Finding Love On The Web

NEW YORK (CBS) More than 45 million Americans logged onto Internet dating services in May alone. With so many singles surfing the web to look for love how can you make sure you stand out from the crowd? CBS 2’s Kirstin Cole reports.

After dabbling unsuccessfully in online personals, single mom Audrey Kaufman has turned to The Love Coach for help. For $100 a session Love Coach Robin Gorman Newman is helping Audrey find her dream date, online.

"I try to empower them to get them to think positively and to break out of ruts,” says Newman.

“Robin is going to look at my profile and she's going to help me make changes,” adds Kaufman.

Making a love connection could be as easy as point and click, but so many online daters get lost in the shuffle, says Newman, because they don't understand the do's and don'ts of the online dating game, “It's all so overwhelming, there are so many websites you have to write a profile of yourself, you have to post a picture, where do you start if you are a novice, and that's where I come in.”

One of the biggest mistakes, Newman says, is writing a profile that lacks pizzazz. Ultimately, she explains to Kaufman, think of this as a personal resume, try to accentuate the positives, “Don't write that novel, don't pour your guts out.”
Instead Newman advises Kaufman to be specific, "I like rock music," too broad, try stating the name of the band you just saw, "I'm fun-loving," overused, try describing your specific likes and dislikes.

Mistake number two, when you make online contact limit the email exchange, getting to know all before the big date can create unrealistic expectations, “People tend to form bonds because of all the email that is exchanged and I've seen a lot of people that have dates that just go bust because they're in love before they even get together.”

Mistake number three, your picture really is worth a thousand words so don't post blurry washed out photos. Try hiring a professional and put your best face forward

”A photograph projects who you are in a lot of ways, especially a good photograph, it can bring out your personality. A bad photograph can make you look uninteresting and dull,” says photographer of Mindy Stricke of SingleShots.

For about $100 Stricke will take your portrait specificlally for online personals. Part photographer, part therapist, Stricke says she advises clients like 32-year-old Nancy Lawlor, “I'm kind of a virgin in this area, I have no idea what I'm getting myself into which can be exciting.”

So is it possible to turn a virtual date into a soul mate? Yes says Newman. She helped Kaufman pick a site better suited to her style and rewrote her profile. Now with a little patience and a positive attitude Newman says she too could have love at first byte, “I've had clients get married who met that way, it's fabulous.“