Once you meet the person of your dreams on one of the many dating websites, it is time to prepare for your first impression.  After bouncing back emails and possibly talking on the phone, the physical portion of your meeting will be crucial.  Sometimes this meeting will be more physically virtual rather than purely physical.  You can either have your first date online like through Skype if you are at a distance or meet in person.  Either way, for the first time, the person that you have been chatting to will finally connect all the pieces through your personal appearance.

This is not to say that you need to look like Heidi Klum, but you do need to take care of yourself.  How would you feel if you met up with someone from the first time that is dripping from sweat (and not from nerves) and didn’t take the time to brush his or her teeth?  Make sure that you have your personal hygiene checked off first on your first impression list.  Things like putting on make up, brushing your hair and brushing your teeth will say a lot about you in a positive way.

Then you can move onto your wardrobe.  Some people may think by going out to buy new clothes that you are trying to be someone that you are not.  You may think that you are not being the same person that your date met at the dating website.  This could not be further from the truth.  Purchasing a new outfit or just a new shirt will make you feel good about yourself.  This is s fresh start with a new date and an open door to possibilities of love.  Don’t change your style, just your shirt.

The last thing you need to do to make a great first impression after meeting on a  dating website is to be yourself.  You do not need to act like anyone else but yourself because you are unique and special. The reason why your date contacted you in the first place was because you were different from all of the other potential daters on other dating websites.  Take advantage of your uniqueness to make a great first impression by being 100% yourself.

Photo via karpov the wrecked train

There are tons of sites that report funny tales from the dating website world. What most of these sites don’t do, however, is point out what you can learn from the failures and faux pas of other online daters. Below are summarized (and in some cases combined) stories from various websites, followed by an explanation of the “takeaway” each of them provides. While it’s great to laugh, why not learn and become a better dater simultaneously. Enjoy!

A Romantic Gesture Gone Bad—John thought he’d be the ultimate romantic and send a girl he’d been talking to online some roses for her birthday. Since they weren’t far enough into the relationship to know her address, he looked up her work address and had them sent there. In a sweet gesture, he wrote “A rose for each year of your life” in the card. He tipped the florist and went on his merry way, patting himself on the back for his sly move. Seeing the generous tip, the florist added an extra dozen roses to the bunch on the house. John never heard from his dating website crush again, presumably because she thought he was knocking her age and looks.

The Takeaways: 1) Give your guy or gal gifts in person—it ensures there won’t be any miscommunication and gives them a chance to thank you right then and there. 2) Don’t send a gift to someone you haven’t met in person—it could come off as too forward or even creepy. 3) Despite what Hollywood tells you, don’t send a woman flowers at work. If something goes wrong like the above, it may embarrass her in front of her coworkers. Plus, she may not want everyone asking who they are from when she hasn’t told anyone in the office about her personal life.

Too Aggressive, Too Soon—Samantha was really excited to finally find a handsome, smart, sweet guy through a dating website. She was very nervous on the first date, but things seemed to be off to a great start. Then, she picked up the pace a little too much, by telling her date that she could see them together far into the future. A few more drinks in, she even talked about their potential wedding. By the end of the night, she had them retiring to the Caribbean after a long life of raising the many children they’d have. Not surprisingly, the guy ran.

The Takeaways: 1) Let things develop naturally regardless of how positive you are that they’re “the one” on date one. A bunch of dating website messages does not mean you start further along in the relationship. 2) Don’t over drink—as the intake increases, your control of what you say and how you say it decreases. Your filter and common sense flee and soon after your date follows suit. 3) Relax before a date—going in nervous often sets you up to drink more than you planned, leading to #2 on this list.

A Married Stalker—Amanda, from a small town in upstate NY, met Ben online. He said he lived in a penthouse in Chicago, where he was working in finance. He was going to be in the area for business so they decided to meet up. While Ben seemed a little rougher around the edges than she pictured a finance man to be, she decided she was being too judgmental.  He said he was sick of his usual fancy dinners so they went to a local diner. She had an OK time so she decided to give him a chance. One day, while having a video chat, Ben knocked the camera over and Amanda got a glimpse of what was outside his window… it was a building that looked familiar… because it was in her town. Turns out his name was Ron, he worked as a teller at a local bank and was married with children. He had seen Amanda at a coffee shop with a dating website on her screen. He then joined the site in an effort to find her and have an affair.

