Nova's Notes

Sometimes it's tough not to get caught up in the over- commercialized Hallmark holidays like Valentine's Day. Couples may feel obligated to be a little extra gushy than normal, and singles everywhere reflect on how single they are. For those who are looking for love or even to simply meet someone outside of their regular bubble of interactions, online dating has become an immensely effective tool in connecting people and expanding social horizons.

According to Experian Hitwise (a website traffic researching company), there were over 593 million visits to online dating websites in October of 2011. It is no longer taboo to use these resources, and I think it can be a really profound way to connect with people. Dating websites give you the ability to interact socially with people who actually share common interests and ideals with you, as opposed to being limited to knowing people you may just run into on the street due to proximity.

There are also millions of success stories out there. According to Match.com, 1 out of 6 couples that married in the last three years met online. I, myself, am a success story having met my long-term boyfriend, Brian, through a dating site.

After a few months of talking online and over the phone, we met in person, then after just a few amazing dates we fell in love. By getting to know each other online first, we knew we would just "click," and we did. A few months later we moved to Austin together, and have been happily cohabiting and planning our lives together ever since.

But before you jump right into the online dating pool, there are a few things you should remember: Don't focus on appearance, and read into their character instead; remember that many people lie on their profiles; be honest about yourself and with yourself about what you want in a partner.

I made up my own quiz to put on my dating profile, and it had quirky questions which were somewhat related to my personality. Some were true-false, some multiple choice and some required any interested individuals to write their own answer. The right or wrong answers may not matter, but what will is your reaction to their answers. Brian said having this self-made quiz on my profile also made me seem much more approachable. He said it was a great way to break the ice since he felt a little intimidated by me and was at a loss for words.

One of my queries was multiple-choice, asking which date of the list was their favorite. The given answers were A. dinner and a movie B. coffee and an art gallery and C. beer and a concert. Brian wrote in his own answer — let's fly kites — and that just melted my heart. As for the date itself, I swept him off his feet when I brought kites I had made for us from scratch, even though they barely ever left the ground. He still keeps my beat-up, flightless arts-and-crafts projects as mementos of our early love.

Another great tool for sorting through potential dates online is to make a list of must-haves and must-not-haves. If you're honest with yourself about what you need in a partner, then your dating choices will suit your personality much better in the long run. Brian and I agree that if we didn't see eye-to-eye on so many fundamental levels that we wouldn't be as attracted to each other as we are. Dating websites such as OkCupid match you up with others' views by percentage of compatibility, by way of answering several questions. These numbers can be pretty spot-on considering Brian and I matched at a whopping 91 percent. That 9 percent difference is what makes him not the same exact person as me, and I love him all the more for it.

One of the main problems associated with online dating is the potential for users to lie about themselves to some capacity. Although people may lie about themselves in real life, it is much easier to lie online. Be aware of this issue, but don't let it ruin your overall experience.

If you take these basic bits of advice on online interactions into consideration, it can drastically change your dating experiences for the better. So get out there and do something about your singularity... if you want to, that is.