You’ve been searching around your online dating site and you’ve come across a profile that really catches your interest. It could be the picture that drew you in, or perhaps it was the online profile which seemed witty, but either way you’re hoping to start a dialog with the person.

In the online dating community, all initial conversation is done via the internet. Different companies have different platforms to operate on: chat, instant messaging, and groups, but all of them include email. You don’t actually get to “talk” to someone until you’ve progressed pretty far into the relationship.

Whether you’ve just started using an online dating service or you’re an experienced pro, there is always some excitement that comes when you receive an email from someone’s who’s noticed your profile and is hoping to open a dialog with you.

The problem many of us have is that life is sometimes a bit overwhelming and we just don’t have the time to respond right away. Between work, family, social clubs, and friends, we often find our time at a premium. There just aren’t enough hours in the day for many of us.

Personal ads can get a little confusing when you’re first starting out.  I know I’ve often had a small laugh at myself trying to figure them out from time to time.  This list is by no means all inclusive, but it should give you a starting point in trying to figure them out.

Feel free to print it out and use it as a reference guide.

• A: Asian
• AL: Animal Lover
• AT: All That
• B: Black
• BBW: Big Beautiful Woman (could also mean: Big Breasted Woman)
• BD: Bondage/Domination
• BHM: Big Handsome Man

When you join an online dating site, you need to be aware that your writing skills will play the most important part of how you communicate. Almost all of the early interaction online takes place in the form of written word. You will “write” things out when you send an email or chat online.

Writing about ourselves is often the hardest thing for each of us to do. It’s difficult for most people to sell themselves. People are generally too modest and it’s difficult for them to highlight their personality traits. It’s much easier to talk about others than about ourselves.