The Takeaways: 1) Trust your gut instinct. If he or she feels off in some way (like attire or restaurant choice in Amanda’s case) they likely are. 2) Beware of seemingly perfect partners, who are most often people posing as another for financial, emotional or physical gain. 3) If you’re surfing a dating website in public, try to do so facing a wall!

A large part of flirting comes from body language and contact. Since dating websites do not allow for either, you have to work extra hard online in letting someone know you’re interested in them. With the hundreds of thousands of swimmers in the dating pool, it’s hard to keep your head above water, let alone become an MVP. To get ahead of the pack, you need to stand out by speaking up. Flirting doesn’t have to be physical—as more and more singles turn to dating websites, virtual flirting is on the up. Instead of brushing up against his arm, compliment a picture in his profile. Replace intense eye contact with an emoticon wink. Or simply trade sending flowers with sending a link. While flirting and the internet may seem incongruous, it’s actually pretty simple… granted you follow the guidelines below.

1) Send Them a Link—Leave a short message with a link to an article about something he or she is interested in. Knowing they’re on your mind will make your potential dating connection feel special. Sending a link shows that you support their interests and gives them an excuse to take a break from their workday.

2) Send a Video Message—Without facial cues and tone, a written message can be misread. Why not be as direct as possible with a video message? When you can’t be face-to-face, this is the next best way to make a lasting impression. Think about what you’ll say beforehand and do a few practice runs. Be sure to show your pearly whites to ensure your guy or gal is smiling on the other end.

3) Don’t Over Emoticon—Sending too many smiley faces will make you look like an overly excited teenager. Use emoticons sparingly on dating websites, only to clarify tone or highlight a double entendre. Keep in mind that both men and women prefer a wink or grin to the standard smile.

4) Avoid Too Much Too Soon—The line between charming and disturbing is very, very thin. A story that’s funny offline, could make you look weird, immature or creepy when told online. Keep things that push the envelope for in-person meetings only.

5) Short, Simple and Sweet—This is not the time to show off your Ivy League vocabulary (you’ll look pompous), spit out inane and off-topic stories (you’ll look boring) or give a play-by-play of your entire life (you’ll look self-absorbed). Dating website communication should be upbeat and to the point (you’ll look interested and focused).

6) Refer to Something in Their Profile—Don’t shoot questions on random topics—target them based on his or her profile. Do they mention they like mountain biking? Ask them when they started or where their favorite trail is. Do they have a lot of pictures of their cat? Compliment its cuteness and ask a question about it. If you can, find something you have in common with them and mention the shared hobby to subtly point out how well you two match up.

7) Avoid Cheesiness—Cliché pickup lines only sound worse written, when they can be read over and over. You’ll look unoriginal and insincere, both major turn offs. Say it in your own words or don’t say it at all.

Avoid Sexual References—You can hint at intimacy, but as soon as you hit on it directly you look like a sleezeball with motives. Chances are, you don’t know him or her well enough to predict their reaction. Plus, without seeing them, you can’t really read the reaction anyway. Save the scandal for a few dates in when you have a better sense of each other and your date knows you well enough to tell flirty from dirty.

Keep in mind that it’s much easier to turn someone off than on. With so many others to choose from online, he or she probably won’t give you a second chance. So, be slightly more conservative and concise than you are in the offline world. You want to spark their interest, not burn your chances.

Photo via azil jamil

You’ve either found your way here to find love or have fun, but whichever it is, let me tell you that the theory behind Internet dating websites is actually more sound than you may realize. Despite what you may have heard from outside sources, research shows that the Internet is actually a great place to find a quality mate. There are so many different sites to choose from, but the one thing I know, is it’s best to go with one of the top 10 websites, as they’ll offer you the greatest number of members to choose from.

Beginning with the crème de la crème of Internet dating sites, eHarmony.com, Dr. Neil has discovered the ultimate formula to finding true love and has neatly packaged it in a $59.95 pink felt box with a purple polka dotted bow! Eharmony is in my opinion one of the better sites for finding members who are for the most part seriously looking to find “the one”.

