Online Dating Etiquette

Whether you've been online dating for a while or are new to the game, I'd like to offer a few suggestions to make your experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Following are some tips to help you be courteous and respectful of fellow online daters, so that you can improve your experience as well as attract more like-minded matches.

• Check your account on a regular basis. There is nothing more frustrating than emailing someone who interests you and not hearing again for weeks. If you know that you will be busy or unavailable for a period of time, let your matches know by posting this in your profile. This way, people know when to expect you back online and communication doesn't just fade away.
• Respond to all emails in a timely way, even from people you don't care to meet. If someone took the time to email you, it is the courteous thing to respond quickly (less than 3 days). If you don't care to meet them, send an email to let them know in a polite way, "thanks but no thanks". Closure is the respectful thing to do.
• State your intentions. Most sites allow for you to classify what type of relationship you are looking for, so use this feature. If you're only looking to casually date, don't state that you are interested in a long-term relationship. If you are looking to marry, don't state that you are looking for fun and friendship. Honesty is the necessary ingredient of any relationship.
• Don't mass email. If you see several profiles that interest you, don't blast off a generic email to all of them at the same time, hoping to get some response. Most people can spot these emails quickly, and tend to delete them before responding. If you are interested in someone, take the time to write a thoughtful email that mentions something he or she wrote in her profile. You are more likely to get a positive response.
• Start off slow. Sure, you might feel inspired to join four sites at the same time, but will you have follow through? Instead of spreading yourself too thin and leaving a lot of emails unanswered, try joining one site, and then slowly adding others as your schedule permits.