How to Choose a Singles Dating Site

When it comes to singles dating, there’s a little more to it than simply creating a snazzy profile and waiting for your soul mate to find you. With hundreds of online dating services available its best to do a little homework before you jump in with both feet.

Think about What You’re Looking For

The very first question you need to ask yourself is whether you are looking for a serious relationship or something more casual. Knowing what you’re looking for and finding a site that caters to that need will save you a lot of time and heart ache.

Free or Fee-Based

The second decision you’ll need to make is whether you want a free dating site or if you’re willing to pay and how much you’re willing to pay to use the site. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Free sites tend to have more users affiliated with them but quantity doesn’t necessarily mean quality. You’re going to have to sift through a lot of coal before you find your diamond. Free sites tend to attract a lot of spammers and scammers so be cautious about how much information you give out about yourself. Alternatively, fee-based sites can be pretty expensive and don’t necessarily guarantee results. Take some time before you start to consider your budget and how much you’re willing to spend on this venture.

Public or Private

On some sites, your profile is out there for the whole world to see. Think about it… do you really want everyone to know about you and what you’re up to? Also, make sure the site has a way to weed out spammers so that you don’t open yourself to a flood of spam email.

Compatibility Testing

Here’s something else to consider: do you want to use a site that provides you with your best matches based on compatibility testing, or would you rather search through profiles and choose for yourself? Many sites offer to help you eliminate wasted time and frustration by narrowing down your choices to those that you’d most likely hit it off with. If this seems a little too unnatural for you and you’ve got the time to peruse through the site on your own, then nix the compatibility testing.

Look into Specialised Sites

If you’re pretty specific about the type of person you are looking for, check to see if there is an online dating site that is tailored to your specific criteria. For example, many online dating sites are targeted to people of a certain religious group or sexual preference. Finding a site that attracts exactly the type of person you are looking for is ideal.

Bonus Features

Lastly, consider which bonus features you’d like to have access to. Do you want access to a chat room? How about the ability to upload many photos? Would you like to be notified on your cell phone every time someone sends you a message? There are many bells and whistles available out there in the singles dating world… consider which ones would make this process easier and more exciting and enjoyable for you.

Get a Referral

At the end of day, one of the best ways to find the online dating site that is best for you is to ask the people around you which sites they would recommend. Learning from other people’s successes and mistakes can save you a lot of time and money.

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