Dr. Neil’s scientific approach to finding your match is certainly a step in the right direction, however, there is just one fundamental flaw in its grand design… People Lie! According to studies, upwards of 80 percent of all members stretch the truth about their age, weight, height, and active hobbies. There is also no scientific proof that any formula works, but I must admit I’m a success story. Did I play by the rules? Well no, but I did make up my own.

The eHarmony system works by finding you an opposite match, hoping your opposing viewpoints will compliment each other. For me, this was not the case, I am quiet and laid back, and my matches were consistently too aggressive for my taste. What I did was take matters into my own hands, retook the test, and answered the questions in the exact opposite of how I really felt. The end result was finding someone who was very similar to me, which was what I had been looking for in the first place. I’m not saying this would work for everyone, but it certainly worked for me.

I think we all bend the rules (and truth) to find what we perceive to be our ultimate mate, and if anyone should know what you want, even better than Dr. Neil himself, it’s you. This is why Beautifulpeople.com caught my curiosity for a short time. It is based entirely on looks and money. You cannot even get on the site if you do not have one or the other. You are actually voted and invited to stay by others on the site, which makes it a lot like the television show Survivor, except that admitting to slurping beetle dung might actually count against you here.

Beautifulpeople.net is a no-nonsense, in your face approach to the Internet dating realm. Either you’re hot enough to play in the sand, or you’ll be kicked back into the chilly playpen with the rest of the eHarmony cast away’s (not really, but the members sure would like you to think so). Nobody is asking you what your favorite Healthy Choice frozen dinner is, but instead what your favorite sexual positions are. Okay, so maybe not the best choice for finding true love, but it will certainly keep you entertained.

Somewhere between frozen dinners and racy sexual positions there has to be some kind of middle ground. Well, that just so happens to be Match.com and Zoosk.com. These are two popular dating websites where anyone is welcome, and the responsibility of finding a match is put back into your own court. These websites feature a healthy mix of those looking for a serious relationship and those looking for a good time, and they are usually pretty open about their intentions. Case in point, the famous Match.com introductory line, “Nothing serious, just FUN”.

I had a lot of fun with these two websites, and found a lot of great people to date. I would not say they were always the greatest of matches, but it was a good place to experiment with different people, which ultimately helped me decide what I really wanted in a forever mate. The biggest problem with the membership sizes of these sites, is people resort to assorting their top picks by looks, which is easier than reviewing every profile in its entirety. Keep in mind, however, that studies show most people will not look like their profile picture, and the better they look, the greater the chances the photo is old.

While I think choosing the right dating websites is a very personal thing, some good advice that goes across the gambit is to take it slow, don’t get too serious early on, research the different websites before making a decision to join, and be open to those who may not at first seem to be your type. But above all, be safe and have fun!

Photo via RhiannonsWave

In an effort to appear like the ideal mate, online daters often fib about physical, financial and social details. After reading anonymous polls taken by various dating websites, it became clear that both men and women consistently lie about the same pieces of information in their profile. Below are the most common ways in which online daters tailor themselves to fit American mass media’s notion of the perfect person. While this notion is nothing new, the stats below prove that profile fibbing is far more ubiquitous and calculated than the average dating website user would guess.

1) Height and Weight—On average, people are two inches shorter and at least five pounds heavier than they admit to online. A recent study done at Cornell University found that over 80% of the online daters lie about their age, height, or weight. While this isn’t the worst of fibs, some people (for example, short men and tall women) may be sensitive to slight embellishments that alter which person is actually taller, heavier or younger.

2) Financial Security—OKCupid found that people are 20% poorer than they claim online. Also, as people get older, they tend to exaggerate more. While the old adage says that money can’t buy you love, this stat proves that most daters believe otherwise. It’s important to keep in mind that more critical than any figure, is how the person handles their money: are they accountable, responsible and hard-working? Don’t count someone out or in based solely on a monetary amount, especially since it’s likely inaccurate.

3) Photos—In general, it is safe to assume that the more attractive the picture is, the older it is. Also, as people age, they seem to get more liberal—while the average thirty year old’s pictures may be two years old, the average sixty year old’s photos usually date back at least five years and often more.

