Dating Advice:

Top notch advice articles by some of the most experienced internet daters. Be sure to check out our Dating Advice Column for answers to more of your dating questions.

Internet Dating 101
Here's a handful of important things to keep in mind when you're answering or placing a personal's ad. If you're involved in any kind of internet dating, you'll want to read this!

Personal Ad Pitfalls
I've heard a lot of people griping that they didn't get responses, or the kind of responses they wanted, from their personal ad. Granted, there's a lot of people out there who will write to anyone, compatibility be damned! But there's also some little things you can do to make your ad perform better.

Preferences vs. Requirements
With an image in your head of your ideal match, you start clicking check boxes and making selections. But these choices could prevent a potentially good match, even someone who fits your criteria exactly, from responding to your profile.

Play It Safe Online
With so many people communicating via the Net and deciding to date virtual strangers, it is important to be safe and be smart. Common sense can go a long way to keep you safe.

Making A Connection
Great! You've placed an ad, or answered an ad, and got a response (or several) that sound like someone you'd like to get to know. Now what? Here's some tips on getting the ball rolling, and eventually meeting face to face.

Watch For Red Flags
It shouldn't come to a surprise to you that some people lie about things, especially when they meet online. So, how do you tell the phonies from the Real McCoys?

Too Much Too Soon
Things over the internet can get very intense very quickly and that isn't always good. I've seen a lot of people become completely convinced that the person online is the right one for them only to see them get their hearts broken when the real meeting happens.

Manage Your Mailbox
Have you ever come home and found your mailbox chock-full of envelopes and flyers? I mean so many of them that the mail carrier had to leave some on the ground? That’s sounds a lot like my email inbox.

Long Distance Love: 3 Tips
A long-distance connection is admittedly difficult, especially during that initial stage when it’s all about “getting to know you” and “you’re too good to be true” and “where’ve you been all my life?”

The Dating Game: Who Pays?
Just then the waiter waltzes by and casually deposits the check next to your date’s right elbow. You politely insist that the tab is yours, as you’ve assumed from the beginning. Mr. Perfect declines, "Oh, no," he asserts, "it’s my treat entirely."

Online Dating Myths vs. Reality
We’ve all seen the sensationalist news reports. The way sweeps-week TV shows portray it: Online dating is either a sea of married men pretending to be single, unusually kinky or unsavory characters and pasty-faced internet addicts who haven’t left their homes in months.

Protect Your Privacy Online
New to the online dating scene? Worried about compromising your privacy? You’ll be happy to know you’re not alone. Users new to the world of online dating report fear of exposure as one of their number one concerns with using the internet.

10 Safety Tips for your Next Date
Whether you decide to correspond online or meet members offline, please use sound judgment and be responsible for your conduct. In both the virtual and real worlds, common sense is your best safety tool.

How Many Emails Before You Meet?
So what happens next? Whose job is it to take it to the next level? How soon is it appropriate to exchange phone numbers? Should you give her your digits, or should you ask for hers? Should you meet for lunch or for dinner, for coffee or for drinks?

Zen and the Art of Online Dating
Now I'm not saying you shouldn't have standards; you're choosing a romantic partner, not a sofa. A bit of pickiness is in order. But dating online also presents an excellent opportunity to experiment and let go of your preconceived ideas about what a good mate is.