It has taken off like wildfire. Yes you will see it mentioned on the evening news usually in negative terms but if you check other information sources, online dating is mentioned on a regular basis; the good, bad or indifferent. Recent statistics show that despite this recession (which unfortunately is scheduled to get a whole lot worse) the online dating industry is enjoying a banner period.

Of course it has not always been this way. Not too long ago on line dating carried a certain stigma that it was only something a "loser" would do since no one in their right mind would try to meet, date or let alone marry someone from cyberspace. If they did participate, many people would keep the information to themselves for fear of ridicule.

Not anymore. The fact that on line dating has become an accepted meeting place when it comes to relationships is a clear indicator that things have changed for the better.

Yet despite the vastness of choice, on line dating for many people is no guarantee of success. In some instances it can more frustrating than the offline world due to the seemingly unlimited amount of candidates you can choose from. All these people and still no luck; what's going on?

Just like the real world there are no ironclad guarantees when it comes to dating relationships but when meeting someone in the cyberworld there are some things you can do to tilt the odds a little bit more in your favor.

1. Consistency

Once you meet someone online make sure you contact them on a regular basis. Not to the point where you become so persistent that you go overboard; that can scare a prospect away quicker than anything. Just put aside time that both of you agree on and stick to it. Take it seriously and treat your time as valuable as well as theirs.

2. Respect

Conveying that in your chats is very important. No need to keep telling them you respect them; that will become evident in your manners, courtesy and tone of your discussion. Let them know you welcome their opinion and insight. If you disagree on something, handle it maturely. No relationship online or off is going to be friction free. Taking disagreement in stride can tell the other person a lot about you and how you would treat them in the relationship.

3. Giving

It may not be a face to face meeting but the other person wants to know something about you that goes beyond general chit chat. You do not have to turn your life into an open book but sending them links to your favorite music or uploading photos to someplace that you went on a vacation (with you in them) can make the other person feel like they are getting to know you better.

In turn they start doing the same thing because you have created an environment that puts them at ease. Pretty soon you are sharing more with each other on an equal basis. Also when they do give, you can go a long way to gaining their trust by keeping their personal information private. They are sharing with you and not for general public. You would expect them to do the same.

On line dating is not for everyone. People have complained about being in the cyberworld for a long time with no success or prospects. But the online dating industry is growing by leaps and bounds. That means many people are having success and convincing others to take the plunge. If you do meet someone than use the above steps as a way to keep the relationship moving in the right direction.