Invest in a paid membership
To really succeed at online dating, you should invest in a paid membership. Free memberships and trial memberships are good when you are trying to find the online dating service that will best match your needs and goals. But once you have found a site you are comfortable with, take the plunge. Think of it as an investment in your future.

Take your time
Miracles don’t happen in the real world, so don’t expect that they will happen in the online world either. A one-month membership isn’t generally enough time to really experiment with all an online dating service offers. It’s going to take you a few days just to get everything set up to the point that you are happy. You are going to need time to develop a relationship just as you would under traditional dating circumstances.

Be Honest
Honesty really is the best policy, and so that you don’t waste anyone’s time, be especially honest about the type of relationship you seek. In addition, you’ve got to put a concentrated effort into getting what you want. Your ideal relationship isn’t going to happen without your assistance.

Write a powerful profile headline
A great headline is the best way you have of getting noticed. In the world of online dating, you are one small fish swimming among a sea of thousands of other fish. It takes creativity to get noticed, so don’t be afraid to try something new.

Select the Right Photograph The first thing anyone will look at is your photo. If you are serious about online dating, consider hiring a professional photographer to capture a few good images of yourself. Whatever you do, don’t put in a photo where you’ve cropped an obvious ex out of the picture or where you’re in a group with several other people. Keep the focus on yourself. Keep the conversation light Always put on a happy face when you are communicating with someone you’ve connected with online. You’ve got to learn how to flirt without the use of your body language. Learn how to make your words evoke laughter. Build up the parts of your life that are interesting. Use the wink emoticon to break the ice.

Use IM and the Phone
When you’re ready to take an online relationship further, chatting in real time via instant messaging and talking on the phone will really become important. If you remember the rules of safety, you don’t have to be afraid to venture out of the safe environment of sending and replying to email.

Don’t divulge personal information
Always play it safe until you meet in person a few times. It’s not possible to really know who the person is on the other side of your correspondence. When you chat, use generalities, not specifics. For example, you might state your occupation, but do not give the name of the company you work for, the branch location or other identifying information. Never give out your last name, address, or even the town in which you live. It’s just not necessary, especially early on. By following these tips, you can succeed at online dating. Anyone worth dating in the long-term will respect your desire to protect yourself.