Tips on how to find your mate on dating sites

The other day I attended my nieces weeding. Not that unusual except she met her husband on the internet through a dating site.

This has been the third wedding I have attended in so many years where the couple had met on a dating site.

I was thinking about this article at the time so thought I would ask my niece and her new husband some casual questions at a dinner when they returned from their honeymoon.

Me: Why did you use a dating site

Niece: As you know I have a very busy life and trying to meet people to form relationships was very hard with my work schedule. I actually saw a movie where a young girl registered her mother and that gave me the idea.

I can check out different profiles and strike up conversations at any time while waiting for a plane at the airport or sitting at home relaxing.

Me: How did you choose the dating site?

Niece: As I started searching I noticed that dating sites these days to specialize a lot more than they did before.

You can find ones for Christians, people in the armed services, business professionals and also some pretty way out ones. In the end a friend on Facebook recommended one so I went with that. I think this is probably the best way to go as she had already done all the research and liked the one she was with.

Me: So what were the steps you did?

Niece: Well firstly I picked a young professionals dating site because I travel a lot and wanted someone whom understood.

I listed what I was looking for and wrote a list rather than doing it then and there online.

So I wanted someone local as I had tried long distance relationships and they never really worked out. I wanted someone who could hold a conversation, had similar interests and was a similar age. I guess this differ a lot from person to person but writing it out and discussing with my friends really clarified what I was looking for.

Me: So you told your friends and what did they think?

Niece: A couple were quite concerned for me because of some of the stories you hear but others who had actually tried it were very supportive.

As one friend said jerks can only be nice for so long and I found that to be true however genuine people looking to get together tend to be that way online also.

People think because it is online you can lie etc but in the end you will hopefully meet each other so best to just be who you are. The thing is to have some fun, be real and use it as a filter.

Me: So how did you actually meet your partner?

Niece: I was actually chatting to a few guys who matched my profile however he just stood out as someone genuine and was interested in me.

We had a lot of great conversations and were both traveling and working hard and then one day he was traveling to the same city I was so we met up and the rest is history.

Me: So what advice would you give to others looking at online dating?

Niece: I would advise pick a reputable site, ask friends for recommendations, try and find a specialty site that has similar people on it, write out your profile and review it a few times so your profile is exactly what you want.

Once you have joined make sure you have plenty of conversations before you actually organize a meeting. This can be great fun but also weeds out those who are in it for other things.

So that’s what my niece had to say in brief.

As her Uncle and in my later years I would have never guessed that this is the way things would have gone. I certainly would never have tried it but now if I ever find myself single I will have to search for an oldies dating site, of which there are many, and give it a go.

So what do you think?.

Are dating sites the way to meet your partner or just a place for desperate people to have one last try?

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