Tips

Remember the three-day rule? Well, you can forget about waiting to make that call and a lot of other advice that might have worked in the dating scene ten years ago.

Now in the age of GPS-based apps like Tinder that can hook you up with someone instantly, and the way we communicate primarily via text rather than phone calls, this kind of advice falls short. Now that we have instant access (and therefore expect more immediate gratification), we don't have the time or patience to sit around and wait. After all, there could be five other hot men (or women) to meet in the meantime.

So how do you navigate the new digital dating world with so much access to new people - whether it's online dating, mobile dating, or meeting through Facebook? What are some guidelines to help figure out when to contact someone and how?

Following are some new tips to get you started:

Get familiar with technology. If you're new to the dating scene then it's important not to dismiss technology when it comes to helping you find someone. Online dating is extremely popular, with thousands of singles joining various websites every day. Mobile dating also offers a lot of different options - from apps that connect you to friends of friends on Facebook to those that tell you who is single and within a five-mile radius of where you happen to be in the moment. See what's out there. Don't assume that it's not for you until you try it.

Communicate. Instead of playing coy and waiting around for someone else to make a move, it's good to communicate with him so he knows you're interested. Dating moves very quickly, so if you drop in and out of communication with someone or wait a day or more to answer a text, you could miss out on opportunities. Be consistent - respond in a timely way to texts and emails, and check in with your online dating site often.

Be honest. If you are serious about finding a relationship, then it's important to be honest about who you are. It's easy to pretend to be someone else online and paste old photos on your dating profile or fudge your age or height. But when you start meeting people to date, you're going to have to explain yourself. Be true to who you are, that is the best way to connect to someone else.

Be bold. Good relationships don't just magically happen. They require risk - we have to put ourselves out there, to be willing to show who we are to someone else. If you go solo to that party, or talk to the stranger in front of you in the Starbucks line, or get up the nerve to message that guy you've been eyeing on your online dating site, you are making the effort. These are all small steps, but can lead to something great. Take more risks by putting yourself out there. Love is worth it.

Looking for some new ideas to plan a date? Summer is here, which means there are a ton of activities going on in your neighborhood that you may or may not know about. If you don't know where to find them, then you should be making use of some cool apps out there that can help hook you up. So to speak.

Regardless of whether you're online dating or you already have a significant other, it can be stressful to plan dates. If you try something you've never done before, you never know what to expect. But that's part of the fun, right?

If you're sick of the same old same old but need a little inspiration, or if you want a choice of what to do (even at the last minute), there are apps available to help you out. Every city offers events or places that you might not know about. Check out some of the apps we found, and what they offer:

How About We. This app is available for both singles and couples. If you're a couple, How About We suggests date ideas (like an evening cruise, live concert, or good place for brunches with outdoor patios), and allows you to book in advance through their site. When you become a member, they also offer deals and freebies for future dates.

Sosh. If you live in the San Francisco or New York areas, you might want to check out this app for something non-traditional. Sosh's main focus is to find events or places that are cool and unique. In fact, if a particular event gets bookmarked by too many people, they stop promoting it to users. With over 500 activities, places, venues, and other out-of-the-way interests discovered each weekend, Sosh is a good place to look to try something off the beaten path. Its website claims the app is coming soon to L.A., Chicago, Boston and Seattle.

Goby. Looking for a real adventure? If you have some time set aside for your date, this app is a good resource to help you plan everything from vacations to small excursions to nearby places. Depending on the type of adventure you want to have (hiking a mountain vs. a gallery opening), you can find it. Goby provides a description of the event, where it is, and how close it is to you.

Happy dating!

Online dating is an option that a lot of singles turn to whenever they want to determine their potential lifetime partner. What are some tips that should be considered whenever online dating is discussed? Read on to find out.

Online dating can be seen as the mysterious path that seems promising to a lot of singles. Currently, singles all over the world browse the Internet to find free dating sites which can aid them in turning their dream guys into real guys.

However, online dating is not as simple as it sounds. An individual who merely clicks all the free dating sites and signs up a profile in every one of them has less chance than an individual who carefully assesses herself and focuses on providing relevant, yet careful, details about her preferences.

To better get acquainted with the basics of online dating, singles should take consideration of the following online dating tips during selecting among free dating sites:

1. Specify which free dating site suits you.

Free dating sites are not exactly the same. Some are focused on dating such as Match.com and FriendFinder. Others are directed towards a serious relationship and towards marriage like eHarmony.

Oftentimes, singles might find it easier to date those who have the same hobbies as them so they go to free dating sites offering services to singles with similar interests - Millionaire Match is for rich singles while Senior Match is for older singles.

It would be better if singles decide which particular dating site they should take so they can utilize it according to its optimum quality.

2. Take online dating security seriously.

Online dating is similar to offline dating in the way that singles should still ensure their safety whenever getting to know someone. Basic online security tips are the following: never give your home address or phone number, always meet in public when meeting for the first time and go with your gut.

3. Respect to be respected.

Online dating is no excuse to get reckless and to throw in offensive comments to others. Singles should still communicate accordingly to people they meet. Also, whenever a person finds someone unsuitable for her, she should still have the decency to politely decline his advances. Not replying is considered rude.

4. Avoid white lying.

Online dating is can be full of liars who aim to scam people. On the other hand, it can also be full of potential lifetime partners. Take in mind that singles are looking for the loves of their lives in online dating - what would your lover think if he found out you lied to him in the past just to get his attention?

A relationship started with a lie is nothing but a scam as well.

