It's official.  Online dating is nothing to be ashamed about. Sure, there was a time when people hid the fact that they had perused the world of cyber-dating, gasping in (enforced) shock when they heard of people they knew creating profiles and chatting with strangers online. 

It's been quite a few years since You've Got Mail outed online dating as a perfectly acceptable (and even fruitful) means of meeting your match.  Nowadays, most people acknowledge the simple fact that it has become incredibly difficult to meet people (and snag them as dates); looking for love online is the logical answer.

Before you take the plunge into the district of cyber dating, do what you can to make sure that the people you encounter can get a sense for who you are and what you're looking for.  And make use of the miracle of the medium, since the beauty of online dating is that you can "actively" look for a date even while you sleep!  In order to successfully navigate the terrain of an online dating site you MUST (this is not optional) create a profile that reflects your personality and delivers the first impression you want to make. 

I cannot overstress the importance of this task.  Sure, it may take a moment to collect your thoughts and articulate yourself in a way that is the virtual equivalent to a first date, but (trust me) it's worth it.  Not only will you increase the likelihood of attracting a compatible match, but you'll also help weed out and fend off the duds and other sundry mis-matches out there.

First thing's first 

Relax, this isn't going to hurt... in fact, it'll be quite fun!

Second: Figure out who you are

You can go ahead and let out a hefty sigh of relief; writing a profile does not entail summarizing your entire life experience and/or personality in under 2000 words.  Nope. It is neither an essay nor a resume. Think of it as a preview... a teaser, of sorts. 

:: Attract attention and stand out from the countless other ladies online

:: Intrigue him and make him want to learn more about you

:: Encourage men to contact you by being friendly and avoiding sounding negative or jaded

Please note: this is not an appropriate time to vent about past relationship baggage or go on a male-bashing tangent... not unless you have no interest in dating anytime soon.  Don't let past relationships prevent you from finding your next great date.

Most online dating sites have forms that allow you to select from a pre-specified field of interests, occupations, goals, turn-ons, and deal-breakers, so only include details from these categories in your (free-text) written profile that are critical to creating an accurate impression of who you are and what you value.  Read more >>

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