Everybody who is looking to meet new people online wants to connect with others whose interests are the same as theirs. After all, this is the basis of just about any personal relationship, right? Having similar interests is nothing new and there are plenty of online dating sites out there that focus on matching up interests, sometimes even very narrow, specific interests.

These specific interest sites are a great way to meet like minded singles if there is something that is really, really important to you, like physical fitness, music, or the like. But what about books? Lots of people love to read, and these same people often want to meet others who love to read as well.

Enter Alikewise.com, a new online dating site that is set up especially to connect singles based on their reading habits. Instead of searching by height, weight, age, or the like, this unique online dating service connects you with others by allowing you to search by books they have read.

That’s right, books. When you set up your profile you list the books you’ve read that you really like, which can be sorted by author and book title. Then when you’re ready to search for other singles you search for those who have read a particular book or author. It’s that simple and that unique.

So let’s say you loved “The Shining” by Stephen King. You include it in your list of books read and then search for others who have included it in their list as well. Your search will return a list of singles who have read that book, allowing you to connect with any of them you find interesting.

Think of it as going to the library and looking over the shoulder of someone else to see what they are checking out. It’s a fun and unique way to connect with other singles!

Relationships Alikewise.com, Hobbies, Meet People, Reading

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

This terrible economy doesn’t seem to be getting better very fast. Chrysler and General Motors have gone bankrupt, housing prices are rebounding slowly (if at all), and the ranks of the unemployed continue to swell by huge numbers each month. With all of this bad news around us, who has the enthusiasm to bother with dating?

Yes, things are tough, but one of the worst things you can do is to totally give up on dating altogether. Just because you’re facing financial challenges does not mean you are any less interested in finding a partner whose companionship you enjoy. The trick is figuring out the dating scene when everything around you seems to be falling apart.

Here are some tips and suggestions for dating in a terrible economy:

1. Broaden your preferences. It used to be that no self-respecting woman would consider dating a man who didn’t have a job, and a large number of men took the same approach. Today, however, you’re more likely than ever to find potential matches with people who are out of work for one reason or another. If you want to stay in the dating scene you need to consider broadening your preferences a bit so you don’t automatically exclude someone whose current situation is not ideal.

2. Get out and meet people. Let’s face it, online dating services can be pretty expensive, and that’s a cost your budget might not be able to handle anymore. The solution is to get out into your community more so you can meet people in the traditional way. Volunteer at a charity, take a class at the community center, or simply go for a walk each day along the same route. You’ll be amazed at how many opportunities to meet new people will come your way!

3. Stick with low cost activities. It’s okay to let the person you’re interested in know you would prefer to do low cost activities, so don’t be shy. If you can’t afford to go out to dinner, for example, suggest packing a couple of sandwiches and meeting at the park for lunch. Put on your thinking cap and be creative to find the best low cost activities to enjoy!

Dating Essentials Economy, Job, Meet People, Money, Volunteering