More and more people in the UK are turning to the internet to find a date. The advantages are perhaps obvious; it is easy. It widens your choice of partner and you can do it from the comfort of your own living room. Additionally, if you are uneasy about approaching members of the opposite sex in traditional meeting places such as bars and clubs, or have had bad experiences with these types of dating then online dating can be a valuable alternative.

What’s more, is it is now more socially acceptable than ever to date online and more and more singles are logging on to look for a date from relationship websites. In the same way, the internet has now become a part of everyday life so online dating is becoming the norm rather than a niche market.

But can it lead to success? Can you really find love online? The statistics are promising.

A recent study showed that some 94% of persons using online dating facilities who met their online date met again after the first date (source BBC). In fact, it has been shown that couples who meet online are far more likely to have a long-term future together.

So give it a go. Who knows that gorgeous guy or girl that you may have been too shy to approach in person may just reply to your e-mail! If not what have you lost?

I Found Love on an Online Dating Site

Over the past few years, I discovered a few personality traits about myself that I wanted to change. When it comes to relationships I have had a hard time changing. I am stubborn. And, I don’t like change. Sometimes, when you are set in your ways, change is hard.

Finding love has always been hard for me. I think I had found that special woman that I will want to spend the rest of my life with, but then the bubble would burst. I discovered that what I wanted from the relationship and what I actually had was vastly different. Probably my expectations were too high. I just wanted love, to be loved, and to share my life with a special person. The women I tend to fall in love with tend to have different ideas. Some of the women wanted to be supported. Some seemed to just want a friend and then some really didn’t know what they really want.

I found that I tended to stay in the relationship too long, I didn’t leave when I knew I should. Did I do this because I always had hoped that the relationship would change for the better? I had discovered that this is a false hope and never got better.

My problem is that I am easy.

What do people call a pushover? It probably is a combination of low self-esteem, shyness, and having a really easy personality. I try to take life in stride. Even though I think I know what is happening, it is still really easy to take advantage of me.

My love life had gotten so bad that after my last relationship I decided I never wanted another relationship again from a dating group. I was finished with this search that I have been told from childhood. It was the fantasy that I must seek and find the right woman to share a life with, to support and take care of. I came to believe that that was “garbage” advice. I would take care of this woman but they never gave back to me.

But, Internet dating helped me slowly understand and change my personality traits. We registered with a few online dating sites that I had researched on Google and found on dating site directories. I did not go to the big boys, like eHarmony or Match. I stayed with the smaller sites, to learn and get comfortable with this new form of finding a companion.

First I started with a dating site,

which is now out of business because it had a forum area. In the evenings after work, I would go and log into the forum to meet new people. I met both men and women and many had similar experiences to mine. I felt comfortable, because, I was anonymous, and could make myself known only when I wanted. We guess this is the shyness in me. Then I moved onto another site I found on Google and sounded fun. It turned out to be a good decision.

I found a community of people with similar interests that I quickly started to make friends with. I also was able to find friends in my local city and we started to hang out. We occasionally as a group would meet in restaurants and other times meet for drinks. It was a comfortable setting for me and a lot of fun.

The Dating Site Forum

Well, about 3 months after joining the dating site forum, I met a woman that seemed to share similar interests as myself. We made each other laugh and actually we both were in no hurry to meet face to face. We were having so much fun on the internet with each other we were afraid it wouldn’t last if we met face to face. This went on for 7 months until I got up the nerve to invite her out to one of our group’s get-togethers at a local restaurant.

To my surprise meeting, her in person for the first time was like meeting someone I always knew. It was a very comfortable feeling to meet someone the first time, but know all about her because we had been conversing on the forum for so long.

Well, to make a long story short, we went out with the group a few more times before deciding to go it alone by ourselves. It has been 2 years with this wonderful woman and I have never been happier. It took me 30 years to find the woman of my dreams. And, I am very happy.

Without the internet and doing some life searching and changing some of my personality traits, I don’t know if I would have ever had the courage to really search for happiness.

I believe there are people like me who are also lost when it comes to dating. The best advice I could give them is to find a dating site you are comfortable with a step in one foot at a time and find happiness.

3 Easy Steps to Online Dating Success

We all know that online dating will help you to make new friends and meet your perfect partner. But, how do you get the best out of a dating site? If you are thinking of signing up, or have already joined a dating site without success, make sure you read these 3 important tips!

1. Personal Profile – Getting it Right

All dating sites ask you to complete a personal profile. But what will make YOUR profile stand out amongst the crowd?

Although the length and depth of profiles differ from one dating site like datinggrp review to another, they all ask you to describe your physical appearances, such as height and hair color. Of course, this is important: we are initially attracted to someone by how they look and online dating isn’t very different. Where dating on the internet comes into its own, however, is the opportunity to find out more about a person before taking that next step. This unique aspect can be very powerful in deciding whether you will actually go ahead and make contact because you like the sound as well as the look of someone.

And there’s the rub: Don’t sell yourself short when it comes to saying more about yourself. Brief phrases like: ‘Single 30-year-old woman would like to make new friends’ or ‘I’m not sure what to write but please get in touch will not make you stand out. Tell people about the things you like to do, any hobbies you are interested in. The music you love, your dreams for the future. If you’re still unsure, find a well-written profile that interests you and follow their lead!

2. Photographs – Don’t be shy!

Profiles without photographs rarely stand out. You are much more likely to get responses if you attach a picture.

Some people are shy about doing this. But hey – I’m sure you don’t go out with a paper bag over your head so don’t hide now! Let’s be honest, who would you rather contact, someone without a photograph or that person smiling back at you from the screen?

Online dating is an acceptable and successful medium in which to meet new people. All research proves that profiles with a photograph attached consistently do better than those without. So, get your camera out and say cheese!

3. Making the First Move – Don’t Sit Back

You would be surprised how many people go to the trouble of completing their personal profiles, attach a nice picture and then sit back and wait for a flood of emails. No surprise that they are disappointed! Let’s face it if you go to a party and sit in the corner all night you’re not going to get everyone queuing up to meet you. You may even go completely unnoticed.

Even with a great profile, making the first move to say ‘hi’ is essential in the art of online dating. People love receiving new emails and will nearly always write back. Just think, if everyone sat back and waited for others to get in touch then the dating game would be over before it started. If you want to fill up your inbox then start emailing people straight away.

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Bonus Tip: If you’re new to online dating and still building your confidence check to see if there are other ways of contacting people instead of an email. Some sites make it really easy to make the first move without having to say very much at all – like virtual kisses – a great way to let someone know you’re interested!

So, what are you waiting for? If you are thinking of signing up to a dating site, or have already joined one without much luck. Just follow these 3 simple steps and you’ll be well on the way to online dating success.