4) Sexuality—OKCupid also found that a large portion of people that list themselves as bisexual, actually only date one sex. Straight women seem to put bisexual in their profile in order to play into male girl-on-girl or threesome fantasies. For every four women that claim to be bi, one only actually is. As for the men, it appears that many who call themselves bi in their profile are actually gay. The bi label may simply be a caution taken by those that are not “out.”

5) Smoking Habits—This fib skews female—perhaps in an effort to appear healthy, fit and demure, a large percentage of female smokers claim to be tobacco free. Ironically, men seem to care less about this habit than women think they do.

6) Interests—Unlike the above, this one skews male—perhaps in an effort to appear sensitive, romantic and intellectual, men include hobbies like poetry, and volunteering when they’re really more interested in football and beer drinking. If they’re particularly interested in one person, men may change their profile to include interests that person has. Note: this almost always backfires.

7) Relationship Status—Married people often claim to be single in order to begin an extramarital affair. And on the other end, a decent chunk of single people claim to be married in an attempt to draw people looking for some scandal and excitement in their dating life.

So, what’s the takeaway here? Don’t believe everything you read on someone’s profile. Be aware that stretching the truth is not the exception but rather the rule in the current online dating world. Always proceed with caution and give as much leeway as you’d want someone to give you. And know when creating your profile that any true relationship is built on trust, so too much amplification now could lead to feelings of deception later.

Photo via ashlepmcr

While online dating can be a great tool toward happiness, it can unfortunately also act as a means of destruction. If you’re not careful about who you talk to and how much information you reveal, you could get taken advantage of financially, emotionally and even physically. While most sites have implemented ways to reduce this from happening, there is no way to eradicate con men/women altogether. The best defense is awareness—check out our eight tips below to ensure you’re not the next victim.

1) Delete messages from other countries—Almost all the financial scams out there involve someone outside the United States asking for money to cover living expenses, travel expenses or visa costs. Though Hollywood continues to feed the romantic notion of cross-continent love, starting a relationship with someone overseas may only bring you a cross-continent swindling.

2) Be suspicious of premature professions of love—If a guy or girl says “I love you,” or “I’m falling for you,” in their second message, they’re likely hoping you’ll be the one falling… for their scam. By pulling at your heartstrings from the start, they’re hoping you will feel obligated to pay for them to get a life-saving operation in America or move out of their war-ravaged country to pursue their real dreams (both made-up scenarios, which of course, they’ll say involve you).

3) Beware of seemingly perfect partners—In nearly every internet scam case presented to the U.S. Embassy, the scammer creates a seemingly perfect but fictional person to lure Americans in. In this case, you won’t only lose money, you’ll lose trust and self-esteem upon finding out your “too good to be true” prince or princess was just that.

4) Avoid those who push for your email address right away—Bypassing the double-blind message systems provided by most decent dating sites, is a slippery slope—first they want your email, then your phone number, then your date of birth. Before you know it, they’ll get your social security number and reek havoc on your credit, scarring your identity for years to come.

5) Be on the lookout for written mistakes—Many scammers from other countries claim they are well-educated Americans, but their messages contain grammatical and stylistic errors that seem to demonstrate otherwise.  They’re likely using an online translator or simply piecing together vocab they’ve seen in American movies. If it sounds off and the pieces don’t quite fit together, go with your gut and get rid of them.

6) Watch out if they won’t answer personal questions—If expressions of love come constantly but answers about their identity don’t, be very suspicious. Scammers skirt questions because they’re playing a fictional character they haven’t really thought about and don’t care about—they want to get your money as quickly as possible. They know that answering questions will only make you wary, so they hope to kill you with kindness.

7) If the name associated with their profile changes be careful—Once they think someone has found them out, dating site scammers open up new accounts, under new false names. Since they often know little English, they simply copy what was written in their old fictional person’s profile to the new one. Sometimes they will even use the same username and just add a string of numbers at the end.

Avoid those currently living in Russia, Nigeria or Senegal—People from these countries commit a large percentage of all internet scams. The person will probably say they were born in the U.S, England or Australia and that they moved to one of the places above recently, often to volunteer for Unicef or work for The United Nations. We can guarantee you that this person is not the saint they claim to be.

