Mistake Number 1
“You keep on searching for the PERFECT online dating website.”

Let me ask you one thing – if an overweight friend of yours tells you he cannot lose weight because he can’t find the perfect fitness gym, what would be your reaction? Most likely, you would stare at him in utter disbelief, shake your head, or even laugh your guts out. It’s easy to see that it’s NOT the gyms in the area that has the problem. Instead, it all boils down to your friends dedication. The same thing can be said with online dating. If you are NOT dedicated or motivated enough to find the right date for you, no matter how great an online website is – the features, the singles in it, and everything in between, would not cut it. Keep this in mind – any website that has all of the basic features (chat functions, email, virtual rooms, profiles, etc.) filled with singles can be the RIGHT website for you. At the end of the day, it’s how you use that site that determines your success.

Mistake Number 2
“I’m great looking, I have a nice paying job, I’m confident – I’m everything that a potential partner could be looking for. I’m a catch and online dating should be piece of cake.”

That’s another not so helpful mindset that may be holding you back from succeeding in online dating. Think about it – let’s say you are really a catch and if being one makes finding potential partners, one night stands, etc. easy, then you shouldn’t be on the online dating site in the first place! Since you won’t have problems finding a potential mate, they will flock to you – from your workplace, through mutual friends, and everything in betwen. As you may have realized by now, being a catch isn’t the end all and be all dating solution. Matter of fact, you may even be baffled by the men who write to you – those who look like they have been out of jail, just came from a 9 month stay at the hospital, etc. How come the guys you want don’t write to you?

Simple – because they think they are great catches, too. And just like you, they have hundreds of options – they may find younger and prettier mates, because he can. So drop that “I’m A Catch” mentality (take your pride or ego down by a notch or two) and stop waiting. It’s about time you start messaging and chatting up with the guys or gals that you like. Go for those online daters who are looking for the same thing that you do and you will surely have greater success.

Simple. Any man who you think is a great catch has hundreds of options. And when a guy has that many choices, he’s often going to search for younger women. Why? Because he can. So forget these guys and their unrealistic Playboy fantasies. Mr. Right is the man who wants YOU. Focus your attentions on the men who are searching for you, instead of the ones who aren’t, and you’ll have far greater success.

Mistake Number 3
“You are bombarding that girl or guy you like emails and messages – sending them like 5 emails a day for weeks. Online terrorism!”

This mistake is like the exact opposite of mistake number two. I don’t know which of the two mistakes are worse BUT this one definitely makes you look needy – something you want to avoid at all costs whether in online or real life dating. Think about it, would you reply to someone who stalks you online? I don’t think so. I bet you would even set your email to filter out and ignore the messages from that guy. When you stalk somebody online with truckloads of emails, believe me, they feel the same and it won’t be long before they avoid you like someone who has leprosy…and there goes your chances of getting her out of the window.

1. The very first thing you should do before being a member of any online dating chat rooms is to plan way ahead. Ask yourself these questions – are you planning to find someone to chat with when the nights get cold and boring? Are you on the hunt for someone who could be with you during weekends and have time with? Are you looking for a steamy BUT non-committal one night stands? Trying to find your better half – your Ms. or Mr. Right through the online dating chat rooms? Answering these would help you determine your goals for online dating and stick to them. This way, you are setting the expectations of the people you find in the virtual rooms and websites while making it easier for you to find like-minded people.

2. There are myriads of online dating chat rooms and websites all over the world. YES, it could get confusing as to which of these would work for you. With each of them offering great deals, outstanding features, and everything in between, choosing your online dating website would make you feel like being stuck between a stone and a hard place. My advice? Ask your friends what online dating chat rooms have worked for them. You better trust the opinion of those you have known for a long time than choose a dating website at random (a very hit and miss proposition). On the other hand, if none of your friends know any good online dating services (which is sort of rare since these became a standard tool for people looking for fun and even love), do the next best thing – and that is to read reviews of different users – recounting their experiences, showing the upsides and the downsides of different online dating chat rooms.

3. Start at a slow pace. There’s no need to rush fellas, at least if you want to meet quality people. You need to spend some time talking to people in chat rooms, exchanging emails with them, talking on the phone, and everything in between before you feel comfortable enough to meet up. You see, the very reason why you are at an online dating chat room is to find someone who is worthy of meeting. And if you rush and skip the process of knowing people online before meeting them, you are defeating the whole purpose of online dating! If that’s your thing, I’d suggest going at a bar and approaching girls cold.

4. Honesty is the best policy – this applies NOT only at your workplace BUT everywhere else, including online dating chat rooms. If you want to be successful with finding a date online, you should be honest. While it is true that you cannot control other online daters’ actions, you shouldn’t be irresponsible. Maintain accountability to yourself. Forget about attaching someone else’s picture into your profile. Forget about lying about your past and claiming to be someone who you are NOT. That won’t cut it. You sure don’t want others lying to you, right? Don’t do to others what you don’t want to be done to you – never forget about the golden rule!

