Five Steps to Re-Ignite your Online Dating Results

Has your list of matches dwindled down to only a few new candidates? Have you found that online communication leads nowhere? If you are looking to ramp up your dating life and improve your match results, it's time to be proactive. There are many things you can do to increase your dating choices.

• Spice up your profile. Have a friend take a look at what you've posted (even better if it's someone of the opposite sex). Are you too generic in your description of yourself or your interests? Or perhaps you've written something so long that nobody wants to read it? Asking a friend to assist you is efficient and gives you another perspective.

• Change the pictures. Maybe you love that picture from your rock climbing trip three years ago, but it's time to update and replace it. Changing your profile and pictures helps you attract new candidates as they search. Also, you won't be accused of posting a picture that looks 10 years old!

• Recognize that misunderstandings happen. If you decide to ignore a match because of something he/she said in an email, you could be closing yourself off to a great new relationship. Instead of making assumptions about someone's intentions, ask him what he meant by his remark and explain how you interpreted it. It could be a simple misunderstanding rather than a personality trait you don't like.

• Loosen your parameters. Do you narrow your search according to factors like age, location, or career? Let's say you won't date anyone over 35...this may prevent you from meeting a fantastic 37-year old with the same goals and interests. Or what if you will not date anyone who lives more than 20 miles away? You could be missing the love of your life who lives 30 miles away. Every so often, it's good to adjust parameters to have more choice.

• Realize that dating has ups and downs. Sometimes you'll get more emails from matches than others. Some dates will be better than others. If you feel like online dating isn't working because you haven't yet met the love of your life, relax. Prepare yourself for meeting the right person by opening yourself up to opportunities in front of you now. You never know how you could meet; usually when you least expect it.