Finding someone special to share your life with is a life long quest for many.  Love is the elixir of life, that delightfully enhances, augments and elevates us all.  The truth is that having someone to share your life with is essential.

The pace of life has become much faster than it was in our grandparents or parents generation and it has effected how we meet people we can relate to.  It’s not like we could go to a barn raising, or some other community event,  and meet every single person in the County all at once any longer.  The social structure has changed and we need to find different ways to meet potential soul mates.

With the advent of the Internet and email there has been an explosion in the way we communicate with each other.  Cell phones that take photo’s instantly and transmit them across the world in seconds, messaging and texting, social networks, it has all of us communicating instantly, moving fast.  Still, when it comes to falling in love, you need to go slow, you need to meet face to face, one on one, to decide if that attraction exists.  You need to “feel” it and not just see and hear about it.

Online Dating Services and Internet Sites go hand in hand with today’s new “information age”.  These sites and services have become the mainstream way to meet other singles. Social perceptions have evolved, and finding romance on the Internet is not only a preferable way to go, but common place.

So, how does it all work you may ask.  How does one go about using a Dating Service and what can they expect?  Is it difficult?

The basic process with Dating Services is about the same.  You can go for a “test drive” membership or jump right in.  The difference is usually “access”.  The test drives usually let you just “look” and not “touch”.  Actual contact is reserved for the paying members.

First, you will fill out an application. That covers your personal information, and it is kept private.  Then depending on the service, you will answer a series of questions designed to determine your dating preferences.  These questionnaires vary considerably from service to service.  The “free” sites do not go into as much detail as you can imagine.  The pay for sites gather more information.  These questions, how in depth they are and how you answer them will determine who the service matches you up to.  Take your time when filling them out.

Before you actually are put into the database, you will choose your own screen name.  Be creative but don’t go overboard.  “Studdly Doo Right” or “Lay Down Sally” isn’t what you are looking for here.  This screen name will provide you with the ability to remain incognito for the time being.  The dating services do not give out your real name.  Contact is usually made via email which the Dating Service redirects to you so that you don’t have to worry about being spammed or stalked by another member.  You have the power to simply delete any replies you don’t wish to deal with.   

You will then prepare your “online profile”.  Your story, about yourself and what you enjoy and are looking for.  The quality of the preparation of that profile will effect your results a great deal.  This is what other people are going to look at and decide if they want to contact you or not.  Be honest, but also put a little salesmanship into it without going overboard.  Take your time and perhaps have a friend proof read it with you before submitting it.  The other, usually optional part of your profile is a picture.  Again, profiles without pictures are like cars without wheels.  You need a good picture of yourself……..current. There have been studies made on what pictures attract more referrals.  The results would surprise you. .

From experience I can tell you that the most difficult part of the entire process is making that decision and pushing the button to join a service.  I think the best way to overcome that hesitation is to consider this very important fact. 

Everyone you meet will have overcome their fears and joined. They have made a commitment to find someone they can be with.  They are taking it seriously and have made that first step.  What better pool of people to draw upon?