Dating Site Review
American Singles
Names can be deceiving. Take my name, for instance…
My name is Robin. In the UK or in most places in the world, Robin is a guy’s name. Ever heard of Robin Hood? Right! But nooo… in the US, when people hear the name Robin, they automatically assume it’s a girl!
I had the same misconception when I came upon AmericanSingles.com. The name would imply that the service is aimed towards Americans only – maybe that was the case when they started out – but the site actually has members in over 200 countries. Still, the bulk of the members on AmericanSingles are American.
Looking for a Soul mate
The main aim of AmericanSingles is to have their members meet their soul mate. The site states that they help their members find a date, friend, partner, pen pals… you name it. However, when you read the Success Stories (also called Happy Endings), it looks like the majority of the people on the site are looking for a partner. And since AmericanSingles has a membership base running in the millions, there will always be someone that kinda tickles your fancy.
Being a Member
I am a big believer in doing my own research before giving my opinion, so I became a free member (yes, I made sure my profile cannot be seen. Research purposes only!). I found out that, to do enroll properly, you will need to spend some time doing it, more than I have seen up till now.
Don’t think you can change your settings later! Yes, you can, but will you really? My experience is that most people hardly look at their profile after it has been made. If you want to have decent results, make sure your profile is complete and compelling.
My first advice is to check out the initial page of the AmericanSingles.com application form before you start filling in the fields. There are a couple of open text fields (describe yourself and describe your perfect partner) that have to be filled before you can continue. Okay, these can be changed later on, but I would recommend you take your time writing a decent piece before rushing to become a member and you forget all about it.
The next page in the procedure lets you expand on your own profile and what you are looking for. What food do you like (don’t worry, there is a huge list of possibilities you can select from), what do you do in your spare time, and lots more of those questions.
The last page lets you add pictures to your profile. If you do so, and I can definitely recommend doing that, make sure the pictures are of good quality. Don’t spoil your profile – and your chances – by posting a webcam blurry picture! A good photo goes a long way to get you a good date.
The Member Area
After becoming a member, you are being taken to the member area. You can make changes to your profile here (the Profile & Photos section), or start searching for a prospective date.
The member area is workable and powerful, but I have seen clearer environments. The main menu is on top, the subcategories you find at the left of the screen. I would rather see the whole menu on the left with expandable categories, just to be consistent. The interface however contains everything you need.
What I like is the Your Hot Lists part of the screen on the Your Home page (when you log in, you will get to that page automatically). This extensive list shows you how many people flirted with you, mailed with, etcetera. Very nice!
I did not care so much for the way the search results are presented. Pictures are shown next to each other, what - with the advertising at the sides of the window - makes for a very full screen. You can change the layout to list format, but that is not much better. I guess this is a matter of preference, but it is not mine.
Being a Paying Member
The free membership option is quite limiting; you can flirt a bit and use Click! (AS’s way of winking at the matches you’re interested in), but that’s about it! If you really want to have a decent dating experience, you will need to become a member.
Now, my opinion – and I stated this before – is that if you are really serious about dating, it is worth the cost of becoming a member. Being a cheapskate does not get you far!
When you take the plunge and become a paying member, a new world opens. All of a sudden you can:
- send and receive emails
- use instant messaging
- chat using video
- post and reply on the message boards
- engage in chat rooms
- personalize e-cards
The fact that you can send and receive emails is already enough to make the membership fee worth it. No email, no chances of getting a date! Believe me!
My Verdict…
I went through most of the AmericanSingles.com website and liked what I saw. Being a bit of a control freak, I would like to see a better navigational system and an interface that is a bit easier on the eye. But that’s about it! AmericanSingles is a matchmaking dating service that is worth your attention when you are seriously looking for a soul mate! |
