| Online dating is now globally popular - separate the | | | | qualms about posting a picture of themselves and are |
| truths from the myths about this incredible | | | | proactive about contacting other members. If your site |
| phenomenon. As CEO of a company which operates | | | | doesn't work you, you shouldn't blame the site just as |
| some of the most popular dating sites on the net, I'm | | | | a bad workman shouldn't blame his tools. |
| uniquely positioned to provide some clear and concise | | | | 4. Popular dating sites are popular for one reason and |
| facts about the global phenomenon of online dating. In | | | | one reason only. They work. In every territory, you'll |
| six bite-sized chunks I'm going to give you the whole | | | | find a handful of sites that outstrip all the others in |
| truth about a past-time that has become part of the | | | | terms of the volume of their registrations and their |
| fabric of the lives of single people everywhere where | | | | reputations in general. You'll also find that none of |
| a computer screen is affordable by or accessible to | | | | these sites are free. The sites which look the best, |
| the masses. | | | | have the best features and offer good customer |
| 1. Two out of every five single people aged 24 - 50 | | | | service are expensive to run and maintain. You get |
| currently use, or have used an online dating service. | | | | what you pay for on line as well as in all walks of life; if |
| Yes, you read that correctly - it's 40%! Now think of all | | | | the owners of a dating site don't have the confidence |
| the single friends you have; how many of them have | | | | in their product to actually charge for it, you have to |
| actually told you that they've signed-up to a site in | | | | ask yourself why that is. Relatively speaking, joining a |
| order to kick start their love lives? Not many I would | | | | dating site is very inexpensive compared to, say, going |
| wager. That's because in spite of the popularity of the | | | | out for a nice meal or taking a trip to the theatre and |
| medium, there is a still a social stigma attached to | | | | the potential of finding a great new relationship makes |
| dating sites; when people meet a partner this way, | | | | the risk/reward ratio a no-brainer. |
| they generally pretend to their friends that they've met | | | | 5. Global sites which can boast hundreds of thousands |
| in a bar or at some kind of party or work related | | | | of members from all four corners of the globe are a |
| function. One of the fastest growing activities in the | | | | waste of time unless you're looking for a pen-pal. |
| world is still something most people wont admit to | | | | These sites might sound rather impressive - "We have |
| doing. | | | | 5,000,000 members worldwide!!" - but so what? What |
| 2. Only about 5% of people who join dating sites | | | | you should be concerned with when you're choosing a |
| actually end up in a relationship with someone they first | | | | site is how many members they have in your city, |
| make contact with at their chosen site. Let's equate | | | | your town or your village. So if you're serious about |
| this to the 'real' world; you walk into a room full of one | | | | find a partner, stick to city or country specific sites and |
| hundred strangers and how many of them would you | | | | take the 'global' hype with a pinch of salt. |
| be attracted to? Probably no more than ten. And that's | | | | 6. The percentage of men on dating sites is |
| if you're lucky. It's the same in cyberspace - how many | | | | disproportionate to that of women. Most services |
| total strangers will there be on any site that really | | | | comprise about 60% men and 40% women so as far |
| press all the right buttons for you? So when you | | | | as the on line arena is concerned, it's the girls who are |
| register with a site, don't expect miracles because | | | | calling the shots. They have more choice and can |
| your love life in cyberspace is no different to the reality | | | | therefore be more discerning about who they contact |
| of everyday life. | | | | or write back to. So guys, if you want to stand out |
| 3. Only 10% of people who join dating sites get any | | | | from the crowd, check out paragraph 3 above; write a |
| messages at all from other members. There's a | | | | great profile and post a flattering pic and you'll be just |
| reason for this - the other 90% don't deserve any | | | | fine. |
| success. People who refuse to upload photos of | | | | So there you have it; to make a success of online |
| themselves or post profiles which look like they can't | | | | dating, all you have to do is pick the right site and post |
| really be bothered to say anything about themselves | | | | an eye-catching profile and photo and if it works for |
| will just be ignored. The 10% who get noticed create | | | | you...don't keep it a big secret - tell your single friends all |
| upbeat, confident, humorous profiles, don't have any | | | | about it so they can get a piece of the action too! |