Online dating is now more popular than ever with people from all around the world embracing the search for love on the Internet. Online dating is a speedy, fun, and efficient way to meet new people, make friends and form new relationships. If you're new to "looking for love" online, you probably need a few tips to help you get what you want from the experience. So here goes ...

1. Firstly, going online doesn't necessarily mean you're 'desperate'!

Personal ads and dating agencies used to be thought of as only being for 'desperates', well guess what, times have changed. These services have mostly moved online, and online dating is "in". The internet has allowed busy professionals and single parents the chance to find love more easily. The service provided by reputable online dating agencies means that you can "find out" everything you want to know about someone before you ever have to meet face to face.

2. Dating sites are everywhere - find the one that suits you.

Some websites are free, some offer a limited service for free, some have free trials, and some cost money. Be careful of paying more than the minimum fee to see if a site is right for you. An annual fee might appear to "save" you plenty, but it's not cheap if they don't deliver what you are paying for.

3. Be clear about what you want, and find the site that offers it.

Dating (both on and offline) means different things to different people. Some people are looking for a serious relationship, while some just want to chat, date or have casual relations. People dating online are no different to those offline, in that, they don't want to be messed around either.

4. Spend some time to create a good profile

Always create a good honest profile to "advertise" yourself. Online daters expect to find out a lot about you before they will take the next step. A one sentence profile will achieve nothing, and a page full of lies will just get you banned. Like any good ad, you have to 'sell' you best points.

5. Upload your picture - and make sure it's yours!

If you are serious, upload a picture. The credibility you gain from putting you picture on your profile will go a long way towards guaranteeing online dating works for you. Lack of a picture puts doubt in peoples minds about your sincerity, and using a photo that isn't yours is the online dating equivalent to treason.

6. Get off your backside and contact people

Once you've joined a site to meet people, don't be afraid of contacting others. After all, they probably joined for many of the same reasons you did. If you like somebody's profile, get in touch and let them know. You never know where it might lead.

7. Treat people as if your mother was looking over your shoulder!

The relative anonimity of online dating can sometimes make people forget there are actual human beings on the other side of the computer. Always be honest and respect other people's feelings. Forget this simple rule, and online dating is unlikely to work for you.

8. Take your time, but not too much!

Online dating is littered with tales of woe from people who "took things too fast", or who "took things too slow". Remember, this is just normal dating with an online introduction. Don't go expecting what you wouldn't expect from a traditional offline date.

9. Use your common sense and date safely

While the majority of people have honest intentions, it still pays to be careful. When agreeing to meet people you've only ever met online, always arrange for it to be in a public place and let friends or family know where you are going if at all possible.

It's perfectly acceptable to ask to bring a friend with you to your first meeting. Be wary of people who try to pressure you into meeting them alone, or at a secluded location. Don't overlook the phone, it's still a great way to get to know someone.

10. Don't give up if you don't find love on your first date!

Remember the old say, that "there's someone out there for everyone". Well it's true in online dating as well, it's just that there are millions of people online, so you have a few more to check out than you would at a club.!

Try a few different websites until you find one that you are comfortable with, then get amongst it and try your luck. One final thing, remember, rejection is much easier to hand out on the internet, so don't take it too personally. You next date could be the one you've been looking for.!