5. Finding a date online can be a messy, overwhelming, and confusing affair. You should learn how to organize your stuff and prioritize – making things a little more manageable. Instead of approaching and chit chatting with almost every online dater you encounter, set a date for browsing profiles and accounts of individuals that might interest you, people who are like-minded and looking for the same thing. Grab your notepad and take down some notes. Set another day for corresponding with them first. Doing so will help you avoid too much and unnecessary activity which would only confuse your and the other party’s emotions.

Chances are, when you come to know the face behind the sweet pictures and profile, the person is NOT exactly what you thought him or her to be. Along with that, there’s also the possibility that the person you were chatting with the whole time – the humorous, fun loving, spontaneous guy or chick, wasn’t really that! In most cases, online dating services and websites, though they are good places to find someone to meet, should be treated with great caution if you don’t want your heart to be ripped apart. There is a better option though – and that exists in the professional world of matchmaking. Not familiar what professional matchmaking is? Don’t know what exactly online matchmaker services do? If you don’t then read on as we take a closer look.

First and foremost, through online matchmaker services, the dates are found by the professional matchmaker – this is the guy you paid to do research and background checks on myriads of possible dates (tough job eh?!). Along with that, in this form of dating, the matchmaker gets to know the profile of the potential date – in the internet and out of the internet, before you meet him or her. This allows you to remove the element of doubt and mistrust while eliminating the risk factor from the equation. Online matchmaker services come with myriads of advantages that online dating services and websites don’t have. As mentioned earlier, the matchmaker does all of the grunt work for you – research, background check, etc. You can be confident that when the online matchmaker hooks you up with someone, that date of yours will be a good one.

A closer look at the matchmaker’s background check – these guys don’t just read through profiles, they check their history and records – trying to see if there is anything that you might find discomforting or troubling. Another advantage is that, rather than spend your time filling out those forms in online dating websites and services, you can spend that valuable time talking to the matchmaker – letting him know exactly what you want from a date, what you don’t want, what traits to look out for, and the like. And since these guys are professionals, you can be assured that the information you gave them won’t be given to someone else. If you are someone who wants to know a cute chick from the same area you are in, matchmakers beat online dating sites by a mile! You see, the client of online dating sites are very broad – the whole world! Online matchmaker services on the other hand are restricted to the local area – making the search for your better half more efficient.

True, online dating websites and services have their merits. BUT they also entail risks that you definitely don’t want to be exposed to. In the end, taking time to check out which dating option is good for you – online matchmaker services or online dating sites (and which one), should pay off in the long run. You see, these services won’t just cost you money if they don’t work out well. Heart breaks, frustration – these are just some of the emotional taxes or burdens that you don’t want to carry for sure. If you are on the hunt for a serious and long term relationship, online matchmaker services may be the right one for you!

One of the outstanding features that online dating is privacy. These online dating services offer anonymity to their members. You can express your interests to that cute chick, check out their profile, exchange sweet messages, have a chit chat with them, and even have a virtual date with them…and you get to remain anonymous. YES, this alone helps you find your better half without breaking a sweat. This feature helps you establish better and greater comfort levels with someone else. Along with that, since online dating services are casual and virtual, you can develope a level of trust for someone and help them do the same to you, which in turn means having an easier and better time when you guys meet up. BUT don’t get me wrong – meeting up is a joint decision. The other person – the one you are dating online, will decide if you should meet up or not. No doubt, though, that privacy and other online dating features makes it a smoother process.

Here’s another nicety that makes online dating services a huge hit – many of them don’t even cost you a dime. There are websites that do charge money, HOWEVER, there are also websites that you can use for free. And don’t think that these free online dating sites’ qualities suck BIG time. For one thing, many of them have a screening process – allowing them to determine which potential members to accept and which of them are probably scammers, posers, etc. and should be rejected. I don’t know about you BUT that sounds like a great way to protect yourself from heartbreak.

To make the deal even sweeter, another online dating feature that you definitely don’t want to miss out is the ability to create your own profile. This is a surefire way to boost your online image. On your profile, you can post pictures of yourself, upload videos, let viewers know more about you – your interests, hobbies, likes, dislikes, and everything else in between. You can even create a list of the qualities that you are looking for in a partner – do you want her to be a blonde? Athletic? What about a bookworm? Don’t be shy and state it in your profile! The very same profile you create can be used by the online dating website to help find a match for you – making the process even easier than ever!

Last BUT not the least, many of today’s online dating features and services allow you to chat with your prospective partner before meeting up with them. This allows you to test the waters – see if the cutie you are setting your sights on is funny enough, if she is a good conversationalist like you expected, if you are compatible, and it also gives you nice ideas of what to talk about when you meet up. While it is true that others will abuse these online dating features – the chatting system, profile creation, and more, many services have already worked to improve their systems – doing background checks on potential members to make sure they deserve to be on the site. It’s a great way to get rid of those sexual predators, scammers, and other not so friendly individuals who are ready to take advantage of their unsuspecting victim.