Your independent guide to the best dating sites, singles and personal ads sites.
eHarmony
eHarmony
is not your typical online dating service where visitors have to fill out
a personality profile with information about interests, past history and their
preferred characteristics of their perfect partner. eHarmony
has figured out that with most online dating services, the photograph is often
the most important--if not the only--part of the screening process. eHarmony
differs from online dating services in that it match you with someone who
is compatible not just on the surface, but also in emotional ways which really
make a relationship work. eHarmony
uses proven matching technology based on research done by Dr. Neil Clark Warren
that helps singles find the right person. The eHarmony
online dating service aims at finding you a serious relationship which could
grow into much more.
eHarmony has stated that consumers spent $313 million in as early as 2003
on U.S.-based dating Web sites alone. Due to their unique approach to matching,
eHarmony has become the Internet's fastest growing online dating service.
The company that once claimed four million registered users has no doubt grown
larger in recent years. The proposition that more Internet users are beginning
to use online dating services like eHarmony is not hard to believe. It seems
that everyone knows someone who has met and eventually married someone via
an online dating service, whether eHarmony, Singlesengland.com or another.
eHarmony.com isn't a visual pick-em-as-you-see-them buffet like most other
dating sites. When you sign up on eHarmony.com , you must complete an in-depth
personality survey that literally takes about an hour or so to finish. The
survey delves into hundreds of these "dimensions" then uses your
responses to cross match you with other eHarmony.com members. You are then
presented only with profiles of other members who are highly compatible to
you.
The interesting thing about forcing members to do a detailed analysis of themselves up front is that it weeds out a lot of people. For example, men only looking for a quick one-night stand are highly unlikely to sign up on eHarmony.com since the focus is more relationship-oriented versus a visual free-for-all. And some men just don't like analyzing their inner self. Thus, eHarmony.com accomplishes something that virtually no other dating site has: there are twice as many women on eHarmony than there are men.
On most dating sites, the ratio of men to women is 70-30. Yet on eHarmony.com , the ladies outnumber the gentlemen. So men who are serious about finding a meaningful relationship may only need to visit eHarmony.com . And the good thing for women is that they know that the men on eHarmony.com know how to use their right brain since they went through the process of analyzing themselves in detail by taking the same personality profile required of all members.
The way eHarmony.com works is that after you sign up and fill out the in-depth personality profile, you are presented with new matches on a regular basis. These are people that are supposed to be "highly compatible" with you based on scientific relationship research. It cross matches based on dozens of dimensions including 29 "vital" dimensions that deal in the area of emotional health, family values, personality, and character.
To date, I have met two people in person from eHarmony.com and I have communicated with several others. While both of those meetings were extremely pleasant, neither went beyond the first date. Yet out of the three people I've met in person from other services, all three ended up in very good and healthy relationships.
Conclusion
eHarmony is a very professional well functioning Dating Site with a unique approach. If you are seeking a safe online dating experience where you know that the other members are serious enough to be paying high fees to communicate with you it might be worth the trouble and expense. eHarmony is specifically designed for people looking for long term relationships, it isn't for those seeking flirts and casual dating. eHarmony often offers special eHarmony promotions and eHarmony Promotional codes with special discounts on membership.
Personally I found the whole process time consuming, but very thorough. It is best to answer the questions honestly, give yourself time and answer honestly. You never know an extra half hour might lead to you finding the partner of your dreams! Take a look on the eHarmony web site, you will be surprised by their successes stories. If its a straight matchmaking site your looking for eHarmony is for you.
The same method is used at http://www.singlesengland.com where they match and you mingle