Don't use this to find a date! Image via Wikipedia
Online dating has really taken off in the last few years and it is hard to keep track of all the major players. Most sites tend to offer free sign ups but then charge for you to message someone. Is there an alternative?
There Were Always Free Sites
The thing about most things on the internet is that they all stated out free and this is especially true with internet dating. Previously, dating sites had to offer free subscriptions just to get people interested and then later changed their pricing structure. The truth is you don’t have to pay for your online dating as there are other options.
The Plentyoffish.com Example
Image via Wikipedia
Plenty of Fish is actually owned and operated by one person who, as he admits himself, has done quite well out of it. For a completely free site you might wonder how he could make it profitable. Well, advertising was the answer and the more happy singles were on the site the more ads are being clicked.
The sheer popularity of the site shows that most people do not want to have to pay for online dating. This is due to the mainstream nature of the service which is far removed from the old ‘dating agency’ business model that concentrated on the vulnerable and lonely. Now, many people prefer to press some keys to meet someone rather than go to bars.
A Better Range of People
Meeting online is great as long as you’re not paying anything to do it. Free dating sites are out there and it is matter of doing your homework. The above example comes highly recommended as it does what it sets out to do: lets you meet and message other singles. Something the big sites fail to do unless you get your credit card out.
Meeting people online allows you to step away from your circle of friends and meet people you would otherwise never have met. The stigma of online dating is now long gone and many of us prefer to date online as it lets you get to know a person quite well before you even step out on a date.
Be Free!
The lesson to be learned is to not let your loneliness or desire to meet someone let you be conned. Many of the websites offer fake profiles and so you are paying to talk to a bunch of empty photos. If you are unsure of whether internet dating is right for you then try the free sites first and if you do consider paying a site make sure you research it well and stick to well known ones.
Good luck with your online dating!
