UK Online Dating

How can you find the perfect profile for you? Why not sign up for a number of internet dating sites and start to look for the perfect man or the perfect woman that way. All of the internet dating sites we review allow you to post your profile and picture free of charge and use their search tools to some extent to find Mr or Miss Right. And, we think that until you start using some of the internet dating sites, you will not really know which features are useful for you.

Getting the Best from Internet Dating

When you first sign up for an internet dating site, you need to make sure that you have filled in all the criteria in your own profile. We suggest you write a paragraph about yourself in a word processing package and check your spelling before you post it. Just think how odd it must look to someone who is hoping to find a graduate level professional when people who describe themselves that way can't spell professional! And, you might be suprised at how many people think that dating is spelt with an extra 'e' (dateing) It's a good idea to try and avoid using too many abbreviations. You might be used to mobile texting shorthand, but if you are looking to find a man or find a woman online, the other person might not be.

Understanding Online Dating Profiles

UK online dating site profiles sometimes don't quite mean what they say. The challenge is that for every ten or so profiles where the person has completely above board intentions, you will find one that is using a slightly 'alternative' interpretation. So, approach with caution and make sure the person you are making contact with is looking for the same things as you!

Here a few simple examples

Easy-going - Lazy

Open minded - may be in a relationship already...

Cuddly - Overweight

Fun - This can mean anything from 'Im not quite sure' to 'Adult Fun'. Be careful, particuarly if the person concerned has used a screen name like 'little_pussy' or 'Shagger'.

Bisexual - may mean 'looking for a woman/man to join for a threesome

When you write your own profile try to be honest and think how things will look to the other person. Try concentrating on the sort of things you would say on a first date or if you met an attractive man or a gorgeous woman and wanted to get to know them better. So, if you are looking for a woman, by all means admit to loving football...but don't explain too much about how long you have supported your team etc. And if you are looking for a man, owning up to being a shopaholic is fine...but temper it with other interests too!

Age Criteria in Profiles

Firstly, remember that there are people who are economical with the truth on dating sites. Age criteria with dating services almost encourages both men and women to act that way. For example, many sites will only allow you to search in five year age bands...so you can end up excluding someone who is 41 when you are 40 simply because you don't want an older man or an older woman. But, being realistic, a year on a computer screen may be just a day in real life (if the person you are excluding is a day older than you and it is the day before your birthday).

Secondly, be realistic. You may love younger women or really adore older guys. But, trying to find someone who is twenty years younger than you is unlikely to be a recipe for success.

Thirdly - be open minded. Keep your age criteria broad...or you could be excluding some really great men and women. As a rule, we recommend that men look for women no more than ten years younger and up to five years older...and that women look for men up to ten years older and five years younger.

Looking for Love in the UK?

If you are in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool or Brighton - or anywhere in the UK, you should find that there are other online singles near you. Most online dating sites have a location search feature. Some need you to select towns - others like Date the UK use your postcode to work out distance from you.