Perhaps you have found yourself unexpectedly “on-the-market” again after a relationship has ended or maybe you have been too busy with your work to spend a lot of time looking for a partner to keep you company, it doesn’t matter because online dating can open the door to the dating scene for you.

The good news is that all you need is a computer and an internet connection to get started.

Don’t sign up with the first dating site you find! Have a good look round to find the one that fits your needs. Some of the larger sites offer many extras such as live video chat. Some will even match you with potential partners by comparing profiles. Many online dating sites cater to special market sectors and cater for religious preferences, outdoor enthusiasts, gays, etc.

A word about the free dating sites. This is reporting on personal experience which has shown that the potential partners it’s possible to meet on the free sites are not always as reliable as you would want them to be. Many don’t actively participate on the sites and you can spend a lot of time trying to contact people who may not even exist.

The advantage of the paid sites is the level of commitment from all participants. The communities seem to be more real and the level of response is much higher. And, remember, the good dating sites all offer a money back guarantee if you aren’t completely satisfied with your experience of the site.

When you register with your chosen site spend time completing your profile. Two essentials here:

1. Be Honest
2. Upload a good quality and recent photograph

Once your profile is approved you are set to go. Don’t wait to be contacted by others. Participate and reach out. If you like the look of someone’s profile or photograph drop them a line to let them know.

Treat others as you would wish to be treated. Respond to everyone who contacts you. If you are not attracted to them, let them down gently. You can say what you mean without saying it mean! If anyone becomes a nuisance block them from contacting you – it doesn’t happen often but the facility is there is you need it.

No-one can predict where your online dating experiences will take you but there is no doubt that it is an excellent way of getting yourself back into the dating game.

MatchLink — For People Who Click

In a virtual environment flirting techniques are somewhat limited, even with the use of webcams, it can be hard to tease with the eyes, or test the body chemistry with an accidental brush of the hand.

The good news is that many flirting techniques do still work just as well for online flirting.  Flirting is an art form that needs fine balance. You want to ooze confidence – not slime! And, if you hold back too much you won’t be oozing anything at all.

Follow these six essential tips for successful online flirting and you’ll be guaranteed success.

1. Be light-hearted. Be funny. Be entertaining.  Remember that flirting is a play form. If you both have fun you’ll both look forward to meeting up again.

2. Be confident. Be positive. Be optimistic. It doesn’t matter what curved balls life has thrown at you, this is a fresh start and a new opportunity. Don’t spoil it all by being like Eeyore and living at the damp end of the forest. You want your online dating partner to look forward to flirting with you again – not blocking you from contacting them!

3. Offer sincere compliments. There is a lot of good in and about everyone – find it and comment upon it. Most people are very aware of their failings – they don’t need those highlighted. If you receive a compliment, simply say thank you and appreciate the gesture. Don’t spoil the moment by making some self-deprecating throw away comment in return.

4. Pay attention to what the other is saying. If you have audio this means listening. If you are on chat, read what is being said. In both cases ask thoughtful questions which prove you have paid attention and that you are interested. Be genuinely interested. Be curious about the other person. Invite them to talk about his or her self. Your turn will come.

5. Never, ever be rude. Even if you experience rudeness there is no need to be rude in return. Don’t take offence and don’t be sexually explicit and give offence. Not everyone will be interested, such is the way of the world and it’s not the end of the world. Just thank them for their time and move on to the next candidate.

6. Acknowledge your online flirting partner with an email after your flirting session. This is the equivalent of sending a thank you note. Let them know how much you enjoyed the encounter – everyone likes to be appreciated.

You are going to be without a lot of the usual visual clues during an online flirting session so don’t try to go too fast. Don’t be too bold. Enjoy the process and increase the pace gently. Online flirting is the first step in your online dating encounters. Enjoy it!

Separated? Jump back into the dating game at MatchLink.

Unfortunately, it’s very easy to get things horribly wrong! And if you make any or all of the 3 common online dating mistakes you can end up alone and unhappy.

In the offline or real world, all communication is supported by body language. In fact, it’s thought that as much as 70% of communication is non-verbal. This is the subtle nuances that our subconscious is able to read from a face to face encounter.

When operating online, these inputs are not available which makes it important to get the verbal communication right.

Be confident but not aggressive

Be aware that any form of aggression will be an immediate turn off for most potential partners. There is a world of difference between being confident and being aggressive – and this goes for men and women. Aggression may be a trait associated with the sterotypical male but woman are equally capable of stepping over the line. Remember, you are not trying to close a business deal you are simply trying to make a friend and keep the relationship progressing at a slow but steady pace.

Be realistic – we are all flawed!

In this imperfect world, nobody is perfect. We are all flawed – and that includes you. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment by demanding perfection in others when you cannot offer it yourself. Decide which imperfections you can live with and which are intolerable to you. Be honest in your profile. If you cannot bear cigarette smoke, chances are a relationship with a smoker is going to be very brief. You can say what you mean in your profile – you don’t have to say it mean!

Honesty is essential

It can be very, very tempting to cover up imperfections with those harmless little white lies that everyone tells from time to time. This is dooming any potential relationship to failure. When you are found out in little lies you will not be trusted over the important issues. Trust is an essential for any relationship and trust is absent from a relationship built on lies and fabrications. Be honest from the beginning. Write your profile and make it interesting and honest. The truth has a horrible habit of coming out at the least opportune moment. You have been warned.

The 3 online dating mistakes to avoid? Being aggressive rather than confident. Demanding perfection when offering imperfection. Being less than honest about yourself, your attributes and your abilities.

