Have you decided to turn to the Internet to help give your romantic life the extra push that it needs?  Five years ago, you probably would have been teased relentlessly for being so desperate that you have to turn to your computer for love. Nowadays, Internet dating has become quite the norm.  In fact, nearly every single person (and many married people for that matter) has used the Internet in one way or another to help land a date or to otherwise seal the deal with someone they are trying to hook up with, so why shouldn’t you?

If you have decided to use the Internet as a dating tool – or even if you have already started – there are several things you should keep in mind in order to make certain it is a positive experience.  While the Internet can be a great place to look for a quick hookup or even for a potential long term relationship, it is also festering with psychotic and neurotic people who know a sucker when they see one.  So, follow these tips and you will be certain to have a good experience rather than one you have to retell to the police officer after you wakeup chained to a bed with your kidney missing.

Tip #1:  Know What You’re After

Before you start prowling around on the Internet, get an idea of what you are looking for.  Are you looking for someone to wine and dine and turn into a long-term commitment, or are you looking for someone who is likely to give you a little action right away?  Are you looking for someone to just hang out with, or do you hope to find a friend with “benefits?”  Believe it or not, there are dating sites geared toward each of these desired outcomes, so you are better off spending your time at one of the sites that caters toward people who are looking for the same thing as you.

Tip #2:  Get Your Game On

Now that you know what you are looking for, it is time to get your act together.  If you are going to use a dating site to help you find romance, you might want to have someone help you out with creating your profile so you don’t sound like a complete dumbass.  In addition, you want to come off as confident without sounding cocky, so work on how you are going to present yourself online.

Remember, it is a whole different game online.  The ladies will be reading what you have to say, so your body language and voice inflections won’t help you get your point across and can make it more difficult for you to express your thoughts.  At the same time, you will likely find that being located several miles away from the woman you are trying to hookup with will make it easier for you to say things you might not usually have the balls to say.

Tip #3:  Don’t Fool Yourself

Countless marriages and relationships have been destroyed thanks to online dating.  Remember how I mentioned that the distance makes it easier to say whatever you are thinking?  While this can be a good thing, it also makes it really easy for some chick to tell you a bunch of bullshit that you believe.  It also makes it easier for you to pour your heart out and think that she really “gets” you, but things can be a whole hell of a lot different when you are actually together.

So, before you sell your house and fly halfway across the country to be with your Internet sweetheart, make sure it is the real deal.  In addition, don’t start giving out personal information such as your home address or your work phone number until you know things are on the up-and-up.  The last thing you need is some psycho, clingy broad calling  your job every hour and asking why you never call her anymore.

Tip #4:  Keep Your Money in Your Pocket

There are many women who sign up with online dating sites or prowl Internet sites in search of “love” or a “good time” who are really just looking for a quick buck.  These women have no problem with investing a little time in you in order to string you along before asking for money.  Of course, they can be sneaky in the way they do it.  For example, they might need money for an airline ticket so they can leave an abusive husband.  Or, they may need cash for a mortgage payment so they don’t lose their house.  I once knew a guy who flew all the way to Colorado from Indiana to meet his Internet lover.  After he got a little action and returned home, she told him she was pregnant and needed money for an abortion.  The sucker fell for it and, after he sent her the money, she left him to go back to her husband.

Tip #5:  Stay with a Group

Internet dating sites are always advising women to meet their online companions in a public place so they don’t get taken advantage of by some creep.  While this is sound advice for women, it is also good advise for men. Let’s face it, you don’t really know who this woman is and you don’t know who else may be coming along on the date that you don’t know about.  For all you know, her crazy ex-husband is following her or she may have set up some plan with a couple thugs ahead of time.  Meet in a public place and stay in the public eye until you have had the opportunity to really get a feel for what she is after before you take things back to your place.

While following these five tips is no guarantee that you will find the perfect woman, it will certainly reduce your chances of hooking up with a lunatic or otherwise getting yourself screwed over.  So, use them wisely and have fun!