1. Plan in advance

What’s your purpose of meeting people online? Are you just looking at spending some time entertaining yourself in chat rooms? Or looking for someone to go out with in the weekends? Or a one night stand? Trying your luck at meeting your prince charming or Ms Right?

2. Check with your friends

You will find all sorts of people in chat rooms who are looking for a little bit of fun just like you. Ask your friends what sites gave them a good experience and get them to recommend some. At least you could count on positive recommendations rather than signing up for some random chat service.

3. Take your time, don’t rush!

You will have to spend a little bit of time in chat rooms and exchanging emails with the person whom you just met online or chat via the telephone before committing to meet them in person offline. You only agree to meet them once you feel comfortable to do so.

4. Learn to speak the truth!

Although it’s just online, be honest. Never make up a fantasy profile or post someonelse’s photo as your own to impress the other party. Don’t even lie about who you are, the truth is always the best if you want to have a good online dating experience.

5. Organize and prioritize

The advantage of online dating is you get to select the type of people that you would like to get in touch with.  You could easily browse through a selection of profiles online and then start corresponding with them at the initial stages to get the ball rolling.  If for any reason, it did not meet your expectations, you could start looking at new profiles again.

6. Stop! Don’t believe everything you see or read

Most of the time, people like to blag about themselves too much to impress that it may sound too good to be true.  If that is the case, there is no harm in checking to verify their claims.

7. Etiquette in chat room

Be polite, respectful and courteous.  People tend to think that they are invincible when they chat online.  Only say what you mean and do not mislead the other person.

8. Online dating service as an option

Paid online dating services may be worthwhile since they would provide you a better service at helping you find your match since you paid good money to sign up for their services.

9. Be available

Online dating has a quick turnaround time.  You are expected to provide quick responses in a timely fashion.  Failure to which may cause your potential date to lose interest.  So access to the internet is a must.

10. Your safety first

The time will come when you’ve gained enough confidence to meet your online date OFFLINE. It’s best to meet up at some place neutral and public.  Make sure you travel separately.  That way, you get to keep things under your control should things not work out the way you expected them to be on your date.