Include A Recent Photograph If Possible Especially if website or personal ad you're responding to included a picture, it's only fair that you send one with your initial response. Not only does sending your photo make your letter more personal, it also eliminates any potential fantasy build-up on part of your new acquaintance. We all want people to say, "You're attractive!" not "I thought you would be better looking," right?

Ask Questions The one-sided conversation that develops when trading e-mails can be difficult. Most people have a hard time talking about themselves without being given a starting point. The initial contact that says, "Here's some stuff about me. If you're interested write back" can be a very challenging letter to answer. Everyone who is using Internet as a tool for meeting prospective friends and dates is not only willing to answer questions about themselves but wants to. It's way to see if you might be compatible. Make it fun and easy to write back to you and chances are you'll get a response.

Be Safe The Internet provides great ways to find other singles to communicate with. It also provides great ways to communicate safely. Never give out your telephone number or other traceable information in a first e-mail. If trading e-mails is too impersonal for your tastes, suggest one of many free chat programs available (ICQ, Yahoo Messenger) or arrange to meet in a public chat. You can take time to get to know someone online until you feel comfortable moving to next level. Of course when and if you do decide to meet someone in "real world," always keep your personal safety in mind.

Step Out Of The Bubble The level of intimacy new couples find online is all but impossible in real world. Online there are no distractions, two people are completely devoted to conversation, differences can be ignored or resolved easily and no outside forces vie for anyone's attention. But step out of that bubble and you really find out how compatible two people are (or aren't). When someone sits down to chat on computer they have time and inclination to talk. But away from computer there are so many parts of life and activities to consider. Will you want to do same things and give same amount of time and energy to a relationship? Or will you discover that one wants a bit of quality time together amid a busy life full of obligations and activities while other wants 24/7 togetherness? There is no universal time frame for how quickly a couple should step out of bubble and test their compatibility in person but it is wise for every couple to realize there is no guarantee that compatibility you feel online will be same offline. Best to keep your expectations in check until you've spent real time together in real world.

Keep It Safe You can ask all right questions, take all right precautions and still end up meeting someone in person that you do not feel comfortable with. No matter how much magic you feel online, don't put yourself at risk by taking shortcuts when it comes to your personal safety. If you truly have found someone you will have a long happy relationship with, there's no harm in delaying being alone together until you are as sure as possible that you will be safe. Always meet for first time in a public place and have your own transportation available to get to and from date. Take every precaution you would when meeting a total stranger because, even though you may have chatted online for months, when it comes to physical safety this is a first date with a stranger.

There are many more good people than bad online but be sure you have one of good ones before trusting them with your safety or your heart and you'll definitely improve odds that your relationship will work.