How Online Dating Works

Considering Dating Websites

Singles, looking for a mate, are flocking to dating websites. There are many dating websites to choose from and the first thing you'll need to consider is how these sites work, so you can choose one that might work for you.  Most dating websites allow you to create a free personal profile, put it online, and then browse through their hundreds or thousands of online profiles to see if someone else's profile sparks your interests. The 'catch' is you must register with the website (and pay a fee) to either be contacted by someone who saw your profile and is interested in "meeting" you or to contact someone who's profile caught your eye. With these types of dating websites, even if you do register you still might not be able to contact 'that special someone' you saw online unless they are also registered.

To get around that 'first-contact' obstacle, some dating websites allow you one or two free contacts (called "winks") just so you can let someone know that you are interested in meeting them -- this encourages them to register so the relationship can get started.  Many other dating websites require that all the participants register before putting their profiles online; this eliminates all the obstacles.

Finally, one highly-publicized dating website rejects the online profile approach and instead allows you to fill out a free personality profile that they will use (after you pay your fee) to select your "perfect mate." This high-tech approach has resulted in many permanent relationships and is, in a way, a new alternative to the "dating game."