The last blog, Back to the Basics, touched on some of the major reasons why online dating works well for some, but not everybody. In it, we discussed the importance of blending traditional dating practices with online dating, because the two work hand in hand. Today, we're releasing 10 Golden Rules to online dating. This list was compiled over several months that consisted of reviewing and responding to thousands of profiles and customer service emails. We started off with a laundry list of rules and narrowed it down to the rules that we classified as "The Fundamentals" for successful online dating. If you follow these rules, your online dating experience will be a fun, quick and easy process. Each of the following rules will be discussed in more detail in future blogs, but for now, here's a quick summary of the 10 golden rules to successful online dating.

1. Be like-able: This is a lot easier than you think and the key lies in keeping your profile simple and summarized. Your profile paints a picture of who you are and what you're about. Paint a broad picture (I am an outgoing person who enjoys the outdoors. I spend my free time snowboarding, backpacking, hiking, swimming, bike riding etc..). Dwelling on one or two subjects may lead people to believe that there's not much other activity going on in your life (I am an engineer and it's my responsibility to develop a program that interacts with widgets, it's producers and it's advertisers to populate daily analysis reports). The more activities that you can add on your profile, the more incentive you'll give others to want to contact you.

2. Be enthusiastic: Your profile is your first impression. Keeping the tone of your profile upbeat and positive will rub off on others and will lead to higher success rates. Compare the two examples: I like the beach vs. I love the beach and find the time to be there as much as I possibly can. You're saying the same thing, except that one is more colorful and descriptive than the other.

3. Add a picture: We cannot stress this enough: If you don't share a picture, online dating will probably not work for you. Add at least one picture and pick a good one. Profiles without pictures are rarely reviewed by others and rarely get responses. Would you spend time sending messages or responding to messages that didnt share a picture? A majority of registered members upload their pictures because they're serious about finding someone.

4. Be honest: Fluffing a profile may seem like a great way to better your chances of meeting singles, but that's only if you're looking for very short term results. Truth is, if dishonesty is discovered, it will likely shatter any trust and credibility that has been established. Be yourself, be honest and let people like you for who you are.

5. Stand out: Sending a one line message may seem like a quick and easy way to gauge a singles interest, but according to surveys, polls, and feedback – members hate one liners. If you're interested in connecting with someone, take the time to send a message that lets the person on the other end know that you're genuinely interested in them. The best way to get results is to stand out.

6. Interact: Don't shy away from sending messages. You're here to meet people. Be proactive in initiating contact and remember to be yourself. Try not to send messages that read like resumes, lack in content, or are cheesy in nature. Initiate contact often.

7. Be open-minded: Online dating is all about getting to know and meeting new people. Having extremely tight filters may hurt your chances of finding true success. If you receive a message that catches your attention, reply. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

8. Use your best judgment: Online dating is designed to be a safe environment, but there are people that try to game the system. Use your best judgment when it comes to sharing personal information. Don't be afraid to ask the tough questions and take as much time as you need to feel comfortable. If someone is really interested in you, they'll understand.

9. Meet people: Exchanging messages is a great way to break the ice, but chemistry is determined in real life scenarios. Trust your instincts! If you feel a connection, don't hesitate to meet them face to face. When you decide to meet with a potential match, remember to meet in a public setting.

10. Be patient: Online dating takes time. So long as you follow the tips above, you'll be sure to find yourself a match that's was well worth the wait.

Today we are launching a blog that we hope will assist our members, and members of other dating services, in finding real success with online dating. What sparked the idea of creating this blog, and the blogs that will soon follow, was quite simple: Our members have been asking for it.

Let's start with some numbers. According to research, there are approximately 45 million people using online dating services. The numbers continue to skyrocket as people grow more and more comfortable with the concept of using the web to meet people. Is it just good marketing that brings people to online dating sites or does it really work? The answer to these questions is that it's a bit of both. Online dating services are responsible for over 120 thousand marriages and millions of dates per year. The stats that aren't so openly discussed are the amount of people who actually don't find success online and that number accounts for a majority of users. Now as much as I would love to dive into the details of these dirty little stats, I'll save it for another blog and try to stay on track.

Marketing has played the most significant role in the spike of online dating. Research studies show that online dating sites are getting visits that account for approximately a third of the 100 million total singles in the US. If you spend more than 10 minutes surfing the web, there's a very good chance that you'll encounter an ad or two displaying an online dating service, that for many singles spending yet another evening alone, may very well find a little too hard to resist. After all, it's ok to look, right? Similarly, if you spend more than an hour a day watching the tube, you're almost guaranteed to have an online dating service flaunt their product by showing people how easy it is to find that special someone. You're just one of their millions of singles. So why is it that so many people struggle when it comes to using online dating services? Who's to blame when a service guarantees success and then fails to deliver?

Online dating companies have created a sense of false reality when it comes to dating. What is being advertised across the web, on the tube and on most dating websites is that your happiness awaits just beyond the registration page. Most people get the sense that when they become members, their inbox will soon be flooded with messages that would require more time filtering than actually exchanging messages. That when you become a member, finding the person of your dreams will be much easier to attain than it would be in real life. The truth is that there are no short-cuts in finding that special someone, there are only opportunities. What most people don't understand is that online dating is just a first step in what may very well become a very long dating process. It's no different than meeting someone at a lounge or through a friend - it all takes time and effort.

There are neither magic wands nor algorithms powerful enough to identify chemistry better than an individual’s own brain and instincts. Online dating works for those who take the time to make it work. Picture if you will, online dating as a virtual lounge with millions people in attendance. The people are real and finding a suitable partner is the shared goal. With that in mind, think about what works and what doesn’t work in a real life scenario. Using a cheesy pick-up line rarely works in real life scenarios - the same holds true with online dating. Sitting in the shadows and hoping the person you've been eyeing the entire evening would come over and initiate conversation rarely happens - the same holds true with online dating - you have to be active and you have to be yourself. Think of something nice to say, show them that you have a great sense of humor, hold a good conversation and get to know the person on the other end by asking questions. It's time to go back to the basics, my friends.

Over the next several weeks, we will go into the details of how to make the most out of your online dating experience. We will craft up some golden rules and dive into the granular details of successful online dating. Until then, remember to be yourself, stick to the basics, have fun and be safe.