5 Awesome Free Dating Site Tips

Dating online can either turn out to be the greatest experience in your life or a total waste of time. The outcome is really determined by you. By following these five simple tips, you can quickly and easily sort out the duds and find yourself a lifelong mate.

Tip #1 Looks Really Do Matter
I'm going to be perfectly honest with you here. Most of the so-called 'dating gurus' will tell you that "looks don't matter" and they are flat out wrong. Dating site users look at photos, and it's often the first thing that they browse through. You don't have to be a Liz Hurley or a David Beckham look-alike to get noticed, but you do need to look presentable. This means that you should only use photos where you are smiling and enjoying life.

One of the biggest mistakes that I see is the use of cheap, low quality pictures. Avoid using photos that are grainy or taken with camera phones. Studies have shown that the quality of the profile photo can play a role in the number of responses received on dating sites.

You should also avoid the regular head shots or "glamour shots", and provide candid photos where you can show your true identity to the world. Of course, you should always use pictures that show you in your best light, but remember to use a recent photo that depicts how you currently appear. Don't forget that someone will eventually meet you, and it will be extremely awkward if you don't look like the person in the photo.

Tip #2 You Need A Deadly Profile
If you want to find love on the internet, your profile must differentiate yourself from the thousands of other members without making you look like a weirdo. The key is to keep it interesting, while highlighting your positive attributes. But, you must also remain modest. A profile that reads like a list of accomplishments can give some readers the impression that you are either conceited or intimidating. This is the kiss of death for online daters.

Once you've finished your masterpiece, make sure that you check the spelling and grammar before allowing it to go live. Posting an error-filled profile is one of the biggest mistakes made on online dating sites, and only one of the easiest to avoid. Don't make this common error, as ignorance is a major turn-off!

Tip #3 Minimum Effort Yields Minimum Results
If you're willing to put in some time and energy, the dates will come pretty naturally. When I started meeting women online, I took it very seriously and treated it like a salesperson would. I looked at the available women as my "leads". You'll find that many of these leads are not what you're looking for. Sort through them all, and contact as many people that fit your dating criteria. You must get out of your comfort zone and make the initial contact.

As most good sales people know, it takes many "no's" to get a "yes". Dating sites are exactly the same, but even better. In this case, that one yes could turn out to be the love of your life.

Tip #4 Blow Them Away With The Initial Contact
As with the profile, you must do something that sets yourself apart from everyone else. I usually like to start out by mentioning something that I noticed in their profile. This shows that you are in fact interested in them, and didn't just fire off a form letter to a few hundred random people. However, keep in mind that you should never compliment them on their looks in the first email. If they're good looking, they know this, and it will put you in a weaker position.

Once you've shown that you're interested in that person, you can write a bit about yourself and what you have in common with them. A little bit of charm and humor goes well here. Most importantly, you must spread a few questions throughout this email as well. You need to give them a reason to respond to you. Otherwise, you risk receiving a stale response or sometimes nothing at all.

Tip #5 After The Second Email - Move It Offline
If you're serious about online dating, you must take the conversation offline as soon as possible. In my experience, if you wait past the second email, the conversation will run a bit stagnant and you will never meet each other. Simply provide your number, and ask for their number as well. If they don't provide it at this point, it means that they're either married or not serious. In that case, it's better to move on before you get too attached.

When you receive the phone number, you must make the call as soon as possible. Procrastination will destroy everything that you've worked for. Keep the conversation moving along and if everything feels right, ask to meet in person.

Follow these five simple tips and you will be way ahead of the other "romance seekers" that don't have a clue. As you can see, it's easy once you have a system in place and follow it. Just remember to always be yourself and have a good time with it, and you will truly enjoy the ride.

This article is brought to you by Relationships Advice Blog.