Internet dating has come of age and is now accepted as a good way for people to start a relationship. But the question of how to date online still lingers. This is because successful dating in cyberspace requires more than just signing up for a personal site.

Here are some steps on how to successfully date online:

1. Be Prepared for Relationships: Psychological preparation is paramount to dating success as it is with virtually everything else in life. If you have recently lost a loved one due to a breakup, divorce, or death, you must first give yourself time to recover. In the event of a breakup, make sure the relationship is over and you’re ready to move on. Make sure you’re ready to date (again).

2. Find the right dating site for you. It’s amazing how many people sign up for a certain dating service simply because they’ve “heard of it.” This is the wrong way to find a dating service. You should choose a dating site based on the type of relationship you want and your lifestyle (including your interests and hobbies). Unless money is really an issue, you should avoid free dating sites as the caliber of people on such sites is usually not very high.

3. Describe yourself: This is something we are not used to, but it is extremely important. Doing this will not only help you get to know yourself, but also help you find the right dating site and answer profile questions. It should be honestly described in as much detail as possible, including its strengths and weaknesses.

4. Find out what you want. Do you have or want children? Would you like to be in a relationship with someone who has children? Is geographical distance a problem? Are you looking for a long or short term relationship? What are the things you just can’t stand (smoking, for example)? What things should you have in your life? Is religion important to you? What about ethnicity? Describe your ideal partner beyond physical attributes. What qualities do you consider important in a partner? Do you love pets and your partner must love pets too?

5. Post a photo. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, on the web it’s probably worth two grand. Without an image to accompany your profile, you’ll be lucky to get a response. Without an image, people will think you have something to hide. Post a photo, but not one taken with your Polaroid, webcam, or cell phone. Your dating image should be well lit and recent. There are professionals who specialize in dating site photos; use them when in doubt. Post more than one image if the site allows it, as most good ones do.

6. Write a winning profile. Your personal profile, also known as a personal ad, is extremely important and crucial to your online dating success. If you have followed all the steps above, it will be much easier to write a good and descriptive profile. You don’t have to sound like an English teacher, but pay attention to grammar and spelling. Write as you speak, addressing only one person.

7. Communicate – Sometimes our ego gets in the way when it comes to online dating. We may feel attractive (rightly or wrongly) and be disappointed when we don’t get a flood of responses. Well, it’s a two way traffic. Enter that website and search using various parameters and criteria of your interest (such as age, distance, etc.). Contact people whose profile interests you. Use email, instant messaging, webcam, and other available communication features to start a conversation or respond to others. Sooner or later you will run into someone you click with.