"Long walks on the beach, a passion for music and movies" just isn't going to cut it anymore in the rough and tumble world of online dating.
Struggling with finding love on the web? Start by blaming your online dating profile, which may contain out-of-date photos, bland descriptions, or one too many white lies. Correcting these common mistakes should go a long way toward avoiding another Valentine's Day alone, experts say.
"Look around; you tell me -- how good are profiles these days?" asks Evan Marc Katz, dating expert and author of I Can't Believe I'm Buying This Book: A Commonsense Guide to Successful Internet Dating.
"People, after years of doing this, they've gotten the message that they've got to do better," he said. "But most people don't know what that means."
If you're alone, you're in good company. Some 82 million adults were single in the U.S. in 2000, or about 40 per cent of the population, according to the U.S. census bureau. The unmarried adult population is projected to reach 106 million by 2010.
Here are some tips if you want to give internet dating a try:
Make your online name pop, advises Gail Laguna of Spark Networks. Forget JSmith101 and go with something more expressive, like Live2Laugh or WhiteWaterWarrior, she suggests, and the profile tips at MillionaireCupid.com are really helpful to choose a good username.
Be specific. Anyone can say they love candlelit dinners and sunsets, says Janet Siroto, editorial director of Match.com. "You like bluegrass music on weekends? Share that," she says.
Use a current photo and, above all, be honest, because people will want to meet you in person.
"So why waste your time not being honest?" asks Thomas Enraght-Moony, chief executive of dating site Match.com.
Internet Dating & Online Dating
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