I started from online chatting to online dating over a decade now, totally agree with you online dating, sometimes you need more than luck. You can actually be in control of matchmaking yourself. Registration process can be long sometimes (even though they can be rather easy and brainless at times), it really takes up a lot of your brain juices by the time you reach the most important bit - selecting your picture, decide on your nickname and headlines. Avoid all the frustration:
1. Know your inner needs - Are you driven by FUN, SECURITY or SIGNIFICANCE? Why? This will save you hell lots of sending all PMs and get less than promising response.
2. Once you know your driver, categorize the dating sites based on the requirement, e.g. setting a store cart in a market place, you gotta know the spec and requirements of the store, before you start building yours, take 10 mins or so aside, on a white piece of paper to decide on the key requirements: i.e your nickname, photo (what's the message that you are trying to convey), headline and 3 things that you can differentiate yourself.
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A lot people always start from their desire match, I say you start from your potential competitor(s) before you start editing your profile as a head-start, in that way they always give you jolly good idea of the benchmark.
3. Find the compatible one, you can actually tell by their nicknames and pictures (use the 9 section method) they choose. Of course, they'll know you as much too.
Hope these help! We play to win!