match, be honest. Anything misleading you say will only come back and haunt you later.

Play It Safe

Never, ever agree to meet someone from th dating site at your home, or anywhere secluded. Always meet somewhere public, with lots of other people. And also, run a background check on the person. In some jurisdictions, it’s free.

Follow the Rules

If the online dating site you choose to use has guidelines or rules for contacting a match, follow them. In the past, men have contacted me outside of the site, which gave me the impression they were cheap, not willing to pay the membership fee to contact me through the site. Not a good impression!

Don’t Overdo It!

Don’t go overboard and correspond with too many potential suitors. Pick only a few, and pursue them. If they don’t work out, select a new batch.

Trust Your Instincts

It’s hard to judge a person online or on the phone, but you will still form an instinctual response. If your instinct tells you to proceed, then go ahead. If you just have a bad feeling about someone, don’t feel obligated to continue.

Judge a Book by Its Cover!

This is the one time I can recommend judging a book by its cover. In my view, if someone is using an online dating site, they ought to be trying to put their best foot forward, so feel free to pay attention to visual cues.

Pay Attention

If you really want to impress a person you’ve met online, pay attention to the details they give in their profile and use them in conversation. For instance, if he says he enjoys mountain-biking, ask where. If he says he has a dog, ask which breed.

Make the Date

Online and phone correspondence only go so far. If you’re interested, and he is too, then feel free to make the first move and ask him out on a date!

Look the Part

When meeting for the first time, spend a little extra time on your appearance. You may feel you know him because you’ve spent so much time online or on the phone, but men in particular pay attention to visual cues, so put your best foot forward! And rest assured, he will be, too.

Set Some Ground Rules

Before you even choose which online dating site you’ll use, decide what exactly you’re looking for. Do you want a serious, long-term relationship, or just a summer romance? Knowing what you want will help you decide which site to use, and how to screen potential dates.

Of course, my mother says the first two rules re most important, and I agree. But so are the others! What about you? Have you has success using online dating? What rules do you recommend, and why, and what tips can you share? Please let me know!

Top Photo Credit: Sun lùn sũn :">..

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Great rules!! And I have to say I followed always most of them, bus still online dating isn't my favourite hobby. I'm afraid to start something seriously from an online conversation. I'm always asking my self if all I'm hearing is true! Most guys just pass their time lying and laughing of outher persons! Although I have to say I know many realtionships that started from online dating, but maybe from one bad experience I had I never tried it again!

Good tips! I actually dated a guy from online once. It went well. I actually feel it went better than some of my typical relationships. Since we didn't get to see other a lot we ended up talking a lot more on the phone or online. Later on the distance got to me (along with other things).

I stayed on chat so much time in my entire life that it all became natural.:)) If you really want to date the guy you are talking too...then you should really be honest at least about those things that he can see at the first date. :)

Play it safe. - You would assume people follow this rule above all else but I know a few women who gave their address so their date could pick them up. Online dating can be fun but truth of the matter is you don't know whose on the other side so why ignore this rule? This is a good list and glad to know not everyone views online dating as taboo! I know a lot of people who met through it and are happy happy happy! :)

I agree with all of these rule except number 6. Because people put their best foot forward you sometimes get glamor shots, the best picture they ever made, or pictures taken from a time past. Do not what ever you do fall in love with a picture. Talk to the person online, on the phone, and maybe even through text. Get to know the person. Let the looks be second to common interest and personality. This is coming from a man who's tried all the services.

Haha I can share some "what NOT to do" tips, just check out my blog! I think your pointers were great - and definitely the most important thing is to trust your instincts. If you think there isn't a chance between the two of you (either because they're unattractive, or you have no chemistry, or nothing in common) then it's best not to waste either your time or theirs. While it's all well and good to give someone a chance, if it's not there, it's not there.

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