9) Ignore Sob Stories—Scammers often give one, or a combination of, the following accounts: their parents were murdered when they were young, they’re recently widowed and lonely, their child is very sick and may die. If they have enough information on you, they may also try to convince you that a relative of yours suffered a misfortune and is stuck in a foreign country without any money to get home.

10) Listen to your instincts—The majority of people who get scammed later say that they knew something was “off” about the supposed devotee. Don’t take the risk—if you have even a hint of a doubt, stop the relationship before it really starts. A little heartache is better than a life-long headache.

If you run into a scammer, let your dating site know—most sites have a reporting system in place. If the crook gives you an email address, notify their provider (most often Yahoo or Hotmail) and forward any emails you received from the questionable person to that provider.

Online dating is more of a science than many people realize. Despite your honesty and good intention while on these dating websites, people are only human, and therefore guilty of irrational thought and uninformed decision making. To begin with, online dating is actually one of the best ways to meet healthy, attractive, self confident singles, according to numerous studies. Troubled, low esteem singles are actually less likely to use a dating website, thereby squelching the common myth that only unsuccessful daters use these services.

In addition, research shows that the success rate of online dating is often better than real world dating, because it allows singles to narrow their search to only those they share chemistry with. Up to 94 percent of internet daters go out with an e-partner a second time, with a good portion of these relationships lasting anywhere from seven months to a year. This is the good news. The bad news is there is still a chance you’re not using this opportunity to its fullest potential. Let’s look at how science can give you an edge while dating online.

Vague Profile

When filling out the forms on dating websites, they often tell us to be as detailed as possible, but research tells us it is actually the more vague profiles that receive the most positive attention. Singles are dreamers, in that they have a certain set of characteristics they’re looking for, and once they realize you don’t fit the bill, their interest will wane. In fact, research suggests that the moment a potential mate finds a trait they don’t associate themselves with, they will actually see your other traits as less positive. This is not saying you should lie, but rather withhold some information until later in the interview process.

Keep it Real

White lies on a profile (age, salary, height, weight, etc.) may initially get a potential mates hopes up, once they find out the truth, these hopes are quickly replaced by disappointment. This can put a greater wedge against your success, than having just been honest in the first place. According to research, the biggest white lies that tend to run rampant on dating websites are height and weight.

Peoples Choice

A lot of people take pride in being different from everyone else, but in the online dating world finding similarities are what will gain you the most success. To do this, it is recommended to include all your most “common” interests right up front (dancing, concerts, etc), saving your more obscure ones (Harry Potter, underwater basket weaving, etc.) for later. The reason being, singles consider commonality very important early on, and every strike will count against you. As you get to know each other, these types of differences will be much less off-putting.

More Choice is Not Necessarily Better

Some dating websites boast they have larger membership that anybody else on the block, but research shows this is not necessarily always a good thing. Too many choices can actually overwhelm the brain, making it harder to screen out inferior choices and ignore irrelevant information, such as hair color and music preference. This is why it is a good idea to narrow a search to the least number of members before you start to sort through them. Some websites offer special questionnaires to help narrow choices for you, although there is some question as to how effective these actually are.

Trust Your Instincts
Dating websites that claim they can find the perfect match for your personality have not yet been scientifically proven. One of your best allies is to use your own instincts when perusing through profiles. Studies show that following your own gut, and keeping your standards high, offers the best chance of making an informed decision.

Men Are From Attractiville, Women Are From St. Mullah

Studies on what features in profiles attract each sex, has found that men prefer overall attractiveness, while women are more concerned with wealth. Women are not necessarily gold diggers, but they are concerned about his job, potential, financial stability, and overall ability to cover the cost of raising a family. Women are particularly attracted to a man with assets, such as a house or business. Men can makeup for what they don’t have by boasting an aptitude to gain it in the future, such as offering intelligence, ambition, and an education.

As you can see, online dating success is not so much what you have, but how you package and present it!

Photo via Chud Tsankov Illustrations

Telling a person you don’t like them is often harder than telling them you do like them. Even if you’ve only been seeing each other for a short time and you let them down easy, they’re still likely to be hurt. Despite it’s uncouthness, as online dating has increased, so has breaking up over email. While it’s certainly an easy out and not the best way to end a relationship, if you’re going to do it, there are a few rules to keep in mind. Read below to avoid handing out a major blow.

KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)—They don’t need to know everything that has gone through your mind in the decision-to-dump-them process. Providing detail will only open up a conversation on the topic, leaving you right where you started. Say something simple, like, “I don’t see myself committing to you long term because I don’t feel like we connect on a deeper level.”

Be polite—Even if the person was a jerk or did something that turned you off, keep it to yourself and just end the relationship cleanly and on friendly terms. Be upbeat and wish them luck—you never know when you’ll meet them, or an associate of theirs down the line.

Say it in your own words—No one likes to hear a cliché line like “I hope we can still be friends” or “I just broke up with my girlfriend and it’s too soon to date.” Tell the person how you feel, but avoid stock phrases that make them feel like a stock character, as opposed to a real person with feelings.

Be clear—Oftentimes, one person breaks up with another and the breakee doesn’t even know it happened. Don’t leave any possibility for interpretation or give them a false sense of hope. You don’t want your “breakup email” to come off as a “let’s work on things email.”

Don’t try to set them up—This may sound obvious, but in the moments a person feels most guilty, they often offer a concession, like a date with a friend. This is insensitive, patronizing and should end with you getting punched in the face. Rejection alone is enough to deal with.

Be honest—Offer a concise, but genuine assessment of the relationship. Dating is about growing; being honest will help them make their next relationship stronger. Be sure not to put all the fault on them—they’ll feel unfairly attacked and could get spiteful.

Think before you type—If you can’t pinpoint a reason why you want to break up, hold off on sending the email until you do. Give the person the time, thought and respect they deserve so that they can understand your point of view and heal in a healthy manner.

Be certain—Putting someone through the hurt of a breakup should not be taken lightly. The only thing worse than being rejected, is being asked to get back together three days after being rejected. Like the Backstreet Boys advised, “quit playing games with [their] heart.”

If you’re a Sex & The City fan you may remember that Berger broke up with Carrie over post-it note. Sending an email is actually not much better—even the most sensitive email usually comes off cold and dismissive. Even though electronic break-ups are becoming more and more popular, we suggest to meet in person if possible. While it’s harder on you, it’s far easier on them… and they are the ones that are taking the hit in the first place. Despite feeling like you can’t look the person in the eyes, you owe it to them to at least try.

Photo via Brandon Schaeffer

We know that certain habits can be rather irksome for online dating couples, but can they ruin the entire relationship? You bet they can. What happens is during the initial introductory phases of dating in a website, we are on our best behavior. After we have gotten to know each other for awhile, we begin to relax. Now, relaxing is actually a good thing, as it allows a relationship to begin to settle into its comfort and security phase. On the other hand, this is also the time when little habits can begin to slowly irritate dating partners to the point of anger, disgust, and annoyance. There are many bad habits to avoid, but these are your top 20 worst offenders.

1. Criticism & Nagging

Criticism has never helps anybody improve. In fact it usually causes the victim to go on the defense and close themselves off. A better choice is to reinforce your partners good behavior, rather than punish the bad.

2. Public Humiliation

Some partners get what they want by embarrassing their partner with a publicly displayed disagreements. In the end, they are only humiliating themselves. It’s best to just wait until you get to the privacy of your car or home to start an argument.

3. Blaming

The blame game (blaming others for problems in a relationship) is one of the worst things you can do. Problems in relationships are more easily solved by accepting your partners for who they are (faults and all), rather than putting all the problems of the relationship onto them.

4. Grudges

While some mistakes are a lot harder to forgive than others, even if you decide to go your separate ways, it is still therapeutic to forgive your lover before moving onto your next chapter in life. You never want to enter a new relationship carrying the same old unchecked baggage.

5. Threats & Ultimatums

Some relationships thrive from various threats and ultimatums, which are usually delivered to wield control over a weaker partner. While this may seem to work in the beginning, there are only so many times a threat will hold shock value. Instead, communicate with respect and compromise.

6. Passive Aggression

While this person is not as outwardly threatening as the ultimatum giver, by punishing a partner with a smile on their face, they lose the opportunity to communicate their needs, and ultimately end up punishing themselves the most in the process.

