The online dating industry has grown significantly in the past several years. For busy guys, it can be an especially appealing way to meet women which is probably why so many men are using these online services. Though you can meet women from virtually anywhere, an increasing number of guys are using online dating to locate and meet local women.

For those men who are tired of the dating scene yet still want to meet interesting, attractive women, online dating sites are a good alternative. This is especially true for those men who find themselves stuck in the office too late and with little time. But, what about those men who have little time yet little money also?

Well, some of the basic features of online dating sites such as Match.com, for instance, can also be found elsewhere. The good news is that it doesn't have to cost you anything. With free social networks hitting the online market, more and more people are meeting online with a FREE service.

AdultFriendFinder.com and Match.com, among others, are set up specifically for dating, yes. This is one small advantage over general social network sites. However, just like you perform a search on these sites, you can perform a search on free social network sites. Some of the more popular ones are MySpace.com and Friendster.com, though the number of social networks sites is growing.

MySpace.com, for example, allows you to simply set up a profile and begin contacting other MySpace members. As mentioned, though, you will need to do a little work to find the single women. But, it only requires you to use the search tools provided and opt for only those women looking for a relationship or dating. This is important for two reasons.

First, keep in mind that not everyone on these free sites are looking to date or find a relationship. They may only be on the site for networking or friendships. So, be cautious in who you contact by limiting it to only those members who specifically indicate on their profile that they are looking to meet someone for dating or a relationship.

Second, consider yourself for a minute. If you are that guy who is too busy, you surely do not want to waste your time reading a profile and initiating contact with a woman who is not interested in dating. Rather, focus your energy on those women whose profile explicitly states that they are on that site for dating or relationships. Just like in offline contexts, you still must "approach" the woman and doing so knowing ahead of time that she is "looking" makes the initiation a lot easier.

Once you find a profile you are interested in, read the entire profile to learn more about her. You should then make contact with a brief message introducing yourself. However, do not start with a line about how "hot she looks" or such. The probability of you receiving a reply will be much less, as women on social network sites tend to here that quite often and hate it. She may very well reply to your message, but it will probably not be the response you were seeking. Rather, start with a nice, general introduction to improve your chances of getting a positive response.

Finding the available women in your town doesn't have to cost you a costly monthly fee. Rather, you can use this money saved toward your time out with a woman. Follow the advice above and you may find yourself in need of that extra money sooner than you anticipated!