SeniorMatch

If you feel uncomfortable wading through the questionable content of other dating sites you may find SeniorMatch is both a safer and a friendlier venue. At least that's the idea!

It has an easy-to-use layout and community features such as blogs and online forums for the discussion of topics relevant to the 45+ crowd. This makes the site both fun and informative. It's one of SuccessfulMatch's sites.

Creating your Profile

All profile content is vetted before going live. This does mean the community is not as big as those on other sites, but the quality is a tad better.

Signing up is a two step process. You start from the homepage and enter some basic details about yourself including a contact email and telephone number. You must be over 45 to join.

You'll have the choice to upload a photo or skip that till later. You can edit the details on your profile at any time. If you go to the profile section you'll see it is divided into two parts. The first is where you enter a written description about yourself and add a catchy headline.

The remaining sections pertain to appearance, lifestyle, your personality and what kind of relationship you want. Although you can leave these blank it's a good idea to fill them in.

When other people search, the only way they'll be able to find you is from the information you've added here. Completed profiles with photos are far more likely to get responses.

Upgrades

You won't be able to send email to anyone until you upgrade (unless they happen to be a paying member). Advanced search is also restricted to paying members meaning that you will have to trawl through inactive, and photo-less profiles.

Similarly, the useful reverse match and compatibility match, which help you locate people who you might click with, are only accessible once you pay out.

If you opt for the Gold membership you'll be immediately granted full access and unlimited email and chat privileges. Gold members also appear higher in searches and have a host of other benefits such as priority support and full access to Instant Messaging.

In Brief

Seniormatch, though small, is a reputable dating community that has been mentioned by media outlets such as the Huntsville, Alabama newspaper and Contra Costa Times in 2006.

It has proven to be a valuable source of information and advice for this part of the population. You can also use the website to keep track of friends and acquaintances worldwide.