The time has come. You are tired of seeing all your friends have all the fun and you are about to get serious about getting into a relationship. But where to start?

You’ve heard that online dating has really worked well for a lot of people. Most of us know at least one happy couple who met through an online dating service. But is online dating right for you? Before you jump in, here are some pros and cons of online dating to consider.

Pro’s of online dating include:

Size of dating pool We would all love to meet the mate of our dreams on the organic produce aisle or at a used bookstore. The reality is, most of us have a limited number of single people whom we have the opportunity of running into “naturally”. Without knowing their relationship status, many of us are too timid to approach them anyway. There are literally thousands of single people available in every zip code. Without using an online dating service you don’t know who they are and vice versa. And really, how many blind dates can your friends sign you up for?

Convenience You get to “browse” or communicate with people when it’s convenient for you, in the privacy of your own home. There’s no need to get dressed up and sit in a bar hoping for the best.

Low pressure You have the opportunity to email and talk with potential dates on the phone before meeting them for the first time. This gives you time to get comfortable with them and learn all about them before that nerve wrecking first meeting. If someone who originally looked appealing does not “click” with you, it’s much easier to let them know you are not interested before standing awkwardly in front of them on a date.

Cons of online dating include:

Hard to judge chemistry over the internet Online dating profiles are great. You can see what a person looks like, learn about their interests and goals. On paper, they might look perfect. But until you meet in person you will have no idea if there is that certain chemistry that makes you want to pursue a relationship. Heck, maybe they hardly look like their profile pictures. People are not always as truthful as they should be when they put together their online dating profiles.

Risk of disappointment Like anything else, nothing ventures, nothing gained. Yes, you might find someone you really are interested in and risk rejection. But that’s just the dynamic of relationships. That’s no different of you meet someone in person or through an online dating service.

Security issues Much has been made of the dangers of meeting people over the internet. Reputable online dating services should provide you with guidance on how to have a safe experience. Read the information they give you and implement it. Most of it boils down to common sense. Remember, for every story you hear of someone who had a bad experience, there are a thousand stories of people who had great experiences and online dating success.

To summarize, online dating can be a fun, convenient and effective way of meeting new people. If you use common sense the pros of online dating far outweigh the cons.

Don’t wait any longer to jump start your social and love life! I encourage you to give online dating services a try.