Where’s the Love? It’s Online!

Online dating sites are growing in popularity. Just think back to the days where (if you're old enough) AOL chat rooms were the latest and greatest place to meet new people! Today, online dating is an industry that's grown from $329 million in 2006 to projected revenues of $932 million in 2011 (according to Jupiter Research). That's a lot of hearts churning out a lot of dough to these online dating sites.

So if you're out there looking for love, how do you know if you're spending your dollars wisely? After all, you don't want to just throw dollars willy-nilly into the already rich online dating pool. With so much variance in online dating sites, it's hard to tell up-front which ones might best suit your needs. However, if you go into your search with a key list of questions to help guide you, we'll bet that you can sort the list of offerings in no time at all!

Your Goals
If you're just getting into online dating and not so sure you're looking for forever, you may want to try a free trial period with a paid online dating site or one of the free online dating sites. There's no shame in wanting to try before you buy. This is also a good way to get to know a site's interface and whether the way it works will ultimately float your boat.

No Mr. or Miss "Right Nows"
When you're ready to take that next step in your life and find a lasting partner, you may prefer more serious online dating sites like eHarmony, Chemistry.com or PerfectMatch. Designed more as "matchmaking" sites than dating sites, they are designed to provide you with significant in-depth information about your matches and make recommendations for you from their database. The registration process on these sites generally involves a questionnaire that will take anywhere from one to two hours to complete, so it's a win for the committed - a loss for the casual dater.

On the Go or No Go?
If you're in search of an online dating site that you can access on-the-go, you may want to try to find one with a mobile application like Match.com. Otherwise, if you have email access on your phone, I recommend setting-up a dedicated email account to handle your messages from online dating sites. This not only keeps you from ignoring you entire day while you respond to inquiries landing in your primary email - it also prevents the inadvertent sharing of information if you mistakenly reply directly from your email address to a message!

Funds for Fun
Not everyone has the budget to spend $50+ per month on an online dating site. Rates are easy to find - simply visit a site's "pricing" or "membership options" page. There are generally discounts passed along if you pay for more than one month in advance. The steepest discounts are on 6-month and annual memberships. And if you ever want to cancel, be sure to pay attention to your billing date! Online dating sites are merciless with refunds and if you're not careful, you can end up paying for the site long after you've found your love.

Messaging Options - Talk to Me!
Every online dating site has a different messaging option and you'll have to figure what's best for your communication style. While most all have built-in messaging platforms that prevent you from having to share an email address before you're ready, many others also have live chat and other notifications like "winks" and "flirts." Remember - never share personal information like addresses and places of employment prior to actually meeting someone and even then, exercise caution. Online dating sites have built their messaging platforms to protect you and your privacy.