My tips for girls and guys who are new to the online dating scene:

Use current photos, and don’t make them look fake or photoshopped. No glamour shots photos, just a few real life pics.

Be honest - there is no point in lieing about stuff and then ruining the chance of a good relationship, even a simple sexual one. Keep it real.

Be pro-active. Message people, be friendly. Network. If you are good to one girl or guy, they may suggest a friend to you, even they are not interested in dating you at the time.

Study what other people are doing on the online sites, and see what might work for you.

Be safe. There are some creepy people in the world, best not to get caught up dating some patholigical liar. Practice smart online chat safety - this is very important. You may also want to get a background check - you may be surprised to find that FabioLovesU - is really not who he made himeself out to be. Same thing with girls - a credit check may be very telling!

Have fun, be patient, and realize that it may take about three months of online dating before you start to make some real connections offline. So play the long game with patience, and you will succeed. Do not burn yourself out quickly in the first few weeks and get frustrated!

Reply to people! Even if it is to say I am not interested.