If you have done any looking at potential dating sites lately, you’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed. There are so many of them out there (an estimated several thousand, according to some experts) that it can be extremely difficult to decide which one (or ones) you should pay to join.

Leave it to the online community to recognize this problem and come up with a simple solution! The latest trend in online dating is the rise of so-called “dating portals”, also sometimes called “dating aggregators”. These innovative sites are cutting right through the problem of choosing the right online dating service by allowing users to search for matches across multiple dating services. It’s much like the familiar airline travel services such as CheapFlights.com, Priceline.com, and Kayak.com, where you can search a single site and find multiple travel options to consider.

Rubixx.com, for example, pulls profiles from many of the top dating sites when you conduct a search. If you find a potentially interesting match you then click through to the site from which the profile comes. Of course, you have to pay the fee to join that site and access the full profile, but the general concept here is a huge change for online dating. It may just be a very successful way for you to search more profiles, find more matches, and only pay to access those online services where your potential matches are also signed up.

Is this the future of online dating? Chances are the answer is “yes”, so keep an eye on this trend if you want to stay on the cutting edge!

News & Views Dating Aggregators, Portals, Rubixx.com

With all of the media sensationalism over the recent swine flu outbreak, it’s easy to start feeling a bit paranoid about getting out there and meeting new people. Those pictures of people walking around wearing surgical masks and the daily briefings with a “sky is falling” theme are downright scary.

Fortunately, it seems the flu outbreak is winding down and hasn’t been nearly as serious as originally feared. There is another sickness going around, though, and this one has no cure.

It’s called Spring Fever. It’s extremely contagious. And there’s no cure except to get outside, get active, and let it run its course.

Spring is a natural time for singles to feel energized about finding a new partner and it comes with plenty of opportunities for doing just that. If you find yourself suffering from this seasonal affliction, here are five great ways to get through it and even share it with others:

1. Join a co-ed softball team sponsored by the local parks & recreation department.

2. If you have a dog, take it to the nearest dog park on a regular basis.

3. Get outside in the evenings after work and go for a walk.

4. Sign up for an outdoor class like kayaking, fishing, or the like.

5. Sign up for group golf lessons and make a point of playing the local par-3 course at least once per week.

These may sound kind of silly or even ho-hum, but I guarantee that you’ll find yourself having some fun, enjoying the spring a bit more, and perhaps even meeting other singles like yourself along the way.

News & Views Dogs, Hobbies, Holidays, Meet People, Sports

It’s pretty hard to find a reputable dating site that doesn’t charge some sort of fee to its users. Of course, for most of these sites the fee is for “premium” membership, whatever that means. The question in my mind has always been “is it worth it?”

The answer to this question depends on a whole lot of other factors beyond just the cost itself (which is important, given the tough economy and the fact that most people don’t have nearly as much extra money sitting around as they did before). Before you take the plunge and type in your credit card information, think for a moment about a) what you’re really getting for the money, and b) whether or not you really need whatever it is you’re going to get.

For instance, does the extra fee give you extra access to more potential matches? Does it make your own profile stand out more on the website? Is it necessary in order for you to be able to contact members? Or is there some other real benefit to forking over more of your hard earned money?

If you’re going to pay, my advice is to start with the minimum subscription period that is offered. Also make sure you read the small print carefully (make a copy of the terms), and pay special attention to any auto-renewals clauses. You want to make sure your card is not going to be auto-billed once your subscription expires. This way, if your credit card does get auto billed when your membership ends, you’ll have legitimate grounds to dispute the transaction with your credit card company. If it’s in the terms and conditions, there’s not much you can do.

Of course the dating site will make it sound like a terrific deal, but you need to determine this for yourself. They’ll also push really hard to sign you up for long term fees by dangling a big discount in front of you. My advice is to avoid the long term fees whenever possible because you simply won’t know if you’re getting your money’s worth until you pay the money and start using the site; by the time you figure out if it’s money well spent or not it’s too late to get any back.

Here are some of the pros and cons of free vs. pay dating sites for you to consider.

The pros of free dating services

• You’ve nothing to lose – you can simply leave if you don’t like it.
• Your credit card won’t get hit with unsuspected automatic subscription renewals.
• There are now plenty of great free sites to choose from.

The cons

• Free dating sites tend be over populated with men, often with questionable motives for being there.
• Free sites often fall short on user support and customer care.
• Since there’s no payment record, it’s much easier for people to remain completely anonymous and untraceable.
• Many have distracting and annoying advertisements.

To fee or not to fee… that is the question. What’s the best answer for your budget and your needs?

News & Views, Safety Free vs. Pay Dating, Metrodate.com, Mingle2.com, Money, PlentyOfFish.com