These days, despite the fact that online dating is so popular around the world, many Australian men are still hesitant to jump on the online dating bandwagon. Some of them have grown so used to meeting women in face to face situations that they are literally and figuratively in the dark when it comes to online dating. Others are interested in giving it a try but are not sure what it's all about. They feel awkward about the whole thing.

Here's a fact that should put all your concerns to rest: online dating is easy. It is much easier dealing with a woman that you can't see rather than someone you can. For example, someone you meet in a bar.

The fact is that a bar is not an ideal place to meet women. It is too dark, with way too much smoke and large quantities of alcohol flowing around. This kind of atmosphere is conducive to lies and deceit. But more than that, the bar scene seems to be dead these days, with very few prospects.

If you go to a bar, make sure you bring your buddies so you can have fun, drink and talk about sports and the good old days. If there's a woman around who catches your fancy, by all means ask her to dance and get to know her better. But if you go to a bar for the sole purpose of wanting to meet a girl, don't bet on it. The odds are stacked against you.

All the hip and hot women are online these days. However, before you log on and start hammering away, make sure that you have prepared your game plan.

The objective of your plan is to meet a girl for a date, at least, for starters. You want to project yourself as fun and funny, without giving away too many details.

On the internet, you can scan the profiles and photos of more than 200 women in one sitting. From there, you can pinpoint about 50 of the best and send each one a short message or a wink. A few email exchanges will follow between you and the interested women before you can get their phone number.

You can usually gauge her interest in you during the email exchange. Does she give you long, detailed responses? Does she ask a lot of questions about you? Has she given you her phone number? These are all positive signs in your favor. From there, it's just a short while before you meet for a date.

Make your little look-see a 45-minute coffee date and give her detailed directions and the phone number of the coffee shop. Also make sure that there is plenty of parking space at your place of choice. Some women are prepared to bail out at the slightest excuse so try not to give them one.

Once you finally meet in person, it will be easy to gauge whether she really likes you or not. Your next move will obviously be guided by how that first meeting goes. You can either set up another, more intimate date or move on to the next person. Either way, the internet will ensure that you never run out of options.

Once last tip that will save you HEAPS of grief...

When you are writing your online dating profile and sending contact emails to these ladies, be sure you avoid the neanderthal approach that so many guys take. No suggestive comments in your email, and definitely NO approaches for sex! This is something that really pisses most women off, so even if you are wanting sex (at some stage), try not to get into their pants on the first contact!

Trust me when I tell you that this one tip will put you streets ahead of 80% of all guys on online dating sites.

Now, go get 'em tiger!