While there is not an actual how to guide to online dating, an important step is to make sure you know all the options available to you. Whether it is a small regional dating site or a huge world wide dating site, it is always best to have a choice. A few of the tools you need to be aware of are: chat rooms, web conference or web cam sites, video game and peer-to-peer sites. Understanding these options gives you the power to decide which resource is right for you.

Get familiar with free sites and resources which give you the option of trying the service before you sign up for a subscription.

When diving into this new and exciting world it is best to open a free account at a chat room, get in touch with some people and feel what creating an online relationship is all about.

A golden rule is to never give out any real personal information such as your phone number, name or address until you feel comfortable with the person you are chatting with or until you develop a relationship. This step usually takes time and it is also a way for you to protect yourself from people with a hidden agenda.

Once you know what chatting feels like then jump into dating sites which offer free trials so that you can have a taste of their service. Pay close attention to their personality matching system if available. This feature eases the process of finding that special person, your other half.

If a matching system is not available then read the user's descriptions thoroughly. Most people get excited and surf from profile page to profile page which causes them to miss important details about each person's personality. Keep in mind that many of the users may not use genuine pictures while creating their profile, that's why it is important to pay even more attention to the personality profile and chat conversations.

Another important step is to create an honest personality profile, keep it real!. If you skip this step you might end up with someone who completely dislikes your activities or tastes. The point of the personality test is not to find someone identical to you but to find someone you can relate to or has interests similar to yours.

If you are young and like to play games, there are other tools you can use to socialize and meet people. Multi player online games enable you to meet people while you play. If you like role playing and simulation games then this option is definitively for you. If you are a shy kind of person there are many games which simulate bars or night clubs which show a more realistic environment.

P2P sites are also a great way to find interesting people. These sites are mostly driven by chat rooms and forum conversations and bring together users who have the same interests in music, games, books, etc.

To summarize, the most important thing is to have options and that is just what OnlineDatingLists offers. From Chat rooms, to free sites, to everything else you are looking for, this resource will provide every tool you need to get started on the exciting world of online dating.