With so many people testing the waters of online dating it can be difficult even for the most outgoing people to find ways of getting noticed. It is important to remember that while some of the sparkling personality traits that people admire in person can help to get you noticed, those traits will not always stand out as well on the page.

So how does a person get noticed online when so many people are out there? It's not easy and it will take a little effort on your part as well as some creativity; don't be intimidated by the numbers this is something anyone can do regardless of artistic level or experience.

The first step is to decide what you are looking for; one that is often neglected in many online standing out guides because it isn't flashy and it takes some real thinking. Who you want to appeal to when advertising yourself is extremely important (as any advertising exec can tell you). If you hope simply to flirt and have a good time and don't mind flashing a bit of skin, photos and video essays may be the very key to your online presence; if however you hope to find a life partner then you may want to take a completely different approach. Know your audience and you will already have the first key needed to cross that line between dull and dazzling.

Once you have decided upon the type of audience you hope to appeal to you need to map out what kind of response you hope to get. Is it your desire to be flooded with a mass a responses, or are you trying to be selective? Once again much of the advice out there will simply tell you to be bold in order to get noticed, but if you have a particular type of person in mind this will often be a complete waste of your time. Trying to weed through a stuffed email box is not exactly the most exciting way to find your mate, while at the same time making your mark too specific might leave you disappointed.

After narrowing down what kind of people you are hoping to reach and for what purpose you can begin sketching out what about yourself you would like to advertise. Because there are so many unique individuals in the online dating pool we have narrowed this down to two categories:

Fun and Flirty:

There are many people in the online dating circuit who are looking for fun and excitement and hope to find individuals who feel the same way. While not all the sites that revolve around these interest are about sex many of them will include photos that show a little (or a lot of) skin.

?The Shot: One of the most common advisements for standing out on these sights is to include a sexy photo; you and about a thousand other people have the same idea in mind. In order to really get noticed you may need to do a little planning and set up a good place to take the picture or video. Rather than simply focusing on trying to be sexy include your own interests in the shot. Whether it be sports teams; collectables or music preferences go ahead and be a little extreme with your background and costume and remember this is for fun. People who set up a striking and colorful image in the background while flirting with the camera stand a good chance of getting noticed and perhaps even by those who share their interests. If you can have a friend help you with your pictures or video so that you can get a second opinion about how it comes across and always review your images before posting to be sure that they are exactly what you hoped to send out. Remember that on the other end of the camera will be a person who is watching your every move, or in a still photo analyzing the details of your face; try to look your very best and take the time to play with lighting and how you're positioned before you get your final work.

?What to Say: Now that you have successfully caught the eye of a person you'll want to maintain that interest. A good way to accomplish this is by explaining what you desire from this experience; don't be afraid to be honest about our thoughts and desires, though you should always keep in mind that anyone can see what you put out there, don't post anything that you feel uncomfortable with. Discussing what qualities you find attractive and why is an excellent way to narrow down your search, but be careful not to be too specific if you are trying to cast a wide net. Remember that a good key to getting a person's attention is appealing to their sense of adventure and strong feelings; make sure to look into the camera and speak as if they were in the room with you, this can help to personalize the experience. Also keep in mind that when getting personal it is best not to mention any actual details about where you live or work simply because you cannot always be sure about who will be watching.

Though many of the more casual online dating sites do not require nearly as much of the written profile as those who focus on relationships you will probably still need to add some text about yourself and your interests. It is just as important in this portion to keep the fun and sexy side of yourself present. Though it can be difficult try to keep the writing light and funny and let the other person know what you hope to achieve through meeting them. If your profile does take a more serious turn keep in mind that your target may lose interest because you are not aiming at a serious relationship. If you so choose to become extremely explicit with your written fantasies, just keep in mind that anyone can read them.

?Sexy with Style: Many people hope to create an image that will shock people into checking them out by using very graphic photos or videos; remember that shock value does not last and that whatever image you send out, there are probably many more just like it. Flirting online is not necessarily about flashing parts of your body to get attention; a good key is to know which parts of your body to highlight and how they look on camera; being sure to have the right background; lighting and even music can change a trashy picture into one that inspires a much deeper kind of physical admiration. Nudity doesn't shock many online viewers anymore because the market is so saturated with it; be more creative and you'll often find that you gain more interest. Remember that while being sexy is a good way to get noticed it takes something a little more interesting to keep that attention.

Love and Romance:

?The Shot: Some of the same rules apply to a photo in this category as in the previous with a few exceptions; generally too much skin might gain interest, but for many will attach an immediate idea to your profile: you are not serious. Though this might not be the case it is better to focus on looking your best without letting your photo border on pornographic. As in the previous category the images behind and around you can send out a strong message about what kind of person you are; many people neglect the details in their photos and videos and it becomes their undoing however attractively they appear. For example: a beautiful woman is pictured in her profile with an online dating site; she gains the interest of a person who is very well suited to her; in the photo she is smiling and looks very striking, but has neglected to throw away the fast food bag on the table behind her. Why is this so important you may ask? Simply because it sends out a distinct set of possible messages that the woman may have had no intention of sending. Is she a slob? Does she often leave trash lying around? How serious can she be about dating if she couldn't throw out a trash bag? Does she want to show others that she eats fast food? Is she perhaps advertising for this company? As ridiculous as it may seem, when sending out a photo that can be viewed by millions of people it is important to be sure that you're sending out the right message. Though many people might look at the same images and feel differently about them, some provoke fairly common responses and can therefore be trusted to present a certain kind of message.

Once you have the lighting and background down and you have made certain that you look your best it's time to make sure that the camera is getting you in the same way. Play with different styles of lighting, even colored lights can be used in video to present a more striking image. If you hope to gain the attention of those who share your own interests, represent them if you are able to in the photo so that people will immediately be able to connect with you.

?What to Say: While an excellent picture will get you noticed a caption or tagline can be just as effective. Be sure that whatever you choose to say that it stands out because it best represents you. Using a common phrase, joke or line is often a good way to be overlooked. Instead try to use your personality to get noticed and choose your words carefully; try not to be generic in your statement. When writing your profile be sure to be honest while still advertising your best qualities. Out and out lying is strongly warned against because you are seeking something that will last and may eventually have to admit your deceit. Though your essay is of a more serious nature than those from the previous category it is important not to drone on and on when describing yourself or you may lose the interest of potential dates. Be sure to highlight the aspects of your personality which you are most proud of and while admitting to flaws may be tempting try to keep any writing of this nature to a minimum.

Remember that while you may pour your heart into your essay that many people will be skimming for highlights. Be sure that you use backgrounds and colors that are easy to read and that anything you want to especially stand out does so, on the page.

?Be Yourself: Yes it's true, you are a unique person and this should be advertised to others so that you can find a good match. Share your favorite things to do including activates and hobbies so that others might compare yours with their own. Don't forget to represent issues and ideas that you feel strongly about; not only will this deter those who strongly disagree (which is probably for the best,) but allows those who find your point of view interesting to notice you.

If you keep in mind that generic is the enemy and playing to your strength is often the key you will be likely to enjoy great success in catching the attention of other singles online. Simply taking it one step at time and making sure to observe the photos, videos and profiles of others so that you can see what you believe works and what does not can help you a great deal in navigating the system. Remember that online dating, regardless of your intentions, is designed to help unite you with others; just be sure that you know who you are hoping to meet and design your profiles and pictures to catch the eye of people who interest you.