ChickSpeak

Unfortunately, Chicks everywhere oftentimes find themselves in an arduous situation. The carefree times that single life brings a twenty-something year old woman sometimes start to become boring or lonely. One day, a formerly happy girl-in-solitude may wake up and yearn for a mate.

Luckily, thanks to the invention of the ever-useful Internet, she no longer has to patrol bars into the wee hours of the night on the prowl or scout for guys while ordering that caramel macchiato at the local Starbucks; instead, she can just log on to one of the myriad of online dating websites and efficiently find like-minded people in the area.  This isn’t a shameful act; in fact, many women have found love on sites such as eHarmony or Match. (Ever seen those sappy “I found my husband on the Internet!” commercials?)

Here are tips to ensure a beneficial experience both over the Internet and in person when searching for a significant other on these online dating sites:

Starting Up

When creating your profile, skirt away from fibbing, no matter how tantalizing it might be. Of course, accentuate the positive and minimize the negative. However, guys report that straight-out lying is the biggest turn off while dating online.

According to iVillage.com, men say that a woman’s picture online is the number one deal-maker or deal-breaker. Post something of you having a good time or having fun, but don’t post anything scandalous, such as a bikini shot. It creates the wrong image for a stable relationship to start on.

By all means, contact him first! As in real life, males are often expected to initiate conversation, but a message from a woman is very intriguing and shows she’s not shy.

Be wary of a man sending excessive “winky” faces - - or provocative comments. He probably isn’t interested in a relationship, but rather something else.

Move off the computer as soon as possible. Within a few emails back and forth, you should make a plan to meet in real life or talk on the phone. Lengthy messages detailing your life story don’t make for a captivating romance. Those sorts of sentiments should be shared in person.

Meeting in Real Life

Plan to meet at a casual environment, such as a coffee shop or local bakery, for the first time. (Try Panera Bread or your local coffee shop) It takes the pressure off of a more formal date and creates for a more relaxing experience. (And if the guy is a creep, it’s easy to escape from!)

Remember to be punctual. When you set a time for the first date, stick to it. It may seem miniscule, but being late sets a negative first impression which an untimely chick may not be able to ever recover from.

Be interested and interesting. Engage yourself in relevant conversation. Don’t only talk about yourself; instead, ask your date questions about his life and hobbies as well. The first date is the opportunity to examine your potential boyfriend’s qualities, values and hobbies and determine whether they align with your likes. When he is talking, make intensive eye contact to show you are interested.

Follow your gut. If you’re not feeling the relationship or don’t want to continue for any reason, tell your date straight out. This will alleviate hurt feelings later on; stringing someone along only creates confusion.

Stay positive, even if it doesn’t work out. Like the age old saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea…both in real life and on the Internet!