Avoid making these mistakes and you will enjoy your online dating experiences.

Photos

You will need to post a photograph of yourself on your profile – it is essential if you want people to contact you or to respond to any contact you make with them. However, there is no need to upload further photos of yourself if you are uncomfortable with that. Instead start an online photo album of the things that please you.

Allow those viewing your profile to get to know you by the things you like. Don’t include photographs of your children – it is just not safe to do that nowadays. Do include photographs of places you have been or would like to visit. Animals you like, sporting activities, food, films, books, hobbies. You are effectively making a scrapbook of your life which allows potential partners an opportunity to get to know you through a visual medium.

If storage space on your online dating profile is limited, start a photo album on Flickr or Picassa or similar service. Add links to websites you enjoy too.

Online greetings cards

If you have an enjoyable encounter online with a dating partner, send them an online card to acknowledge that fact. Everyone likes to be appreciated and you will be all the more memorable for having taken the time and trouble to send a personalized greeting.

Use a reputable supplier! Use one that offers a web link so no-one has to download anything. Less scrupulous people have been known to use e-cards for spreading viruses.

Music

What is your musical taste? Many of today’s artistes have clips appearing on YouTube and Myspace. Link out to them from your profile so others can get a sense for your taste in music. Add a commentary about why you like the music. Is it the lyrics? The rhythm? The melody? The volume!

Incorporate these suggestions into your online dating activities and really become familiar with each other before arranging to meet for that first time. It will make the experience a lot less stressful.

Whilst it is entirely possible that it may advisable to omit certain facts about yourself, it is obviously better not to tell bare faced lies. There is a way of showing yourself in a good light without be deceptive.

Be positive in your outlook and let your words show this. No-one wants to go out with someone who lives at the damp end of the forest!. At times, we all hate the weather, the commute we have to work, our neighbours but going on about any of those things doesn’t help and it will put potential partners off you before they even have a chance to meet you.

Very few people are going to want to hear about your past attempt at on line dating. There is no need to include a catalogue of your exploits in your profile. If you do allude to any previous experiences don’t bad mouth the other person – unless you want to be bad mouthed in return.

Think about what you can put in your profile that will make you stand head and shoulders above everyone else. Find something unique to say about yourself. Don’t copy what others say. Remember the people reading your profile will have read the other profiles too. They will notice. and it will be a turn off!

Try not to use cliches and the same tired phrases in your profile. Yes we all like romantic candlelit dinners, moonlight, log fire. Imagine surfing through 50 or so profiles in one evening which all say the same thing. It’s a big YAWN!

Say something no-one else is brave enough to say. It may be that you love to eat at at a particular restaurant because you know the owner and he always prepares a special type of pasta for you with a sauce you love. Reveal a little about yourself, your likes and dislikes – it is charming, endearing and it will encourage contact from others. They will be able to imagine themselves on a first date with you at a small Italian restaurant sharing a plate of pasta with special sauce.

When writing your profile be clear about what it is you are looking for too. To say you are looking for someone with a sense of humour is just too vague. Do you like smutty jokes, satire, those who can see the funny side of things, sarcastic humour……..what is that you find funny? What type of humour are you seeking?

By being as open and honest as you feel comfortable being you will save yourself a lot of time and, possibly, heartache through making contact with potential partners who don’t fit the bill. Think about what you would like to read in a profile and what would discourage you and what would encourage you then write your own profile accordingly.

By submitting the perfectly crafted dating profile you’ll soon be going on your first date with someone new. Hopefully the partner of your dreams!

Dee

www.kisselite.com

You could be forgiven for thinking that everywhere you look on the Internet nowadays that it’s all about dating. You find a plethora of advertisements, most of them promising free access to online personal ads, wherever you look.

One interesting statistic, which is supported by common sense is that 95% of people who search on dating sites will on consider contacting or responding to other members who have taken the time and the trouble to post photographs of themselves.

If you have been wondering exactly what online dating is, the mystery can be solved very quickly for you! It is simply a dating service (sometimes offered free of charge) that you access over the internet.

More and more people are now comfortable doing more and more things online it seems. To begin with, the internet was a means of communicating, then a place of research. Advertising and shopping followed and now it has become the virtual wine bar of the world where relationships can be forged and dates made.

As demand for dating services has increased so has the supply and it is that increase which drives little sites like this. I am interested in researching the various dating sites on offer to see exactly which do provide value – and of course, which do not.

Many of the dating sites have a similar modus operandi. Registration is free and even surfing the site is free. However, if you want to make contact with any of the other site members, charges are usually levied.

It is often a good idea to register with a few sites and ‘lurk’ for a while to see how things operate and to check whether the site attracts the type of person in which you have an interest. Don’t part with any cash until you are sure!

Generally, once you do make contact with a possible partner, the initial chats take place on line. You get to know each other through a messenger service and email and it is after this virtual ‘courtship’ that you decide to meet (or not).

It should go without saying that care needs to be taken when planning to meet anyone you have met online. Always meet in a public place. Always leave the details of where you will be and who you are going to meet, with a friend or relative. Keep your cell phone accessible at all times. It sounds terrible to have to be so guarded but unfortunately there have been too many scare stories to make it worth taking any chances.

If you have recently found yourself to be footloose and fancy free once again and operating in the singles world, joining an on line dating service can be an excellent way to sharpen those flirty skills and get back into the swing of things again.

There is nothing new about using dating agencies – they have been around for many a years – the internet has just made the process of matchmaking people a lot quicker and easier.

Dee

www.kisselite.com