7. Overly Dramatic

Some people seem to be the most happy when there is a certain amount of drama surrounding their life. Some like the attention, others just like the excitement. Remember, however, that most people don’t like drama, so you may be setting yourself up for perpetual relationship troubles.

8. Lateness

Lateness is often a sign of passive aggressive behavior. Relationships are a give and take proposition. You have to follow through with your partners needs (including being somewhere on time you don’t want to be), in order to enjoy the same courtesy when you are in need.

9. Anger

Anger causes many problems in life, but it can be particularly devastating to romantic relationships. Before you blow your top, take a moment to consider the impact of the outburst, and it may no longer seem worth it.

10. Jealousy

Jealousy is a sign of lack of trust and commitment in a relationship. Some people thrive off instability because they may have commitment issues, however they would find more happiness if they would just settle into a healthy, secure relationship.

11. Spying

One out of every 10 women have spied on their partner by perusing through e-mail, call lists, or even followed them to see where they were going. All new lovers should be considered innocent until proven guilty.

12. Lying

Lying is only acceptable if used to protect another partner from hurt. These are considered white lies (“You look nice.”). However, if you lie to protect your own interest (“She’s only a friend”), these are hard lies and can be detrimental to a relationship.

13. Bribing

Rewarding a partner out of trade of services is a bad way to develop a healthy relationship. Some women barter sex to get what they want, but it is actually more effective to surprise a partner with something nice, rather than make it a point of manipulation.

14. Change

Don’t go into a relationship with expectations of changing a partner. If you don’t like them now, you definitely won’t like them any better after years of trying to make them different.

15. Laziness

Partners who never do their share of chores only ask to wear on the nerves of their significant other. Good relationships take work, which means the best way to keep someone, is to pretend you never really had them.

16. ‘Excuse me’

Women are notorious for interrupting each other in conversation, it is just the way they express excitement. Men on the other hand, interpret this as disrespect.

17. ‘Thank you’

Evidence suggests that there is only one way a one sided relationship (one partner does all the chores) can exist, and that is by expressing explicit and direct thankfulness for everything they do. This is not a lesson on how to create a one side relationship, but rather a reminder to be thankful!

18. ‘I’m Sorry’

The world would be such a better place if more people would say these two simple words more often. While some people think it shows weakness to admit being wrong, it actually shows character, strength, pride, respect for yourself, and respect for others.

19. Projecting Frustration

Some couples take out their daily frustrations on each other by snapping at the smallest indiscretions. Remember that you are on the same team, take your anger out on a punch clown if you have to, but never your partner.

20. Ignoring Red Flags

Some people want someone to be their perfect match so badly, they ignore the red flags while dating online. Some of the major danger signs include narcissism, rudeness (to you and/or others), criticism, and an overly private life (won’t let you see where they live, etc).

Live… Love… and Date Prosperously!

Photo via Vicki and Chuck Rogers

Dating websites are a confusing place to be. It does not matter if you are a first-time dater or an old pro; the rules always seem to change. Things that were appropriate a decade ago probably do not apply today. The first date is always the toughest since that is the deciding factor on whether or not a second date will even occur.

The following articles provide ideas, tips and advice for going on a first date. The information will help anyone that is preparing for a first date, even those that have been dating for years.

