Tips

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.

Stop spending your time trying to conjure-up ways to make your next date special. You can practice acts of kindness without all of the brainwork and less legwork than you might imagine! We've put together a simple list of acts of kindness that will not only brighten your date's day, but put you in the position of being able to easily give. Giving is fun, and it's worth every smile that comes across our partner's face!

1. Bring them coffee out of the blue.
2. Leave a single flower on their windshield overnight.
3. Take out the trash and replace the bag (add the recycling for extra oomf!).
4. Wash the bed linens (even if you're horrible at laundry). Really horrible at laundry? Drop them off at a same-day fluff-and-fold service at a local laundromat.
5. Take their car to be washed and leave them the keys to yours for the day.
6. Open the car door, the door at the restaurant or carry them across a water puddle.
7. The next time you go over to their house, bring a treat for their pet(s).
8. If your partner has kids, plan a low-maintenance, surprise family date day at a local amusement park or museum.
9. Clean out the fridge - no one needs food with a personality!
10. Book your partner a massage. Pick them up, drop them off and enjoy their smile after their session.
11. Send them a mid-day text that says nothing more than, "Thinking of you. Love you. I don't say it enough."
12. The next time you argue, be the first to say, "I'm sorry."
13. Watch a click flick or a suspense movie - even if it's not your cup of tea.
14. If your partner is always parking on city streets with meters, place a roll of quarters in their car with a sticky note with a smiley face on it.
15. Use the words, "Thank you" more and the word "but..." less!

Looking to improve relationships in your life? Maybe the last ones simply didn't work out or the one you're currently in could use some "tweaking." We've all had successes and the opposite in our relationship history. But did it occur to you that there are three simple things you can do to improve relationships across the board? Whether a romantic one or one in the workplace, these three tips can put you on the path to relationship (and personal success) if you make them a part of your daily (yes, daily) routine.

Improve Relationships Through Self-Love - Hey, you're a great person! Stop thinking you're not. The first step to improving relationships in your life is to start with the one you have with yourself. If you think you're worth less than the best or deserve less than you have, you're placing yourself in a position where nothing's going to work out. Not that promotion, not a second date. Remind yourself that you're worth nothing but the best and while we all must compromise, we should never have to settle. Keep this in mind the next time you're poking around profiles on an online dating site, too. Know the partner you'd like to share your time with and tell yourself you deserve to have someone special in your life. Then live it!

Improve Relationships Through Communication - When we're able to effectively communicate our wants and needs, we place ourselves in a very powerful position. Never be afraid to speak up and share with a co-worker or partner what you want. If you're consistently being beat down for expressing yourself, it's time to re-evaluate the situation and determine if that, indeed, is the right environment for you in which to grow. If we can't grow with someone or in the company of colleagues who support our desire to engage in open dialogue, then it's a better move to consider moving on and finding the relationship that will feed us instead of hold us back. But how do you know you're being pushed down? Consider the last time you tried to express discontent or your feelings about a situation. Does the other party in the equation see you as always "complaining?" We all complain sometimes, but if you're not complaining and expressing a desire to dialogue about an issue, then maybe the issue isn't with you.

Improve Relationships Through Reciprocation - We've all been there: the draining relationship. They're the ones that seem to take from us and leave us feeling empty inside, like we have nothing left to give. They're the ones that make us weary when we leave the office or too exhausted to even try talking to our partner. Great relationships are about giving from both sides (not give and take). We meet in the middle. Great leaders in the business world inspire and support those around them, elevating those people to greatness and in turn, improving themselves along the way. Great partners in our romantic lives love themselves, communicate with us and continually assess the relationship to ask: "How can I be a better partner?" Reciprocation doesn't have to be you cook dinner/your partner cooks dinner. It can be as simple as saying, "I appreciate everything you do for me. Is there anything I can do for you to say thank you?" Words like that go miles towards letting a partner know that you're present and engaged. In the business world, while the phrasing might be different, there's nothing wrong with showing appreciation and offering to pick up the slack to make someone's life easier, especially when they've done the same for you.

