Online dating has started as a last resort of the social misfit, to one of the most active methods to meet people. For those people out there who have busy lives or may be dealing with a lot of shyness issues, you should take a look at online resources as an excellent tool to expand your dating circle.

You need to determine your current dating goal before you go any further. What is it that you want from your online interaction with the other sex?

- Friendship? Someone to talk to?
- Romance?
- A short-term or long-term relationship?
- Casual dating with many boy/girlfriends?
- Marriage?

After determining your current goals, you must take action accordingly.

Your first action should be writing a personal ad to make your profile shine:

- Be creative and different to spark the interest of the other sex.
- Never look like you need to be approved in your ad or in your life.
- Start with an appealing romantic imagery and mix in some humor.
- Write your ad poetically and non-specifically. Listing out your hobbies or writing must haves is kind of suicidal in this huge sea of fishes and will only make you lose in the online dating game.

Unfortunately the game does not end here. Uploading photos of yourself is essential for a successful profile:

- Your portrait photo(first photo) is the first to be seen in your profile and is the most important, so choose it wisely.
- Do not upload pictures in which you think you look the most good looking but you look the happiest. The warmth of a smile can melt the ice of others hearts.
- Try to find pictures where you participated in interesting activities such as surfing, dancing, playing an instrument…

Now you are ready for starting enjoying the advantages of online dating but the game is still not over yet. The last and the most important action is sending emails that can make effect:

- Always include one personal item that tells the potential date that you've read her/his profile. Do not just drool on the picture.
- Be funny, creative, different, challenging her/his sensibilities and approachable.
- Remember some profiles are getting hundreds of emails everyday, so this is the area you must sparkle. So always send custom-written letters. Never try the copy-paste approach.
- If he/she replies to you, you've already started progress, do not wait too long to take the relationship to the next level to offline dating or somebody else will.

You must keep in mind that dating is not an easy game and needs hard work, even years of loving relationships need it. Online dating is no different and needs determination and commitment.

So the point is: Online dating will work for you, if you make it work for you. Good things do not come to those who wait, but to those who go and get them.