If you have decided to look for a or partner, cultural differences and long distance aren't the only things you will have to deal with. Knowing what to expect and how to handle online dating agencies is one more thing to consider. They can be your best friend in helping you find the love of your life, or your worst nightmare that will waste your time and money. We offer you some tips for making your online dating experience most rewarding and positive.

There are hundreds of websites online that will offer you their services. Each site will have a different approach to providing services, different services available, and different attitude to their clients as well. Doing preliminary research is a must if you want to select a truly reliable agency. Internet is a good way to collect some basic information about the company you are considering (good or bad).

Look for how long a company has been in business. It will not be for decades, since Russian online dating services are fairly new, but you are better off with services that are at least a few years old. Reviews published on the websites are generally not a reliable source, as no company will publish negative comments about themselves. Site statements about their advantages fall into the same category - any company will be willing to share with you only their best. However, reviews from independent sites will be a fairly good indication whether a company's reputation is good or bad.

An important thing to notice is a site's policy in terms of scams, and what a company does to prevent them. Many companies will clearly state that they support anti-scam activities, others will offer to do background checks to help you discover questionable women/agencies. If a company does not give you any information about their position on the matter, don't hesitate to contact them to get the answers you want.

One more thing to consider is what parameters a given agency uses for matchmaking and connecting you with ladies. Some will use certain compatibility filters, based on your interests and what you are looking for, others will allow you to browse all profiles and make the choice yourself, etc.

An important thing to research is what means of communication the site offers for connecting with women. Some will promote communication only through their company website, while others will agree to share personal information of their ladies (but be ready that this information is not free). The advantages of communicating through a company's site mean that an experienced professional will be able to offer you advice to improve your communication, or on the contrary, give you a warning should there be some problems with the lady you chose. Since many women do not speak fluent English, using a website also means having proper translation of your communication. Contacting your lady directly ensures full privacy and will certainly save you money, but will give you no guarantees or protection against her motives, should they not be genuine, or communication mishaps. The best thing to do is to try and get your lady's direct contact information upfront (in case you have trouble with the agency as time goes on, or want to give her a surprise once in a while), but use agency when you need to convey important information, when you have some questions about the relationship, or require some assistance, etc.

Depending on the level of agency involvement you want in communicating and finding the right lady for you, you can also research the services a particular site offers. Some sites will have various means of communication available (with translators): i.e. video conferences, phone calls, etc. Others will also offer you personal matchmaking services and work with you full time on finding the right lady for you: they might want to have an interview with you to find out your requirements, offer you some select profiles based on them, and guide you in establishing a strong meaningful relationship with the of your choice.

Of course, the price for services is a considerable issue. As with any shopping, price comparison is a useful thing to do before making a final decision. When comparing prices, pay attention to the features that you will get for that price. However, it is important to remember that cheaper is not always better. A site offering cheaper services might lack in quality, and result in more stress instead of helping you find happiness. One of the better alternatives that most sites will offer you is a choice of membership packages. Such packages will allow you to combine several features for a much better price than purchasing them separately, and give you a choice of only those services you want instead of being limited or offered things you don't need.

It is a common practice for men to join several websites at once - which is a great option for taking advantage of different services available, meeting different women, etc. A small piece of advice if you join several sites: keep files with login data, information about women you write to, and any other records that you might need to remember to distinguish between different companies.

Finally, no matter what site (or sites) you choose, be sure to contact management any time you have questions or are not certain about a company's policy (preferably, keep your communication in writing) - this will ensure that you leave no room for scams or for the company to take advantage of you during using the online dating services.