Don’t signal the waiter for the check

You might be on a date and having a terrible time. When that happens, you want to leave as soon as possible. But, just because the date isn’t going well doesn’t mean you should hurt his feelings by asking for the check. No matter how bad the date is, the guy doesn’t deserve to be left mid-meal.

Don’t be irritating and ask for a different table

Don’t you hate it when you are seated in the back at a bad table? I certainly do. However, there’s no excuse that allows you to change tables. You don’t want your date to think you are extremely difficult, so stay where you are.

Don’t order something too expensive

If you choose the most expensive entree on the menu, your date is going to get the wrong idea. He might even think you’re after his money. You don’t want him to be offended and think you are rude. So, order something reasonably priced. Your date will silently thank you when the check comes.

It may sound cliché, but you never do have a second chance to make a first impression. Especially when dating. Unfortunately, judgments are in high gear on a date, so it's important to put your best foot forward. And yes, this means your appearance.

I live in L.A. where everything is casual...people wear jeans to work and flip-flops to work. However, when you are meeting a date for the first time, don't show up in sweats or t-shirts. Look like you put a little effort into it. Not only will your date notice, but you will feel more confident. Some things to keep in mind:

1. If you wore it 10 years ago, don't put it on. Even if you are new to the dating scene again, please don't recycle your wardrobe. Buy something new or borrow from a friend. You want to go out feeling good AND current.

2. Don't be sloppy. You don't have to wear an expensive suit or dress to impress a date. Just be mindful of the condition of your clothes...are they wrinkled, or dirty? Are you wearing board shorts because they are comfortable, rather than jeans that look better? And guys---trade in the flip flops for closed shoes too, please.

3. Don't cake on the make-up. Ladies, we all want to emphasize our best features---eyes, lips, whatever the case. However, using a heavy hand when applying make-up doesn't help. Guys usually prefer a more natural look, so remember that the next time you apply. If you tend to overdo it, be conservative. On the other hand, if you don't wear make-up at all, I encourage you to try for your next date. A little lipstick and mascara won't hurt.

4. When in doubt, ask a friend. Maybe fashion isn't your thing, so you just grab whatever is in the closet. For your next date, ask a friend who is more fashion saavy to come over and help you pick out something great. Likely they will be happy to help and you'll leave feeling more confident.

Whether you are new to the online dating game, or consider yourself a veteran, would you like a little inspiration when it comes to crafting your online profile? After all, if you want to attract more people or perhaps even a different type of person, there might be room for improvement.

Consider the following:

1. DO use "action" shots. Maybe you like the professional headshots you've been using in your profile, but according to recent studies by popular dating site OkCupid.com, men and women actually prefer to see pictures of potential matches in an "active shot", particularly "doing something interesting". So, if you play guitar or like to rock climb, consider posting a picture of yourself doing one of these activities.

2. DON'T be generic in your interests. Writing sentences like "I enjoy long walks on the beach" or "I'm a nice guy looking for a nice woman" is well...nice...but don't you want to stand out from the other hundreds of profiles claiming the same thing? Try to be more specific. If you enjoy traveling, say where you've been or where you'd next like to go. This will also be a conversation starter.

3. DO be brief. After all, the profile is just a preface to starting communication; you want to provide enough information to pique someone's interest. There is no need to go into detail about past relationships, your career or job situation, or anything else you feel it's important to disclose. Be brief and to the point. Would you want to read a profile that seems more like a memoir?

4. DON'T list the things you aren't looking for in a partner. Maybe you've been burned in the past or encountered a little too much drama in your relationships. Don't advertise these facts in your profile, or else you risk attracting someone with those qualities to you. Instead, focus on the positive traits that you would like to see. After all, you want to meet someone new, not someone who seems just like your last girlfriend.

5. DO keep an open mind. If you are a 45-year old man and won't date women older than 30, reconsider your limits. Perhaps you are screening out a great match with a 36-year old woman. Or if you won't date someone who is divorced or lives more than 15 miles away, you are reducing your opportunities for finding matches that are better suited to you personality-wise. Instead of placing more limitations on your matches, loosen up and see who comes along. It could surprise you.