You’ve heard the stories of soulmates finding each other online. Maybe you’ve never tried online dating yourself, but now you feel ready to try it out in hopes that your love life will fare the same way. Or possibly, you have just ventured into the online dating world and have gotten some pretty poor results so far.

It’s important to understand that many of the same rules in dating don’t necessarily apply within the virtual realm. There are so many advantages to online dating, like having control over the way you present yourself to potential matches, but you can only experience them if you understand the nuances of using online dating apps.

Here are a few no-fail tips to get you on your way to meeting your soulmate.

Put Your Authentic Self Forward

Faking the funk will get you nowhere. You will be found out and will soon regret the time that you wasted creating a bogus online persona. People are also using services like MyLife.com, to learn the truth about their online matches. MyLife has over 325 verified Reputation Profiles, so they probably have yours. If you want real results, get real with yourself first. Be upfront about who you are, what you like, what you aren’t looking for, and who you would like to pair with. This might sound like a bit much at first, but you don’t want to waste your time with people who you know you wouldn’t be interested in down the road. By being transparent, the odds of you finding compatibility will be much higher. 

Let Your Personality Shine Through Your Profile Picture

Online dating gives you the unique ability to allow people to view you in your best light, so take full advantage of it. Your profile picture is a good place to start because it is the first thing that people see as they scroll through their profile. Show off your best features. Play with different angles. Showcase yourself doing something that you are passionate about. However, make sure that your main picture is of you. Though you may love your friends, people might not want to look through a group picture to try to find which one you are.

Be Confident

Not everyone will be into you, and that’s okay. Rejection is just another part of the game, nothing to take too personally. If someone ignores you or is super inconsistent early on in the game, ditch them and move along. There are plenty of fish in this sea, and online dating makes them easier to find.

Never Be Too Trusting

While the most impressive bachelors and bachelorettes have online dating profiles, so do the romance scammers and cybercriminals. Don’t let this scare you away from online dating. Instead, use this information to your advantage and heed all red flags, block anyone who comes off as suspicious or makes you feel uncomfortable, and never give out your address until you have met them at least a few times in a public place.

But before you even make face-to-face contact, do your due diligence, and figure out exactly who you are meeting. Again, websites like MyLife.com can make it easier for you to connect with others in a safe manner as they offer information, as well as a reputation report system, that could help you determine whether or not your new love interest is trustworthy. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Though the dating world is intense, online dating makes it a little less rocky as long as you know the tricks of the trade. Try not to take yourself too seriously. Have fun. Put yourself out there. But above all else, stay safe.