http://www.coolinfographics.com/blog/2011/5/2/the-real-cost-of-dating.html

Yes this is for Americans, but it shows how inexpensive an online
dating membership is compared to a single date! And considering you
can meet and get to know tens (or even hundreds) of eligible singles
for less than the cost of a date, it’s a no-brainer.

Now, some people regard e-mails as something informal, so they don’t
really watch out for their grammar or construction. But this isn’t so.
Actually, I find it a turn-off when a person has bad grammar in their
e-mails to me, it’s a minus point, and I think that a lot of people
think the same way I do.

Okay, so as an unwritten rule, it is considered best for both parties
that your communication be kept within e-mails for the first few days.
In that way, you can get to know each other in a more impersonal way
and you can organize your thoughts better.

In finding your dream match, the key is communication. The more you
communicate, the more likely your chance to find exciting dates. And
as with most of the things in this world, e-mails are also governed by
a set of rules and manners, which are known as netiquettes or e-mail
etiquette’s. Here are some of them:

1. Guard your privacy. Your privacy and that of your loved ones should
always come first, so you must keep privacy foremost in your mind.
Never give your personal e-mail address, home landline number, or your
home address. Consider it paranoid, but it is always better to be safe
than be sorry.

2. Be yourself. Do not be a fake or a poser. Your main goal is to
start dating that can be your soul mate for a lifetime, so do not try
to be someone you are not. You should market yourself, and not someone
that you are making out to be. Because the singles would want to know
you, the real you.

3. Ask and answer questions. Taking time to answer their questions
means that you are showing them that you are making an effort, and by
asking some questions back, then you are also showing that you are
willing to get to know them better. This also opens up channels of
communication and invites more exchange or e-mails.

4. Be responsive. Be prompt. If you like the person e-mailing you,
then go ahead and reply. If not, then ignore the message. If you are
the one waiting for a reply, if the person you sent an e-mail to has
not replied for several days, then chances are, they aren’t ready to
communicate yet. But don’t worry! There are other singles out there
who are just waiting to hear from you!

So open up those channels of communication and get ready to have the
time of your life!

Here’s a short list of the new features:

Member Introduction:
A short overview of the member is now presented at the top of the page, detailing their name, age, location, what they’re looking for, their distance from you and whether they’re online or not.

Photo Gallery:
Conveniently browse member photos from within a profile with the all new Member Photo Gallery. Move forward and back through a members photos and zoom when you want to see more detail.

Status Commenting:
When a member updates their status with something interesting you can now send a comment.

Instant Requests:
Send instant requests for more details such as photos or profile text.

Come online:
The member you are viewing isn’t online? Send a request to come online and chat.

Similar Members:
View similar members to the profile you are viewing from right within a profile page, providing a quick and easy way to browse through members.

Random Member:
Can’t find the right person? then try the new random member button.

More information:
We’ve added even more info about the member into the profile page, you can now view photos, diary entries and videos all from the one page.

Clearer Layout:
Even with all the information we have added we still have a cleaner, clearer layout.

Popular Actions:
We’ve moved popular actions such as ‘Send a Message’, ‘Send a Wink’ and ‘Add to Favourites’ into more prominent, clearer locations.

Inline Messaging:
Having an in depth conversation with someone you like? You can now send and reply to messages right from their profile page.

Message Preview:
See a preview of the last message you have received from a member right from their profile page.

Why don’t you login and have a look yourself?

Successful online dating starts with the first moment someone sees your profile. It’s the most important moment in online dating.

Each ad should be well thought out and reflect just what you are seeking. Be honest and straight-forward. Don’t lie to the members on the site and pretend that you are someone that you are not, because someone looking for who you really are will miss you! This wastes your time and everyone else’s.

A picture is worth a thousand words. The ads of people who submit pictures get approximately 12 times the hits of those without pictures. You do not have to submit a picture with your ad, but it might be worth considering. At FunAtForty, we give you the opportunity to upload several large images.

When you receive a response to your ad, it is either going to spark your interest, or not interest you at all. Even if the e-mail doesn’t light your fire, it is always common courtesy to send a response, even if it is to say “Thanks, but no thanks.” After all, this person was interested enough in you to send you an email, so take it as a compliment and send back an acknowledgement that the email was received. If the email does light your fire, then respond to it and enjoy!

Responding to an Ad

When you are searching our database, you need to realize that not everyone will be responding and not everyone will be interested in what you have to offer. So it is a good idea to respond to more than one ad at once. There can be a certain feeling out process to make sure this is a right rendezvous for all parties. While it can work, don’t go overboard with your first email. Unless specifically asked, don’t go into long tirades about what a good lover you are and what you will do with him/her/them when you meet. Try and introduce yourself and let the advertisers know a little bit about you. Just as someone putting in an ad should submit a picture, so should you send a picture when you respond to the ad.

Once you receive a response to your email it is time to start giving more information. This may be a good time to talk on the phone to get a better feel for the person. Then, when you feel comfortable, it is time for the meeting.

Meeting your Date

The first meeting is a big step. This should be fun, but also bear in mind that safety is an issue. That is why we recommend that the initial meeting be at a public place and either during the lunch hour or right after work. If things go well, you can arrange for an immediate, more intimate setting, or you can schedule one at a more convenient time and place.

Common Courtesy

This should be the norm, but unfortunately this sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. The first thing to remember is that NO MEANS NO. Just because you meet doesn’t not mean that he/she/they have to like you and want to take things further. Things may change after a face-to-face meeting, so if the other party wants to break it off, do so. This is not a personal insult. Just smile, accept it and go on to the next one.

If you are invited to the other party’s home, remember that you are a guest. You don’t live there. Dress appropriately for the situation, bring a gift, don’t put your feet up on the coffee table, etc. Just because you are entering into a possible relationship doesn’t mean you have to be an idiot. Good manners go a long way in breaking through those first-time jitters. If you respect the other party, just as you would at work or school, you will do fine, and you will never lack new dating opportunities. Word gets around, and the fools suffer while the good ones are in high demand!