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