It is never easy to put yourself out on the dating scene, no matter what your age. You can try letting friends set you up, but that can turn out awkward, especially if you don't like the person they think is right for you. Bars and clubs is usually the last place you find your Mr. Or Mrs. Right, although you may try anyway. That is why many are turning to dating services in their search of the one that fits, and with so many online now, it is easier to find interesting people than it was before.

Before choosing a service, you need to think about what you are really looking for. Are you looking for something serious? Are you looking for just a friend to get to know? Or maybe you just want to date a bit and not think about the long term? Whatever you want, you want to choose a service that has people searching for the same things you are.

You want to create a positive and interesting profile to catch possible candidates' attention. A picture in your profile is very important; most people won't even bother looking at it if there is no photo. People want to see who they are talking to; they want to see a face to match the description. This is a time when you cannot let any insecurity about your looks hold you back, as you are likely to be looking at photos also before reading.

Don't lie, it may be tempting to not put your real weight or exaggerate things to make yourself sound better, but lying will just come back to haunt you later. You are looking for someone to be honest in their profile so you need to do the same.

When communication starts with someone, make sure you are asking questions about them. Make sure you take an interest in who they are, ask about things they listed in their profiles as interests. Give them a chance to ask about you without dominating the conversations with information about yourself, which can turn the other person off.

Play it safe. Once you have established a connection with someone through emails and such, when it is time to meet up in person, meet up in public. Consider doing that the first several times you meet up also, just to be sure And trust your gut instincts. If something feels off when you do meet, don't be afraid to refuse further contact. Your gut is usually your best guide, so it pays to listen to that.

More and more people today are meeting their future wives and husbands through online dating services and go on to have happy lives. Dating has always been a game of chance, meeting the right one at the right time, and these kind of services give you chance to speed that up at. Remember to always play it safe and have fun with it.