Posted by Online dating sites are here and they’re not going anywhere. So you might as well take advantage of them. But where to start? If you’re not even sure how to begin, here’s a cheat sheet to help you aid you in discovering the site that might help you find the man or woman of your dreams, someone who’s finger you may slip an engagement ring onto, or maybe just someone warm to rub up against.
When You’re Having Trouble Meeting People
Maybe you’ve just finished school and are shocked to discover that meeting someone is hard when you’re not surrounded by similarly aged, similarly minded people all the time. Or maybe you’ve just moved to a new place and feel adrift because you don’t know anyone…at all. Sites like Lavalife or Friendfinder can help you get in touch with people in your city or town going through the same thing. Post a picture, as much information about yourself as you’re comfortable putting on the web and trawl the profiles of other singles in your area. It’s better than talking to strangers in the frozen food aisle.
Note: Both Lavalife and Friend finder are over half to two thirds male—most of whom are white, single, without children and more affluent than the average person. Most users, male and female fall between the ages of 35 and 49. If you’re looking for someone younger or non-caucasian, specific sites such as Jdate or Blacksingles that cater to one specific demographic tend to have younger or more diverse users.
When You’re Looking for Something Specific
If you know what you’re looking for but just can’t find it around you, Match might be your answer. This site lets you put up a detailed profile—up to 26 pictures—and provides spaces for what they’ve dubbed “free writing,” allowing you to express yourself more eloquently, letting that stranger on the other end of the fiber optic cable see the real you.
As the name might suggest, this service also comes with a matching function that pairs you with viable suitors based on your profile information if the prospect of scanning through all of those profiles seems a little too daunting. Names and contact information are kept strictly confidential until such a time as you share it with your new special someone. Match is active in 24 countries and functions in 15 different languages.
Note: Users on this site are well balanced between the sexes, age demographics and incomes, but are overwhelmingly white.
When You’re Looking for Something Very Specific
Love may know no bounds, but for some the idea of dating outside of their religious faith is simply crossing the line. So what’s a firm religious adherent to do? There are a number of religion specific dating sites that can help you find the Jewish hunk, Muslim lady or Christian of your dreams, and avoid the age-old, relationship ruining question, “Your faith or mine?” If your peccadillo is cultural or has to do with sexual orientation and not religion, there are also a wide variety of ethnicity-specific or sexuality-specific dating sites that will help you find someone to take home to mother.
Note: These sites are usually populated pretty evenly between males and females and include a pretty diverse spread in age, education, and income. Make sure you fit the profile, though.
When You Can’t Trust Yourself to Make the Right Choice
Do your relationships always flame out dramatically? Maybe you’re one of those people that always picks the wrong type of person to date. Or perhaps you’re not sure what you want out of a partner.
To solve this problem two doctors, a clinical psychologist and a research scientist, categorized the characteristics between spouses that resulted in strong successful relationships, resulting in eHarmony’s 29 dimensions of compatibility. Take the detailed personality test and this dating service will provide you with the profiles of people it has ascertained will result in a stable long-term relationship for you.
Note: This site has a younger user base than most of the others. Turns out the young folk aren’t turned off by the “We met on eHarmony” commercials after all.
When You Just Want Someone to Take Care of You
Who needs romantic notions anyways? If all you’re looking for is a certain rich someone to cater to your every whim in exchange for a little quid pro quo or some cling-free fun, you’re definitely not alone. Sites like Sugardaddie.com and Millionaire Flirt are filled with rich men and women looking for something uncomplicated on the side and scads of nubile young things who won’t complain that you have to work all the time—as long as the gifts keep coming.
Note: You’ll probably have a better chance at meeting a young lady that wants to be kept as users are two thirds female and have a yearly income of around $100,000.
Because Facebook Runs Everything in Your Life Already
You could join a dating site, fill out a profile and post pictures. But why should you when you can just add a Facebook app and the work is done for you. Right now there are about 40 Facebook dating apps, but I’m sure by the time I finish writing this sentence there will be more.
Following the rule for all Facebook apps, the majority of the dating apps are completely useless, but there’s been good buzz about VerbDate. This app just connects your profile to VerbDate, a relationship specific social networking site. Check out profiles, picture galleries and talk to the newly acquired object of your affections with Skype.
Note: The largest demographic on Facebook is 18- to 24-year-olds, followed by 13- to 18-year-olds, so check that personal information closely. This is how my friend ended up dating a 16-year-old without realizing it.
