If you've ever felt like you're never going to meet someone special, online dating can be like an oasis in the desert - beckoning single men and women with the promise of romance!
The world of cyber-dating has exploded over the last few years, with millions of apps and platforms offering outstanding services and even personalized matchmaking recommendations.
So, if you're considering using online dating to meet your forever after, how can you make sure you're using the best dating sites in Melbourne, or the top-rated free dating sites in Perth, without resorting to hours of painstaking research?
Firstly, we have an easy answer there - you can visit Best10 for independent reviews and rankings of all the best Aussie dating sites.
The second bit isn't quite so easy. You need to know what to expect, and it's best to go into online dating armed with a bit of knowledge about how the process works - both the good bits and the not so great.
In this guide, the Best10DatingGuide team explains the virtues and downsides of Internet dating to helps ingles in Australia make great choices, and get the most from their experience!
Let's start with the happy stuff - because who likes to begin their day with a grumble?
There are some compelling reasons that online dating is now THE most popular way to meet an eligible partner. Here are the primary reasons to decide it's high time you got a dating profile in your life:
Yeah, we know, there are some shoddy dating apps out there, with about ten people in your city, none of whom are remotely in your age group.
That said, the best dating sites in Melbourne for example have - literally - tens of thousands of guys and girls seeking love.
You can meet more people online in one hour than you could in a lifetime of visiting singles bars, and there are pretty much zero limits on how many potential dates you could score!
This service is worth its weight in gold if you've ever been on a blind date organized by your well-meaning Mom, only to find it's the chap from the gas station you don't want to be seen in public with.
Further reading: Pros & Cons of eHarmony
Most dating sites give you the option to set some parameters (we don't like to talk about persona characteristics as requirements!).
It's up to you whether your heart is set on a six-foot man with dark hair and just the right amount of stubble, or if you're flexible and happy to meet women within 20 miles of your location within about an eight-year age group.
When you get your match suggestions, they meet what you're looking for - cutting down on the bad first dates and making it faster to find a suitable match.
Argh, there's nothing so awful as having to try and make small talk with a gorgeous stranger, straining your vocal cords over the bass in a heaving club! Online dating offers a range of communications options, such as:
It's great for introverts or people who want to reserve their valuable time for prospects that have a chance of turning into an actual date.
You can use automated introductions or cyber gifts if you're so nervous you can't string a sentence together - and save your charms for matches that seem to be worth a shot.
OK, so you knew we were going to go there!
But, as people who LOVE online dating and the transformative power it has to improve people's love lives, we're never keen to point out the potential pitfalls of online dating.
Still, we can't pretend that some of the poor quality dating apps do a disservice to an industry vulnerable to scammers and spammers - so let's point out the bad points to be aware of.
The absolute bugbears of creditable dating providers, fake accounts are a nuisance and a pest. Unfortunately, you can find scammers on dating sites, even those with great security controls and verification processes.
For example, free dating sites in Perth attract scam accounts since they don't need to spend a cent to join and can spend their hours sending irritating messages to single people just for the hell of it.
You need to keep your wits about you and be aware that you can't take anybody (or anything!) at face value online.
How many times have you heard a friend say, 'he's not my usual type, BUT!' or a wedding speech where a couple were friends for years with zero romantic interest until.... one fated day!
It's common for couples to fall in love for any range of reasons, none of them related solely to physical appearance. Someone who makes you laugh, is fantastic company, is cute and enjoys the same soppy movies you do will make a much better life partner than a hot guy who doesn't have a personality behind the flash car.
Online dating can be pretty fickle when you choose matches based on one photo, so it's best to spend a bit of time reading profiles and responding to messages rather than making snap judgements based on a profile image.
Here's some good advice -don't tell people you're online dating if you aren't prepared for the questions!
The second you say you've committed to taking action to meet someone, you'll be peppered with enquiries asking whether you're ready to send out the wedding invitations yet when you're still wrestling your way through that personality questionnaire.
Many people report feeling rushed or pressured to accept a date or meet someone who isn't right, simply because they think it's essential to find a partner NOW.
While we'd always recommend being polite and friendly, it's also vital, to be honest. So take your time, see online dating as a great life experience, and relax into the adventure.
When you know, you know - and you will.
