How to find dates online and not pay for it

It’s enigmatic that we never notice time marching forward. One day we wake up and we are 30 years old when we swore that just yesterday we turned 20. Time is funny like that. Nothing escapes the ravages of time yet we can’t even see the beast coming. With the explosion of technology our world seems to be changing even faster than time will allow. Dating is one such area of enormous change. Around 10 years ago the concept of online dating was only for the computer geek. Today online dating has not only become accepted by main stream America but is now embraced as a common way to find a mate.

A study done in 2005 by Online Publishers Association, states that over $500 million dollars of online revenue was attributed to online dating services, making it the second largest category of paid content. Cyberspace is crowded with thousands of dating websites with hundreds more launching every day. The Web has increased the effectiveness and efficiency of all aspects of our world. The aspect of dating is no different.

Gone are the days of awkwardly hanging out in the bookstore hoping that you will bump into someone breathtaking. Users can search for specific characteristics they are looking for in a mate to narrow down the search. Most dating sites have tons of great search features ranging from height, weight and marital status to more detailed qualities such as zodiac sign, drinking abilities and eye color.

Finding the right site is important. There are general dating sites like eHarmony.com, match.com and chemistry.com and there are specific sites for niche demographics such as christiancafe.com for Christians, areyoualone.com for international dating and primesingles.net for dating over 50. If you are looking for free dating sites check out plentyoffish.com, justsayhi.com, datehookup.com and jumpdate.com. Or just check out craigslist.com, facebook.com and myspace.com. Most sites are free to sign up but may ask users to pay for premium features if they want to contact others. Make sure you read to terms of use before making any kind of financial commitment.

Not all online daters are equal. Just like in the real world dating takes commitment, practice and a solid game. To ensure success follow these tips:

1. Practice Often: Simply selecting one person and hoping they will respond will end in disappointment. Actively seek out hundreds of interesting people. It only takes one to respond.

2. Develop Your Personality: Boring, dull and uninteresting won’t work in the real world or the online world. Explore hobbies, passions or anything that you enjoy doing.

3. Don’t Lie: Posting false information or pictures from bygone years will not work. Sooner or later the person will find out.

4. Write Thoroughly: Take extra time to fill out your profile as complete as you can. Add an interesting a personal touch to make a great first impression.

5. Think Rationally: Don’t get your hopes up thinking that there are a ton of hidden supermodels lurking on the internet. There are lots of regular people that use online dating.