Log On For Love

Singles are looking away from traditional settings like the office, a class, or even a bar in their quest for love, and instead heading online.

According to a study from the Online Publishers Association published in March 2005, Americans spent $469.5 million on online personals and/or online dating in 2004, a 4% percent increase from 2003.

And with the increase in spending on this relatively new medium comes a bevy of new options.  There are hundreds of online dating sites available to those looking for love on the Internet.  Some are area specific like BostonDatingNetwork.com while others cater to a nationwide, or even worldwide, market.

But with so many choices, how can people decide which site is right for them?

Here’s a look at a few of the Web’s most popular dating sites and what sets them apart from the rest:

eHarmony.com: This site is different because of its patented Compatibility Matching System.  This system searches the site’s millions of members and selects only those that considered to be compatible with a user. eHarmony.com claims it's the only dating site that creates matches according to its 29 Dimensions of Compatibility which are “scientifically proven to predict happier, healthier relationships”.

OkCupid.com: This site's unique functionality allows users to come up with their own questions that they want perspective matches to answer.  Users are also able to choose which questions have the most importance with a prioritization system.  Then based on mathematical algorithms, the site is able to match users with potentially compatible partners.   Co-founder and CEO, Sam Yagan says, “In many ways, OkCupid.com combines the best of social networking with the best of online dating.”