With everyone in the dating world now logging on to their computers to find their next match, dating experts and social authors everywhere are digging deep into the philosophy behind the phenomenon. How does online dating differ from the normal dating world? Is there a way to get the best possible experience out of dating sites?

Well, the first thing I would say to start with is to choose your site carefully. When you go out with a view to meet someone, you choose your venue carefully. You find a bar you like where there’s good music and a great atmosphere – and most importantly where you know the people will be of a similar mindset to you. The same is true of online dating sites.  Find one that suits you, whether that’s a relationship site such as www.eharmony.co.uk or a dating site for farmers (yes, these do exist!)

Once you’ve got the site right, here are four key rules I would advise you to follow so you maximise your use of the service and get the best results:

Be honest

Honesty is the key for online dating. Keep this in mind when writing your profile, when choosing a picture, when talking to potential matches – throughout the whole process. Any initial lies will be obvious as soon as you meet them, especially when it comes to physical characteristics! And being deceitful could be the means of ruining a promising relationship.

Be persistent

The internet is a fast-paced machine that waits for no one. This is true of news channels, social-media sites and the online dating world – you would lose a lot of followers on Twitter if you didn’t keep up a daily tirade of tweets! You will need to log in at least once a day to make the most of a dating site. People can easily lose interest and take up with one of their other matches if you don’t respond quickly!

Be open minded

It doesn’t matter where you’re from – when using a dating website Bradford or London singles should make sure they don’t make snap judgements about people. Give them a chance to speak for themselves and don’t just rely on a quick scan of their profile. Who knows – they may be your prince charming in disguise…

Be cautious

Tread carefully on online dating sites. You need to remember that it’s incredibly easy to lie when you’re not speaking to someone face to face, and there are some people out there that will take advantage of this. Watch out for people being too emphatic or cheesy, and don’t invest too much emotionally in someone before you’ve met them in person.

Follow these simple rules and you’ll be well on your way to online dating success!