> How to get started
> How to search effectively
> How to build an attractive Profile
> How to be a successful online dater
> How to write an appealing First Impression
> How to write that First Email
> The recipe for online dating success

How to Get Started:
Follow these links:
1. Answer fun Profile questions that describe the real you
2. Set your own pace - all questions are optional - answer the questions that best suit you
3. Add photos; you'll get points and about 20x more attention
4. If there are more than one of you in the photo, use the caption to tell us which one is YOU!
5. Don't forget to list your sports/fitness interests
6. Do a search
7. Email or Ping! C'mon, make the first move - just say "hi" and something about the other person that you found intriguing. Ask them something about themselves, and I bet they'll answer. (just click the Email or Ping icon on their Profile)

How to Search Effectively:
Whether dating or looking for friends, roommate(s) and/or workout partner(s) there are many ways to search:
1. Sprint
AKA a fast and easy search. Click on Search in the main menu, then Sprint from the sub menu - you have everyone at your fingertips. You can search by gender, age, geographic location and even save those searches for future reference.
2. by Sport
If you are seeking someone interested in specific sports, search by Sport. Simply check off the Sport(s) you want, click search, and everyone that lists that sport among their interests comes up. This search function can also be sorted with additional criteria such as gender, age, and geographic location. These searches can be saved for future reference.
3. Username Search
If you’ve already spotted that special someone, you can choose Username Search and go directly to their profile. Type in their Username and click the Search by Username button.
Additional search functions:
4. Favorites and Pings
You can find everyone who has Pinged you, and everyone you’ve Pinged under the headline Favorites/Pings/Emails. Found someone you want to get back to? Save them as a Favorite by clicking the Favorite icon on their profile. You’ll find all your Favorites under this heading as well.
5. Saved Searches
If you have a search you plan to run more than once, save it! You will find all your Saved Searches under the heading Saved Searches. D’huh?!

Not enough matches? Consider widening the age range, expanding geographic criteria, and uncheck the Photos Only option.

Too many matches? Narrow your age / geographic range or check the Photos Only option.

NOTE: Your search results will be impacted by the search preferences you select under My Account > Preferences and My Account > Blocking.

How to Build an Attractive Profile:
1.Extra! Extra!
Make your Headline shout. Here’s your chance to stand out. Write something that’s charming, creative and speaks to your personality.
2. First Impressions
It does not have to be a book (!), but you don't want to blow you chances in attracting others by composing uninspiring, negative, flip, overblown, poorly written profiles chock full of typos and grammatical errors. Or worse yet, not writing anything at all. Aim for something engaging and funny, telling us more about you, your life, who you seek, what you like ... not your dislikes. We’re all athletes of one kind or another, and we want to know about the other things that make you tick.
3. Say “cheese”!
Don't even think of not including a Photo with your Profile. No matter how wonderful you are or how great your profile is, you’ll get more responses if you post a photo. And the more current the photo the better. If you do decide to post your photos (yes, post your photos!), try to choose photos that show us the real you. And use the Photo Captions to elaborate on the who, what, where, and, if necessary, why/how!

How to be a Successful Online Dater:
1. Be honest
If you're thinning a bit on top, don’t post an old photo of yourself with a full head of hair. If you’re overweight, be open about it. If you’re a 12-minute miler great … say so. We all tend to embellish a bit when it comes to attracting others. But being dishonest will come back to haunt you. Here's a few things to be honest about: your job, your income, your interests, what kind of relationship you're seeking, etc.
2. Just do it.
Finding that right match takes patience, time and dedication. The search for the ‘one’ means going out - a lot. The more dates you go on, the more likely you'll find your true love. Just looking for casual dates, workout partners, friends or a roommate? The same rule applies to you - if at first you don’t succeed …
3. Be confident
Nothing is more attractive than confidence. We’re not talking cockiness. Confidence.

First Impressions:
What kind of lasting effect do you want to create with your First Impression? What kind of understanding of you do you want those who read your First Impression to come away with? We all know first impressions count and that it's sometimes difficult to write about ourselves - it feels funny. Yet it is a great opportunity to create a lasting image of all that is you.

Here are a few things that can help you write your First Impression. First of all, what is your objective? Are you looking for your soul mate or training partner? Second, write about the things - big and/or small - that are important to you, that reflect who you are, your sense of humor, your goals, anecdotes or stories - anything that shows more than a glimpse of you. Then conclude with who you wish to meet. Three steps to making a great first impression.

It never hurts to search and read what others have written - take ideas on what you liked and disliked and make them your own.

Write that First Email:
Have you ever clicked the 'email' button on someone's profile and then just drawn a blank? Sending that first email isn't always the easiest thing to do. Here's some tips that should not only make it less daunting but also just might make replying irresistible.

While these tips apply mostly to dating, you can also apply some of the tips here for making new friends or looking for workout partners.

Flirt a little
Everyone likes a compliment. Whether you say her smile lit up your screen or that you love the way he expressed himself, you'll win instant points. Send Pings!

Take your time
You're making first contact, not closing a deal. Even if you are certain that you'd like to go out with that person - give him or her a chance to discover that the feeling is mutual. And then ask … be polite.

Be original
Most of us can spot a form letter a mile away. They are impersonal and unsuccessful. Add something special to each message for example - what inspired you to write? What's unique about you, and why should someone respond? Investing the time to personalize your message almost guarantees you a positive response.

Be positive
Too many emails have gone unanswered because someone began them with, "I can't believe I'm doing this" or "I'm not sure if you'll like my profile, but..." Start your conversation with confidence.

The recipe for online dating success:

Basic Ingredients:
A completed profile
At least one photo with a smile
A touch of openness to meeting new people
A positive attitude
The ability to have fun
Patience
Perseverance

Once you have the basic ingredients, it's really not that difficult to get a date online. Follow these steps and you too will find success:

1. Search. Search often. New members are joining every day.
2. Find 5, 10 even 15 people that have caught your fancy. Work in parallel at first, not series. Don't pin your hopes on just one person - the timing might not be right with them - cast a wide net to start.
3. Start with a Ping. Break the ice. It's easy - simply click the Ping icon next to their Profile.
4. Compose a personalized message. Click the Email icon next to their Profile and write to those you have chosen to contact (see How to Write That First Email above). If you do not have Club or General Membership, you can upgrade for a very low monthly fee.
5. Click the send button. Go on. Do it. Trust me; your efforts will be rewarded.
6. Respond, not only to replies to your emails, but to emails that are unsolicited. If the sender is of interest to you, then you just got the green light to start a conversation with them. If not, respond with a brief "thanks but no thanks" - it's the polite thing to do.
7. Next steps. When you find someone that you seem to connect with after a few email exchanges, ask to talk on the phone or to meet in person - doesn't have to be anything elaborate or an all day hike. Just something casual and comfortable - after all, the purpose is to get to know each other.
8. Date ideas. Tie in sports and fitness - offer to go for a run, spin, yoga class or juice/smoothie. Keep it low key so competition and potential embarrassment are not factors.
9. Have fun and enjoy the date. And remember, it's just the first date. Checking your expectations at the door takes the pressure off and will allow you to be more open to exploring all the possibilities.