PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

The Internet affords singles greater opportunities to find a partner then people have ever experienced before. Today, it is possible to browse potential life partners worldwide and to narrow the field by selecting people based upon sexual orientation, ethnic groups, religious preferences, work professions, and even hobbies. Some of the ways that people use the Internet for finding potential mates is by using chat rooms, Instant Messaging services, and joining online dating sites.

An online dating site offers singles the ability to post their photos, create a personal profile, and receive emails by potential mates who are interested in further communication. Since the Internet allows for greater communication, it is wise to always protect your personal information and only share it with another when you feel 100% confident that you can trust your new friend. To begin with, you should create a free "anonymous" email account and use that one for your profile. Never use your main account. After you have set up your email account, you are all set to join the online dating site.

Many members choose to meet offline after they have been communicating for a while via the site. Some people may feel uncomfortable meeting with people offline. Today, there are many services that will provide group meetings for their members. If this is a concern of yours, be sure to find out what type of services the site offers for their members.

Some sites are free, while others may require a fee for more advanced services. The free sites are just as popular as paid sites. Most paid sites generally run between $20.00-$50.00 per month. Always read the terms of services (TOS) before joining a site. There are numerous sites to choose from, so you may prefer to pick one based on recommendations from family and friends. You should ensure that the site would let you post photos before joining, since viewing a photo is a critical aspect in choosing whom you will be compatible with.

You can also choose an online dating site based upon the type of service it provides. For example, there are a variety of sites that cater to different groups. Some of these include:

Adult Dating

Gay Dating

Lesbian Dating

Ethnic Groups

Divorced

Single Parent

Baby Boomers

Religious Dating

Age Related (twenty something, thirty something, etc.)

Senior Dating

Inter Generational

Political Dating

The best way to determine which online dating site is best for you is to narrow down and determine exactly what you are looking for. You may feel most comfortable by making a list of the type of qualities that you are looking for in a mate, and then choose the dating site that caters to your needs. You may also find it beneficial to take some personality tests to determine what your qualities would be best featured in your potential mate. If these types of services are important to you, be sure to check ahead of time to ensure that the site offers these before signing up or joining.

5 Popular Online Dating Sites :

Date.com

JDate.com

Match.com

Perfectmatch.com

Yahoo Personals