1. First Date Ideas – Helpful tips on where to take your date for the first date.
2. A Bad Case of the Dates – Various stories about bad dates, including first dates, to show people how not to act and what to avoid.
3. First Date Ideas – Ideas on where to go and what to do for a first date.
4. Young Love: First Date – Tips for parents on how to handle their child starting to date.
5. Ten First Date Questions – Ten things to ask yourself before the first date with a potential love interest.
6. Three First Date Tips – Three tips for first date success, including having a good attitude and dressing your best.
7. How Not to Act – Interesting story about one couple’s first and only date and the strange turn circumstances took.
8. First Date: Adrian – One girl’s personal story of her first date experience from dating websites, including links to her other first date experiences, helpful to readers as a learning tool.
9. First Date Conversation Starters – Ten ideas about things to talk about on a first date.
10. First Date: What Would You Wear? – Helpful tips from average people about first date outfits.
11. How to End a Bad First Date – Advice on the best way to cut short a first date that is going badly.
12. Does First Date Sex Boost Relationship Chances? – Helpful information about the potential effects of having sex too soon.
13. Ten Rules for the Perfect First Date – Ten helpful tips to ensure a successful first date.
14. The First Date – A reader shares his story of his successful first date, including a good location for others to use.
15. You Only Have One First Date…Again – A woman shares her first date experience after divorce, giving tips on things readers should avoid.
16. Bob’s First Date Blues – A man tells of his experience on a mediocre first date, including the importance of conversation.
17. First Date Beauty Tips – Fifteen tips for getting the perfect look before a first date.
18. Fun Questions to Get to Know Someone – Twelve questions for breaking the ice with someone new, on a first date or on dating websites.
19. First Date Fashion for Men – Five things men should keep in mind when deciding what outfit to wear for a first date.
20. Humor on a First Date – Discussion on the importance of humor for acquiring a first date and using on a first date (within reason).
21. Add Spice to Your First Date – Ideas about things to do on a first date, including going to a concert.
22. First Date Preparation Tips – Helpful tips for preparing for the first date, including dressing nicely and having cash on hand.
23. What to Wear and How to Act – Tips and ideas about what a woman needs to wear on a first date and how she should act.
24. Choosing a Restaurant for Your First Date – Advice on what to consider when choosing a restaurant for a first date.
25. Dating Advice – Fifteen tips for women on what to do on a first date, including keeping a positive attitude.
26. Four First Date Questions – Four questions men can ask a woman on a first date to help build an attraction.
27. Date Night Advice – Helpful tips for maintaining fresh breath on a date.
28. What to Wear on a First Date – Helpful advice for big and tall men about the best things to wear on a first date.
29. Dating Essentials – Tips for women going on a first date, including how to dress and having good table manners.
30. First Date Pressure – Information from a relationship coach about dealing with the pressure surrounding first dates and online dating sites.
31. Make the Right Impression – Helpful tips about making the right impression on a first date, including being on time and staying focused on your date.
32. Dating Rules You Can Live With – Helpful “rules” to keep in mind when going on a date, including the fact that one date does not form a relationship.
33. How to Ask Someone Out – Helpful advice for asking someone out on that first date.
34. Dumb Things Guys do to Ruin a First Date – Helpful information on the things guys can do that mess up a first date and how to avoid making these mistakes.
35. How to Prepare for a First Date – Advice on preparing for a first date and a few ways to get out of a first date gone bad.
36. Top Ten First Date Ideas – Ten activities and places to go on a first date.
37. When to Call After a First Date – Advice on when to make the first call after a first date.
38. The First Date Shirt – Women give their tips and opinions on the importance of the first date shirt that a man chooses to wear.
39. How Not to Screw Up a First Date – Helpful advice for men on ways they can avoid having a disaster of a first date.
40. What Women Want on a First Date – Three important things women want from a man on a first date, including the importance of being attentive.
41. Ten Things to Do on a First Date – Ten helpful tips for men on first date behavior, including being respectful.
42. First Date, Who Pays? – Information on the dating etiquette for paying on a first date.
43. What to Wear on Your First Date – Helpful advice for women about wearing the right things on a first date.
44. First Date Fashion Tips – Helpful tips for women about what to wear on a first date.
45. Dad’s Advice for Daughter’s First Date – Advice given from the perspective of a father.
46. What to Wear on a First Date – Helpful advice for men about what they should and should not wear on a first date.
47. Advice for Women Seeking Love – Information on the things men judge women on when they date.
48. Kissing Advice – Advice about first date kissing.
49. Tips for a Successful First Date – Eleven helpful tips for having a great first date, including relaxing and complimenting.
50. Dress to Impress – Some style tips for men about the clothes they should wear to impress women.
51. Three Dates to Success – Information and short videos containing tips and advice for the first date to the third date.
52. First Date Tips for Introverts – Helpful information for those that avoid social situations on having a successful first date.
53. First Date Tips for Finding Summertime Romance – Helpful tips for men and women on having a successful first date in the summer.

Image Credits: CAVE CANEM