5. Put your best foot forward during the first date.

Getting a first date through online dating seems like a feat to some singles. After all, the task does seem overwhelming. Therefore, after all the trouble you went through, you would want to make the first date the best dating experience your date can have.

Be confident. Go to a safe yet decent place with your date. Remember to pay deserving compliments to your date as well.

Following the mentioned tips can definitely help singles looking for free dating sites in online dating find the loves of their lives. Online dating can definitely help you in finding your soul mate - you just need to look harder.

Online dating is popular. If you haven't done it yourself you probably know people who have. While you've heard stories of things going wrong when people meet, know that good stories are also out there. It's important to always put safety first, no matter how much you think you trust someone. This article talks about 3 ways you can be a better online dater.

1. Know your requirements

Before you even start filling out profiles online and meeting people, you need to know what it is you're looking for. Are you willing to date someone who lives far away? How far is too far? Does your potential date need to be employed? Educated? Are you willing to date someone who is divorced? Has Children? It's important to think about these possible situations because while you are online dating, you'll run into all kinds of people with all kinds of history. Do not worry about being too picky. You should be picky when choosing someone to date.

2. Fill out that profile

Profiles are there for a reason, but as you'll soon notice, many people fail to fill them out or they are so basic they sound like ten other people. So when you fill out your profile, be honest and answer all the questions. You do not have to write essays, you can stick to point form answers as long as they explain who you are and how you differ from other people. Don't forget to add a photo! It's not that looks matter but people have preferences. You wouldn't want to be talking to someone for a while and then finally see them only to discover you're not attracted to them.

3. Online is just the beginning

Online dating is a bit of a confusing term. You probably know someone who has been dating someone online for years. It really happens. Usually it's due to distance. But online shouldn't be where you should keep your relationship. You are probably going online to meet someone to date in real life. If that's your intention, make sure you let the people you meet know you're not willing to carry on a relationship over the computer for more than a certain amount of time. Let's face it, being in a relationship is easy. You don't have to go out, get yourself dressed up or spend money. But that's not a relationship. You could find that same connection with a thousand people online.

Online dating can be tricky. It's not an easy task to find someone you connect with on and offline, so patience is required. Enjoy the process of meeting people. Even if it takes a while to find someone you are compatible with, you'll make new friends in the process.

Unusual, Strange, weird and wacky dating sites have been making headlines lately. Here is our top ten (or so) list:

Date Someone from Jail

You got a couple of choices here. There is Women Behind Bars for all of you single law abiding men out there. Not to be out done, there is also Meet-an-Inmate which has personal ads for both men and women who are incarcerated.

Science

If you think your DNA can be your matchmaker, try Scientific Match.

Adult Fetish Anyone?

While I will not link to these sites directly, a Google search should find them for you easily enough. We have three for you. There is Daily Diapers and Diaper Mates which attempts to match up people interested in acting like babies, and Pounced, which is a personals site for people who like to wear furry costumes.

Health

On one end of the spectrum you have EcoDater which is for singles who are vegetarians and all around environmentally friendly. At the other end you have 420 Dating for those people who like to smoke. You then also have Gothic Match which is designed for Goth and Vampires (which is not too healthy as far as their victims are concerned 😉).

Your Job and Hobby

Finally, you have those dating sites for people who share a profession or hobby. Farmers Only is probably the most funny one out there, and then there is Date Craft which is dating for gamers (think Warcraft).

The Wrap Up

While it is fun to look for weird and wacky dating sites, I am not sure how popular any of these services really are. While researching a few of them on the internet I can't imagine any of them having more than a few hundred active members who are currently using the site in any one month.

In the search for Mr. or Mrs. Right, wouldn’t it be great if you had an advocate who was going to bat for you? That’s what personal matchmakers do. Services like It’s Just Lunch have grown in popularity over the past few years as many people feel more comfortable with people doing the people-matching instead of computers.

As with any type of dating site or service, personal matchmakers have their pros and cons. This type of service won’t be for everyone, but if you review these features and still think they’re right for you: good luck! You’ll be moving forward with a personal dating coach in the world of romance!

Benefits of Personal Matchmakers

What’s not to like about having someone who has met you, knows your quirks and has spoken with you at-length doing the matching for you? Personal matchmakers have the one thing that most online dating sites lack: personal, one-on-one service. They can put people together based on first-hand impressions instead of computer matching algorithms and give some inside scoop on who you’ll be sitting across from on that first meeting instead of a page of pictures and standard questions.

Drawbacks to Personal Matchmakers

There are two significant drawbacks to personal matchmakers: cost and level of service. While an online dating service will cost you anywhere from nothing to fifty or so dollars per month, personal matchmakers often run into the hundreds to many thousands per year. While many personal matchmakers have outstanding reputations among their clients no matter how successful their matches may ultimately be, you have to be able to justify each matchmaker’s services with the price they’re charging. Many will simply interview you and set you up on dates. Others will go the extra few miles and do exit interviews after unsuccessful dates, do periodic check ins and see where your personal life is at and offer to make introductions out of the norm.

Tips for Personal Matchmakers

If you’re considering using a personal matchmaker, ask for a list of references of current or past clients. If they won’t provide one, how do you know they’re any good? It’s their word against your wallet, hopes and dreams at that point. In addition to references, interview multiple matchmakers in your local area first before looking for one outside your geography. Being familiar with your local social scene shouldn’t be underrated. Ask about contracts, payment terms and how they handle complaints or conflicts.

If you are interested in a Personal Matchmaker service, check out our review of It's Just Lunch.

For the first article in this series, read: Types of Online Dating Services: Overview