Research

I have yet to make an online profile. Why!? Well I guess I want it to be just right and show my true self. I did some research online about online dating. I watched a few youtube videos from the "experts" and I don't know if it helped or hurt my cause.

Here are my thoughts/hesitations/procrastinations

1. Which Site to Choose?!

Many of the "experts" say that those who use a monthly membership site, and shell out the dough to do so, are more serious about finding a relationship online. Sites like Match.com, eharmony.com, and chemistry.com all require a monthly membership fee. Other options could be to find a niche site where you choose the niche group you are a part of, like Christian Singles or Armenian dating (I am not Armenian bu a friend of mine had a short stint on one!) These niche sites tend to have smaller memberships, and since I am not really into any niche groups- I am not seeking anyone of any particular nationality, faith or interest group. I think I would be better off sticking with a larger site.

So here is the age old question...to pay or not to pay!?
This really isn't that big of a blunder because I'm broke. So due to my fiscal irresponsibility (and the need to go shopping so I can look fierce for my date with cyber cutie) I will be choosing a free site. I believe plentyoffish.com (the same site I punked poor Bowling Dave on) will suit me well, its free, easy to navigate, and has a large membership and plenty of people from in my area are listed on it!

Now that that's solved I guess it comes down to what to put on the profile!

2. Picture
The experts had a lot to say about the photograph you post online as well. Most importantly they urged that the photo was recent! That's not too hard- considering my facebook album number is up there.

• Side story: My mom asked me what I had on my Facebook after I befriended my 13 year old cousin. Since my mother unlike most other people has not succumb to the Facebook phenomenon she's pretty uninformed of all the wonders the book has to offer. I got lectured that I shouldn't have pictures up for my cousin to see, especially with the 3 B's, booze, boys and boobs. She continued to say that I was so in love with myself I probably have 100 pictures!!! I wanted to tell her that I have probably 100 pictures from a weekend, with photos tagged of me in at over 1,000! But I bit my tounge, no lecture needed.
  

Okay back to the original conondrum. I have recently been told that I do not look like me in photographs. I don't really know how to take this comment. My bff's mom has said it and even my own godmother doubted I was me in a picture taken only a couple months prior. I guess I am a bit concerned that I will post myself online and then I will show up on a date and he won't believe I am me, and think that I am trying to be decieving! So I will post an array and hope for the best, I also have to try and find pictures of me alone or that are croppable which is a bit problematic considering all of my photos have my friends in them, and I don't know how they would feel about being posted to plenty of fish! (They are all very supportive of me trying this out, who knows maybe I will inspire one of them)

3. What am I looking for!?

There are many different catergories of what someone can want out of online dating.
Here are the catergories I can choose from on plenty of fish which from now on will be known as POF, I abbreviate- it's what I do!

Long-Term- well who doesn't eventually want to be in a LTR with THE ONE! Really, LTR at this point kind of scares me, I mean I'm 8 years from 30, and an LTR could be that long. But the "experts" say that those who are serious are seeking a LTR. I guess I'm not serious, I'm 22 and blogging about it all!

Dating - oh dating. You go out, you do fun stuff, you see if you like each other. Test the waters with no strings attached. The blog is listed under, Nicoles Online Dating Diary. I like dating, I think this is it.

Hang out- What does this even mean? I feel like "hang out" is like a bro session. If you want to bro out play madden and drink Busch Light I can just go back to campus and do that for a day at one of my favorite frat houses.

Intimate Encounter- ew. no thanks.

Talk/Email - I don't have agoraphobia. Therefore I don't think this is for me, however I'm sure talking and emailing will ensue before actually meeting anyone. I like a little human interaction.

Other Relationship- What do people in other relationship want? This may be the catergory for the swingers, and the fetishists. Once again, I will pass on this catergory.

Dating it is!!!

4. Heading/Username

One of the "experts" discussed how important it is for you to have a good catch phrase in order for people to be intrigued by your profile. For some reason despite my witty blogging ( you are still reading!) I have drawn a complete blank as to what to make my catchy heading. Also what should my username be!? I want it to be cute, yet sassy. Everything I come up with just sounds dorky. This will have to be slept on, I am taking suggestions.

5. Deadline

I have just decided that I have spent this much time writing about all my hesitations creating my online profile when I could have just been doing it! I am in desperate need of a deadline. This time tomorrow profile will be complete, and it will be pheomenal.