Practical, proven strategies for meeting that special someone onlineOnline dating services have exploded in popularity in recent years, with 5 million subscribers currently participating, including 3 million at Match.com alone. For anyone using or thinking about joining a service, this book is an indispensable resource. It explains how to write an honest but flattering personal description, how to respond to potential dates, and how to cultivate a relationship online. And, perhaps most important, it shows how to make the transition- safely- from e-mail and instant messaging to phone conversations and face-to-face meetings. With coverage of large services such as Match.com as well as specialized services like GoodGenes.com (graduates of elite universities), JDate.com (Jewish singles), and CatholicSingles.com, this guide makes it easy to find a date . . . and the perfect mate.

Introduction.Part I: Making Online Dating Work for You.Chapter 1: The Magic of Online Dating.Chapter 2: Considering the Alternatives to Online Dating.Chapter 3: Maximizing Your Ability to Connect Online.Part II: So Many Online Dating Sites, So Little Time.Chapter 4: Wheeling and Dealing: Dating Site Cost Options.Chapter 5: Spotting the Differences from Site to Site.Chapter 6: A Tour of the Sites: Your Inside Guide.Part III: Jumping Aboard for the Online Time of Your Life.Chapter 7: Signing Up for a Trial Run.Chapter 8: Establishing Your Screen Identity.Chapter 9: Yeah! Multiple-Choice Questions.Chapter 10: Yikes! The Essay Questions!Chapter 11: Dealing with Matters of Sex.Chapter 12: Selecting the All-Important Photo.Part IV: Initiating Contact: You've Got Mail.Chapter 13: Getting Matched Up.Chapter 14: Exchanging E-mails.Chapter 15: Understanding E-mail and E-mail Etiquette.Chapter 16: Rejection!Chapter 17: Going from Virtual to Real Contact.Part V: Skirting the Hazards of Online Dating.Chapter 18: Safety First.Chapter 19: Unmasking and Avoiding Frauds and Players.Chapter 20: Special Circumstances: Big Cities, Small Towns, and Long-Distance Relationships.Part VI: The Part of Tens.Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Screw Up Online Dating.Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Succeed at Online Dating.Index.