by London Kea

Created on: March 04, 2009   Last Updated: March 05, 2009

Popular, cool, and fun, online dating is now big business and stigma free. That's great news for single guys, but having success in the fast moving world of internet dating involves a bit of skill.

First you need to find a dating site that's right for you. With the rapid and slick growth of online dating, the stigma of match making agencies being for the desperate, middle-aged, and slightly odd has well and truly been blown out of the water. The sheer volume of online dating websites now baying for your custom is staggering. Want an adventurous partner to go scaling mountains with? Perhaps an indie rocker who knows her Killers from her Kaiser Chiefs? Maybe a professional workaholic who can relate to your marriage to your job? Whatever you're into there's a dating website aimed at you so do some research and pick a site that best fits your lifestyle.

Don't bother registering on a dating website if you're not willing to post a picture of yourself. Few sane women will risk corresponding with a guy who's hiding his identity so get a photo and make it a good one. Before you go rummaging through your pictures for a great snap there are a few do's and don't's you need to be aware of: Do chose a picture where your face is clearly visible (Ditch snaps where you're wearing sun glasses). Do make sure you're smiling (You'll look friendly and approachable so avoid moody shots). Do use a recent picture (lying about your age will only get you into embarrassing situations later on) .

There are certain types of pictures which many women quote as a turn off. Here are some of the biggest bugbears: Don't post shirtless pictures (no matter how buff you are, keep it covered). Don't use party shots (A drunk guy thrusting a can of beer at a camera is not sexy). Extreme sports photos (You may like wrestling sharks and bungee jumping off skyscrapers in your spare time, but too many crazy sports photos can be off-putting).

Now it's time to introduce yourself. Put some thought into this and come up with something that will be genuinely interesting for the person who's reading it. Don't make lazy, bland statements. Be specific and inject some personality into it. Instead of saying something like "I love travel, eating out, and movies." Turn it into a meaningful statement such as "I recently fell in love with Italy after backpacking there, I love cooking spicy Thai dishes, and I'm a big fan of 1950's science fiction movies." You're giving the reader a snapshot of your personality not telling

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