Online dating can be fun, but finding your soulmate takes a little work, too.

Editor’s note: Once considered taboo, online dating has seen an explosion in popularity.

This is due in large part to social websites which now incorporate image, audio and visual tools.

Over 1,400 online dating websites have sprung up to help love seekers find their perfect match. But where does one start?

The following dating tips are courtesy of Priceless Profiles, a Florida-based source for creating successful dating profiles.

1. You First – Before signing up on a dating website you need to do some self-discovery. This requires you asking yourself some hard questions.

2. Photo – A photo is essential to online dating. Use a recent photo of you and you only. Be conscious of the context of the photo.

3. User Name – Choose your user name wisely. Do you really want a potential mate’s first impression of you to be “HotMama69″?

4. Write Up – Be honest, but use discretion; you do not have to share every detail of your life. There is a balance between accentuating the positives and obnoxiously bragging about yourself. Make sure you spell check your profile — one typo can be a huge turn-off.

5. Rewrite - If you find you are attracting the wrong type of people, reassess your profile. With most dating sites you are not locked into keeping every word you wrote in your profile. Keep tweaking it.

6. Sexual – While sex sells in advertising we do not recommend it in online dating profiles. Overly sexual comments in your profile or in your initial conversations can attract the wrong people.

7. Safety – Use the same rules you would when dating someone you met through networking or at a bar. There are many nice people on online dating sites, but you should be cautious. Meet in a public place for your first date.

8. Be Yourself - You are only fooling yourself if you are not.

9. Don’t Limit Yourself – There is more than one way to meet people. There are about 1,400 online dating sites in North America. If you are not having success with one, try another.

10. Have Fun – No matter why you are single…enjoy it! Online dating can be a blast. Even the “interesting” dates end up as good stories.

The following report appeared on WPTV.com NBC Channel 5 in Florida.

For more information on Priceless Profiles please visit www.pricelessprofiles.com

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