There was a time when online dating was regarded as a last resort for the truly desperate. And of course, there were the horror stories of innocents ending up with mass murderers.

But now online dating is big business, can be highly effective… and looks like it is here to stay.

That is not to say there are no dangers. There are - as impressionable youngsters (and older optimists!) have found to their cost by making a date with people they have 'met' through chat rooms. The cloak of anonymity that the internet offers can be put to improper use, so one of the first things to be aware of is that casual chat room encounters bear an element of danger - and unless you go through a reputable agency, there could be risks.

The rise of Internet dating is attributed to the fact that we work harder, spend more time in the office and have fewer chances to socialise. And while that may be true, online dating also appeals because it is relatively speedy, you can make contact with a vast array of people, and the pain of rejection can be cauterised by a web connection rather than being delivered face-to-face.

Researchers say the average online debutant(e) is aged between 25 and 44, and the most frequent time for registering is Sunday. For most sites the initial registration is free, with a fee of around £20 when you actually want to be put in touch with someone who has caught your eye.

Our Dating search provides links to the most popular dating sites as well as specialist sites that cater for particular groups (www.uknetguide.co.uk/Lifestyle_and_Leisure/Dating_Search/).

According to ‘I Can't Believe I'm Buying This Book: A Commonsense Guide to Successful Internet Dating’ by Evan Marc Katz, there are basic rules to follow for successful online dating.

1. Don't forget your audience – to be the wheat that is separated out from the chaff, be as creative and exciting as possible.
   
   
2. Pay attention to detail and cut down on the adjectives.
   
   
3. Have fun. Apply when you are feeling happy and if you are depressed, don’t show it – or better still don’t write about yourself until you are feeling positive.
   
   
4. Don’t show off.
   
   
5. Tell the truth, because if you do meet a potential date any silly lies will be uncovered quickly enough and that will destroy any trust.
   
   And don’t forget to read between the lines… ‘Athletic’ may mean watches a lot of football on television; ‘Good-looking’ is often a short form of ‘arrogant’, and ‘Open-minded’ could mean ‘desperate!’