One of the challenges of online dating is actually getting out there to meet other singles. The pressures that come with having to meet face to face, one on one, can be huge and for many singles it’s intimidating enough to make them think twice about online dating.

Now there’s a good solution that brings together the best of online dating with the best of getting out there to meet other people. Urban Social is an online dating company that offers traditional online services, but also expands its reach into local areas by partnering with other companies to create in-person events and activities. This is not necessarily a brand new approach; other online dating services have tried to offer events and gatherings as part of their services.

What makes the Urban Social approach different is that they are not actually putting on the events themselves but rather working with third parties who do the actual event planning and execution. It’s a partnership model that works well, especially in smaller markets where the local partner knows what will be popular and cost effective for that area. All they have to do is set themselves up with Urban Social, put together an event outline for Urban Social to approve, and then Urban Social partners with them to promote and support the event.

So whether you’re a single looking for interesting events and activities in your area or someone who would like to create a singles event for your community, take a look at Urban Social. You just might find something exciting to really take off!

News & Views Events, Meet People, UK, Urban Social

Business cards are a standard “tool of the trade” in the business world, an accepted and expected way of sharing contact information with someone else. In the online dating world, though, connecting and sharing contact information with someone else has been limited to whatever electronic tools the online dating site provides to its members.

Now a new and innovative approach is combining the easy and effectiveness of business cards with the privacy and convenience of online dating. It’s a hybrid approach used by online dating sites like Cheekd.com to give their users the flexibility to make contact with someone in person but still have the privacy protection of the online site.

Here’s how it works: your monthly subscription to the dating site includes a set of business-type cards printed with a greeting and a special code that allows the recipient to log in to the site and connect with you. The cards make it easy to make contact with someone you might see across the room without having to go over and try to make contact with them face to face.

Online singles love this option. They can slip a card to someone unobtrusively, or even send a friend over to deliver it to someone of interest. It’s sort of like passing notes in second grade, but with a far more mature and adult focus. For the recipient it’s a great way to know they’ve been “spotted” and gives them the privacy and protection of making that first contact online as well.

It’s like business cards for personals, and it’s an idea that is rapidly becoming popular for very good reasons!

News & Views Cheekd.com, Social Networking

Summer time is in high gear, and that means plenty of opportunities to get “out and about” to meet other singles. Online dating services are of course a great way to meet up with someone whose interests match with your own, but there will always be a role for in person, face to face interactions when it comes to the dating world.

That’s why Match.com conducted its annual Singles Summer Travel Survey to find the very best places for singles to travel this year if they want to find lots of opportunities to meet other singles.

And this year’s winner? Miami, Florida, of course! Who wouldn’t want to take a summer trip to this beautiful city which is also home to some of the most beautiful beaches to be found anywhere?

In fact, it is the availability of beautiful beaches that most singles say is one of the major deciding factors in their choosing of a summer vacation destination. A great beach is a “must have” for over 70% of the singles who responded to the survey, with a great swimming pool coming in a distant second with about 43% of the singles saying it was a “must have” for them.

If you can’t make it to Miami this year, though, take heart because there are a number of other great beach destinations that are also top picks for singles. These include Manhattan Beach, California; Waikiki Beach, Hawaii; and South Padre Island, Texas. So wherever you might be, there’s a great beach near you for meeting and connecting with other singles this summer!

News & Views Holidays, Match.com, Summer, Survey