You've seen the television advertisements for those 'free personality profiles'. You've heard that your high-school friend just got engaged to someone they met over the internet. Could it be true? Has the bar & club scene officially moved online?

There are many compelling reasons why people are moving to online dating. It's like a virtual shopping mall where you can window shop and get all the information you need about someone before you even make contact. The wonder of online dating gets you all the information you want to know about a possible partner instantly. Online personal profiles with photos, audio, and even video are all available today and all accessible from the privacy of your own home. Think about it, if you are a non-smoker; would you search for smokers? If you're allergic to pets, would you search for someone who currently has 2 cats and 1 dog? Picking and choosing has never been easier!

The convenience and simplicity of being able to find possible partners with a few savvy searches makes even the bar scene look archaic. Online instant messaging and e-mail take away the anxiety of trying to build up courage to walk up to someone and strike up a conversation. It gives more confidence to those who are normally shy in person and breaks down the barriers that exist today for people who fear being rejected. Everyone can gain a bit more confidence to reach out and make that first contact online very easily.

On some sites you're free to browse and search for your possible matches. Other sites have "scientific methods" that they use to recommend possible matches to you based on input you provided in your profile or questionnaire. Whether all of this works or not is really dependent on what you want your ideal partner to be. Opposites do attract, but they can also clash very badly!

Many of the thousands of dating sites out there cater to all crowds. If you look deeper, you will also find that many dating sites have their own unique nitch. Some sites are geared towards religious partnerships such as Christian, Jewish, and spiritual dating. Some are geared towards nationalities such as Asian, German, and Hispanic. There are sites dedicated to age groups, ethnicity, sexual preference, single parents, seniors, and just about any other category you can think of. There are even sites that perform background and marriage checks on all their members to ensure a safe environment for everyone!

Almost every site you join will allow you to join free and post a profile. Most will also let you respond to messages that others send to you, although if you're looking to make that first connection, you'll most likely have to pay a monthly fee to communicate with others. There are many reasons why you should become a paying member:

• Paying members on dating sites tend to ignore the free posted profiles.
• If you want to make the first contact, you'll be required to be a paying member.
• Some sites will remove all advertisements on their site for paying members.
• Sites offer additional features to paying members.
• Paying members are pre-screened on some sites.
• A paying member has a vested interest in meeting other people.

• Post recent photos. Profiles with photos will always receive more inquiries then profiles without them. Posting a photo from your first grade class picture might be cute; but it does not show what you look like today.
• Be honest. Don't lie or exaggerate about yourself in your profile.
• Use proper grammar. If you're a professional, you'll most likely want someone who is also professional. Act like it!
• Never give out your personal information too quickly. Use the dating site's communication tools before you give out your phone number. If someone is willing to wait to meet you, then you know that they may have a real interest.
• When you do decide to meet someone, always meet in a mutually agreed public place. Never let someone pick you up or vice versa.

Kathy Valentine is an avid writer who maintains a dating and relationship column on http://www.localdatingsites.com