Online dating seems to have been around as long as the Internet itself. I have been on the Internet for some years now and don’t remember there being an Internet without online dating services. Some were very primitive with newer ones making more and more innovations as they came along.

In the beginning most were enter your profile, look around at other people’s profile, email someone and hope they email you back. Even that approach seemed to have worked for many people. In this article I will be talking about some of the features offered at online dating services.

I will not be endorsing a single online dating website or service. I will just be talking about some of the different features that are being offered to help you choose the best online dating service out there. Once you know what features can be available to you, it will make choosing an online dating service easier.

Of course the first and most obvious feature is to be allowed to create a profile. Look for services that allow you to create a profile that truly tells a lot about you. One that allows you to add your picture is good, but one that allows you to upload several pictures is even better.

Also, it should allow more fields to present your information. When you are filling out your profile, the form should be flexible with areas you can put anything you want to write about yourself. If the form is set in stone and only allows you to post exactly what they tell you to, then you can’t present a complete picture of yourself. Everyone is unique.

Another obvious option is the ability to browse through other people’s profiles. Does the online dating service you are using limit you as to which profiles you can view and which ones you can’t due to some formula they figured out? If so, that online dating service might not be for you. It’s like having a meddling relative that keeps trying to set you up on dates with people they think you should be dating.

Those dating services that offer levels of membership where one member can do more than others need to be talked about here as well. Keep in mind they are a business. Online dating is not a hobby with them. They have to make money to survive.

However do not be fooled by your online dating service or the one you are considering. If it has a lower level membership and higher levels of membership, then the only real option is the higher level membership. The lower level or free membership options are only come-ons to get you to sign up for the real membership, which is the higher level. So consider joining the online dating service at the highest level or not at all.

Does your online dating service protect your email address? By that I mean a good online dating service filters the emails through themselves, then on to you. You don’t want everyone to have your email address until you decide to give it to him or her. Another option is to create a free web-based email address specifically for the online dating emails. You can always stop using that account anytime you want if you start getting spam or other annoying or threatening emails.

Does the online dating service provide a chatroom that you can invite people to? This type of option is a great way to allow you to get to know the other person. Forums and message boards just don’t do it as well.

The more features and options the online dating service has, the better your chances of actually finding someone you want to date.

There are other things the online dating service can provide, like the ability to send gifts, especially around holidays. What I mean by this is will they filter the gifts? You may not be ready to give someone an address to send a gift just yet. It’s not advised for you to give your real address out online anyway. If the online dating service has the ability for someone to choose a gift and have it sent to someone who is also a member, then that online dating service might just be a good one.

Does your online dating service list you and compare you by geographical region? Does it offer you the opportunity to choose the regions? If it limits your regions to just those they choose for you, you may want to seek an online dating service with the option to choose. You might live in Miami, but travel to New York occasionally and wish to meet or date people from both regions.

Does the online dating service you are considering or using use some complicated patented formula for deciding who you should or should not date? If so, do they offer this as advice or limit your option to just those they say are right for you? It’s quite alright for them to offer that as advice, but you may not want to be forced into some category where your options are limited to someone else’s idea of the perfect date for you.

Freedom is the keyword here. It’s probably the most important option you should have in mind when choosing an online dating service. Freedom to choose people outside of your compatibility area, freedom to choose outside of the regions that would normally apply because of where you live, and the freedom to do things like join chatrooms and send gifts.

There are a lot of online dating services out there. Take your time and choose the one that will give you the most freedom. You will enjoy your online dating service more if you have more options to choose from. So go out there and find that online dating service who has your dream date waiting for you!