Dating Sites Guide

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No-hype reviews of the most popular online dating services.

There are lots of online dating services to choose from. Which one is best for you? Use our handy guide to find out.

How do they work?

Most dating sites let you create of 'profile' that has details about yourself. This would include your location, age, sex, sexual preference, hair color and so on. Usually you can add picture to your profile and some even let you include voice or video clips as well.

The sites either let you search the profiles of other members (by location, age, etc) or they act as Matchmaker for you by presenting a list of possible matches based on the details on your profile. It is really a matter of personal preference which you like best.

As part of the each persons profile there is usually a link that lets a message be sent to that member.

Many of the services offer free membership of some kind, which provides limited access. Typically, free membership will let you create a profile, and search other member profiles. However, free membership does not usually let you send messages to other members.

What many people do is sign up for free membership and only upgrade to paid membership when either:
1) they find a profile of someone the really want to conact
Or
2) they receive a message from another member who has contacted them via their profile and they want to be able to reply.

Virtually all online dating services protect your privacy by passing message on the members behalf. Some forward the messages from other members to your normal email box. Others hold the messages for you until you log on their web site. Professional online services never reveal members email addresses.

Match

Membership: over 6 million

Match is the exclusive dating service on MSN, AOL, and a many other sites. They have very wide coverage and many consider them to be 'The dating site'

Match searches are 'profile' based. You search based on what is important to you.

Match offers extras: group trips for singles, cruises, and other special events.

Udate

Membership: over 4 million

Udate have grown rapidly in recent times. They have come up from being well behind to being number two behind Match.

The way Udate works is that instead of you searching through profiles, they ask you about yourself, and then try to find matches for you.

Kiss

Membership: over 4 million

Kiss.com are owned by uDate. However, the membership does not seem to overlap too much. This is partly because Kiss tends to specialize in over 30's age group.

You may find them a little bit annoying in the amount of email they send you to 'help' you, but it is easy enough to switch that off.

LavaLife

Membership: over 1 million

Lavalife is a fairly new and is growing fast.

It has an approach that is considered by some to be a bit basic in that they don't ask many questions of you before you get started. However, they do leave deciding who you are interested in much more up to you that some other services.

FriendFinder

Membership: over 4 million

FriendFinder comes in different flavours such as 'Adult', 'Asian' and so forth. It is not clear whether membership figures claimed applies to all the associated sites, so it is likely that it does.

A Profile based service. Has been critisized for being a bit little behind-the times for not offering any of the newest matchmaking technologies, but some prefer its profile orientated approach.

Offers voice messaging, which is not usually found at other dating sites.

We found them a bit annoying in the amount of 'reminders' they send out, but it was tolerable.

American Singles

Membership: over 4 million

Dont let the name fool you, they have singles World Wide.

As usual you can sign up for free, but cannot contact others till you pay to upgrade your membership. Profiles can have up to 4 photos.

Neodates

An innovative dating site. Offers unique dating 'environments' so you can invite people to chat privately in virtual exotic locations.

They also have other unique features that present you with 8 randomly selected "contestants". You eliminate contestants by answering a series of multiple choice questions - till you find your match.

You can also include a voice greeting to your profile.

Worth a look if you want to try something different.

2ofaKind

Unusual in that there is no Membership fee, but you do have to pay for ongoing reports of matches.

They use and "Introduction Letter" to tell them your interests and what you are looking for. They then match you to compatible people.

Shortly after completing your letter they email you a free "Match Report" of all compatible matches. Further reports are $2.00 per report which can provide you with weekly updates of compatible matches. This includes be able to send message to them.

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