Free on line dating can consist of very large sites with thousands--even a million or more members--or it may have smaller groups of people who have common interests, locations, nationality or other like characteristics. Niche sites can provide individuals with the sites that they are most comfortable with.

What are they?

Niche sites are a type of free on line dating sites with a more focused and specific membership. They may be structured around geographic locations or races. They possibly could be more age specific than the general site. There are French dating sites and Asian dating sites, for example.

Sometimes there are niche sites such as those for overweight people or African Americans. The niche site might be one for mature people, such as 55-plus. You don't need to stick to a niche site to enjoy online dating sites, but it can help you to find people who share general characteristics with you.

Advantages

Free on line dating initiated at one of the niche sites has a number of advantages, particularly over those that require you to pay for the services provided. For example, you are communicating with people who have some characteristics that are similar to your own or to those you are interested in learning about. For example, if you are Asian and want to date only other Asians, there is no point in spending a lot of time going through hundreds if not thousands of Caucasian members. For efficiency's sake, using a niche site that has only Asian members.

Disadvantages

Niche sites also have some disadvantages compared to other free on line dating sites. For example, since they are generally smaller than the large general sites, there are fewer people to select from. Since you are usually limiting your choices anyway, this may not be an insurmountable problem for you, but if you are joining the web site to meet the maximum number of people, then a niche site may not be the right choice for you. Of course, niche sites also have the disadvantage of creating some stereotypes that will limit you.

Are they right for you?

Niche sites may be the perfect choice for you if some characteristic is more important to you than the number of members of all types that you get on most free on line dating sites. You need to recognize that niche sites are usually smaller with fewer members than general membership sites. If you are Spanish speaking, obviously a Spanish speaking niche site would be a good selection for you. The same is true of any other language group. The choice will depend upon your motivation for joining the site.

Selection criteria

Niche sites still must have some basic criteria to be used to hold them together. If the approval process or the application process is too specific, they may serve to exclude members rather than to include members. Free on line dating sites are successful mainly because they are inclusive, not exclusive. If you are more comfortable with a smaller group of like minded people, then a niche group may be the perfect answer for you. Just make sure that the criteria are not so specific that you limit yourself to a few individuals relatively speaking, when you could be opening yourself up to hundreds of new relationships.