The Top Three Online Dating Tips

Dating online isn't quite like dating in person. But, as with any sort of dating, the ultimate goal is lifetime love. Online dating takes away a few of the elements of in-person dating. One is the blind date. This is the necessary result of any response to a newspaper personal ad. There may be a short phone conversation beforehand. But usually people are eager to meet. Online dating allows users to converse on more than one occasion. Distance might actually require long-distance phone calls. This distance usually keeps potential couples apart for some time. There is, in effect, no chance for a "blind" date. A blind date implies that one is meeting the other without having established a comfort level. Internet dating can become quite intimate very quickly. With this intimacy, it is easy for online daters to become overwhelmed. Some online dating tips might serve to eliminate the uneasiness that often accompanies this feeling. The tips relate to both men and women, but for the sake of editing, this article will use the female perspective.

1. Don't give out more information than you're comfortable providing. There are a lot of subjects that come up within the first weeks of a relationship. What are your beliefs? Where do you work? Have you ever been married before? Some of the questions can be pretty personal. And this is to be expected. After all, you're being evaluated. In a short period of time. Your date wants to know how far the relationship will go. Sometimes he might get in a hurry. But that doesn't mean you have to tell him everything or answer every question. He should understand if you tell him you're not comfortable talking about that yet. If he keeps probing, end the discussion politely. He'll either understand or he won't. If he doesn't, the relationship is doomed to fail anyway. Of all the online dating tips I could give you, this is the most important. And hardest to understand. But a person who won't respect your privacy at this point in the relationship certainly won't later on.

2. Be certain that you are compatible with the requirements of the profiles you contact (or vice versa). If you would not be able to invest in a long-distance relationship, don't contact someone who lives too far away. Eventually you would have to make travel arrangements to visit. This would take money. And time. If you're hoping that he might move to where you live, you're taking a large risk. Even if he is the kind to move for love, it's an incredible commitment to make. On both parts.

3. Think of your profile as a first impression. Because it is. This is how potential dates will find out about you. Try to put as much personality into your profile as you can. If you are naturally a blunt person, write succinctly. If you are a writer, for goodness sake, spell-check before you post your profile. And if you really don't feel comfortable writing, or it isn't your strong suit, say so. One easy mistake to make on a profile is forgetting what you want from it. Don't embellish. Certainly don't lie. You're only making the likelihood of a match that much less.

Jason Hulott is Director at UK Dating Online, a online dating website with reviews of the major dating services as well as lots of useful articles, resources and tips to help you make the most of your dating experience.