Has Valentine's Day got you down? Is meeting that special someone proving more difficult than you ever thought it could be? Maybe it's time to change your approach to dating. Dating websites have come a long way since Match. And the stigma of meeting someone online is all but gone. These days, dating sites offer many opportunities to make a good first impression without the pitfalls of the dreaded "pick up.
With all the personalization features these sites offer and the traffic they receive, the right person is probably out there somewhere right now. Arguably the best known of the matchmaking websites, Match.
The site uses your profile to personalize the matches that it delivers to you. It also offers a high level of search customization; the Mutual Match function, for example, allows you to find people who are looking for someone like you. While viewing member profiles is free, a subscription is needed to contact someone member conversations happen via email, chat and instant messaging.
Membership plans range from one to six months. So a personality test, aimed at determining values, beliefs, characteristics and, ultimately, compatibility, is the first order of business for new members. You can then peruse profiles of members who have been "pre-screened. Membership plans range from a month to a year.
An open-to-all dating website, OkCupid relies on self-commentary and social interaction from those in its community. The site gathers profile information through entertaining and insightful quizzes and social networking activities, such as instant messaging, blogs, public forums and email. All this is then incorporated into the matching-up process.
