It all started with the boom of the Internet eons ago then came e-mail, instant messaging and then online dating.

Whoever thought that online users would be willing to pay a membership fee to be able to browse through personal profiles online was a genius, because apparently, people are more than willing to give out their credit card numbers for this 'privilege'.

'Online Dating Defined'

Online dating services such as match.com, Yahoo Personals, eHarmony and American Singles became popular in the mid-2004.

The idea is to allow online users to browse through the profile of other users for them to "meet", first in cyberspace, then, in person. The excitement brought about by the possibility of finding one's soulmate online sold, thus, online dating was an instant hit.

Take a look at the following advantages of an online dating service:

1. You can easily find a potential friend or partner who fits a pre-defined description.

If you've ever been setup by a friend for a blind date for you, you have to admit that you will never get to know what to expect.

With online dating, you can easily save time by looking for somebody who fits the age range that you want, as well as the location and the gender of your online date.

As you browse through online personals, profiles and photos, you are bound to find somebody who catches your eye.

Once you get to know each other more through e-mail or instant messages, it will be less awkward when you finally get to meet each other in person, because there is a feeling of intimacy brought about by your chat conversations and interactions through e-mail.

2. You can choose somebody who shares the same interests.

In the movie Must Love Dogs, the main female character was looking for just that, a potential male partner who loves dogs. How more specific can you get?

With online dating, it is very easy to find somebody who shares your interests. This is because major service providers like MSN, Yahoo Personals and AOL have created a niche market specifically for a group of online users who share the same hobbies, belong to the same club or religion, are fans of the same artists, or those who read the same books, watch the same movies, play the same sports. The possibilities are endless.

Webcasts, chat conversations and message boards are additional tools which help build and forge this niche market.

Of course, there is a downside to an online dating service. First, some members of paid online dating services misrepresent themselves. They do not give out their real height, weight, or they post a picture taken years ago, when in fact they don't even look like that anymore. You can counteract this by asking your online dates for a more recent picture.

'How to Create an Online Personal Ad that will Catch your Soulmate's Eye'

You can either choose a free online dating service or pay a membership fee for a matchmaking web site. Browse through the different free online dating services to get a feel of the service that you like.

When posting your personal ads online, make sure that it reflects who you truly are. Be honest, witty and fun. Don't forget to list down the qualities that you are looking for in a partner.

Write creative taglines that will reflect your personality. Finally, to protect your privacy, do not give out your e-mail address or real name in the online personal ad. Decide whether you want to do that later on.

In the end, it all boils down to fun. If you are looking for a friend, a casual affair or a lifetime partner, what better way is there than to find the one that you are looking for online?