Online dating FAQ

(Frequently Asked Questions...)

Most people (at least those who know that online dating even exists) often wonder about what exactly goes on in all those chat rooms.

People meet and get to know each other, that's what happens!

We've taken the most common questions asked by beginners, and answered them right here, along with links to further information on our little site. Hopefully, this will be of some assistance to you.

1. Why should I look online for dates?
2. How can I meet singles on the web?
3. Do people really meet online?
4. Is online dating safe?
5. What's better, online dating or newspaper personals?
6. How does online matchmaking work?
7. What are the best online dating services and why?
8. What do these dating services cost?
9. What makes you such experts?

1. Why should I look online for dates? - Because it's the easiest, most comfortable way to find someone with whom you'll really connect. By getting to know people well, before you meet them, you have a chance to weed out those whose interests and lifestyles are not compatible with yours. There is no rejection to deal with, and you can dictate the pace of everything. For more, read our article on why use personals?
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2. How can I meet singles on the web? - It's easier than you can possibly imagine. You'll have to join a dating service (basic memberships are free) and create a profile. From there, you'll use the service's search and match functions to find profiles that match your preferred criteria. The better services will ask you detailed questions, and then use the answers to find men or women that most closely resemble your ideal mate. It really can be that easy.
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3. Do people really meet online? - YES! By the thousands! Daily! Some make friends online, some meet in real life, start relationships... everything... There are just so many singles out there, who are looking for the right someone to connect with. Online dating works; sometimes it can take a little while, but that is only natural.
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4. Is online dating safe? - YES! As with everything else to do with the web, the media tends to create misconceptions in people's minds about dating online. The fact of the matter is that looking for love online is as safe as doing it in any other way. In fact, because people tend to act more consciously than they normally might, it ends up being the safest way to meet people. For more, look at our guide to online dating safety.
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5. What's better, online dating or newspaper personals? - It's no contest! With advanced matchmaking systems, the ability to add photos and even voice, and the use of private e-mail and instant messaging, online dating services are much more effective than traditional personal ads.
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6. How does online matchmaking work? - Precise, instant matchmaking is one of the best features that better dating services offer. It allows you to find those people who most closely match your criteria, while at the same time making sure that you also fit theirs, so as to maximize your chances of clicking together. If you'd like, you can read more about how online matchmaking works.
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7. What are the best online dating services and why? - We review many different sites, and offer a list of the five best in the top left corner of this page. Udate and Kiss Personals come out ahead, because of their unique match function, which automatically introduces you to single men or women who meet your criteria, and who also are likely to want to meet you. For more, read our reviews of the best dating services.
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8. So what to these dating services cost? - Basic memberships are always free, meaning you give them your email address and select a user name and password, and then create a profile. By paying, you'll unlock the features that you'll most want: the ability to contact other users, and "meet" them online. Memberships can be as low as ten dollars, though you'll generally save by selecting a longer time period.
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9. What makes you such experts? - Good question. It just sort of happened. Back in 1997 (yes, really, '97) when online dating was taking off, our current president ran a dating guide site similar to this one. Since then we have grown into other fields, though everyone who works here is still required to contribute time and research to this little site, and to our dating advice newsletter. We have memberships at all the major personals sites: we know how they work, and what kind of people hang out there. This kind of experience, you can only acquire over time.
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Read our reviews of the best dating services.