Should I try online dating? Where can I find great online dating advice??

If you have been thinking of trying online dating, but you can't quite get up the nerve to do so; perhaps you should just jump straight in and try it.

There are lots of people - busy people, shy people, people in rural areas - who have good reasons why they don't find it easy to meet new people; and if you too want to grow your acquaintance, online dating may be the answer.

It's a way of expanding your social circle without having to brave the bar and club scene. And if you've been asking yourself 'Should I try online dating?' but you've always found excuses up to now that prevented you from trying it out; well, maybe your reasons are not as valid as you think.

It's not safe

Think about that rationally. Why should it be any less safe than a blind date or meeting someone randomly in a bar? You can spend plenty of time chatting online before you decide to meet them, so you will have learnt lots about them before you ever do meet. You can also keep your personal information private until you feel comfortable revealing it and agreeing to set up a date.

I already meet lots of people

Even if that's true, online dating can only add to it. It doesn't mean you have to stop looking for love among the people you meet in your daily life; and even if you do have your eye on a few possible dates, there's no guarantee that any of them will turn out to be Mr Right. Think of online dating as just another way to increase your chances of finding The One.

I'm too busy to date right now

You may be too busy to trawl bars or go to nightclubs, but everyone can find time to use the internet - and to meet someone they think is worth their time. If your life is really full, then online dating is a very efficient use of your precious time which could produce a very positive result. Commuting time, your lunch break and a few quiet minutes in the evening are all opportunities for browsing online profiles, and you can exchange messages from your smartphone at any time.

I'm not ready to start dating

Then try signing up to some social groups first, and get a feel for what it's like to meet people online. Remember that you can have as much or as little to do with these people as you want, so you can take things at a pace you feel comfortable with. There are plenty of social sites and forums which are aimed at friendship and shared interests rather than dating. You can make some new friends, have some fun and be ready to jump into online dating with confidence when you feel ready.

It's too expensive

Many sites allow you to sign up and browse for free, although usually you have to pay to create your own profile or respond to profiles you like. But most charges are quite reasonable, although some very specialist or exclusive sites may charge a premium. Normally you would find yourself spending less than you would on a night out. And you may find it's money far better spent too!

I'd find it difficult to trust someone I met online

Well, are you so sure that could always trust someone you met offline either? However you meet people, there is always the possibility that they will turn out to be duplicitous, irresponsible or flaky. In either case, you should trust what your instinct tells you, and if someone gives you a bad feeling or vibe, avoid them in future.

It's just for nutters and weirdos

Any reputable dating site is jealous of its reputation, and they have safeguards to weed out people who cause upset or offence to their online community. And in their own interests, most people online are vigilant about reporting inappropriate or suspicious behaviour. You shouldn't feel any less safe than you would in the street.

Only the desperate resort to online dating

Once possibly, but not these days. All sorts of people all over the world are using online dating today, and many of them are just like you. They see it as a safe way to introduce themselves to people they would never otherwise meet, and who might become great friends or even the Love of Their Life. You can find people with similar interests who enjoy the same things you do, and you get to choose the people you want to meet. What's not to like?

I'm too different/unusual/eccentric to find someone who shares my interests

If you really are a genuine one-off, then the internet is THE place to find someone who shares your originality. Not only can you include your unusual interests in your profile, but there are also dating sites online for all sorts of different cultural, spiritual, intellectual and physical interest groups. And if your niche isn't yet covered - well, start your own!

I'm too old for online dating

Not today! People of all ages find themselves single these days, and you're never too old to start again. Even people in their nineties have been motivated to surf the internet and find love online, and if they're not too old, then neither are you. Life's too short to pass up one of the best opportunities there is to find a new love.

All these excuses have been around for years, but we're in the 21st century now and online dating is mainstream. Should I try online dating? If you really do want to increase your chances of finding Mr Right, then the answer must be Yes. Whatever you reasons for not having met the right man up to now, nobody is too busy to date. So give it a go and see for yourself the opportunities it can provide that will add to your chances of finding Mr Right.

Once you've found a great man online, what are the secrets of having a great relationship?

• Well, the answer is here