So you have made the decision to begin free online dating. Then you realise the hardest work is still in front of you. There are so many free online dating sites to choose from. From the increasing proliferation of free online dating companies, some are desperate, some are laid back. Some free online dating services are polished and professional, some promise the love of a lifetime and some promise friendship. The free online dating website can be adorned with young attractive people in provocative poses, looking seductively at nothing in particular. Or they are factual, no pictures (apart from members' photos) or fancy extras to advertise free online dating. There are sites oriented towards sexual encounters, others disguise their motives with insinuations of love at first site, or instant happiness. Whatever the advertising campaign, there are a plethora of free dating sites to pick from.

So how to choose where to get free online dating? Read carefully, don't get caught out with having to enter your credit card details for such-and-such a reason if it is for free. Then, spend some time and effort into picking where you will do your online dating. It may just help you unearth a life partner or at the very least, you're trusting your online dating adventure to find you a partner for a night or three.

Be prepared to put up with advertising. As members don't pay for free online dating, the costs can sometimes be covered by advertising, and this can be in the form of pop up ads, or banner ads. If all this doesn't bother you, then it might be worth it.

Take the free online dating site homepage tour, peruse all the photos, read the descriptions, and explore all possible areas of the site itself. It may seem to offer just free online dating, but there might be plenty to browse. They could have chat rooms. If so, pop inside and see who is lounging around ready for a talk. Some free online dating sites might also contain games as well as a directory recommending other relevant and good websites. Others have search functions so you can select properties of people that you feel are required in your journey. Does the site offer a help area, with details on how to contact the support team as well as a FAQ section?