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We’re more digitally enabled and culturally transparent about casual sex than ever before, yet actually finding casual sex partners still seems like the illusive Holy Grail of online dating sites .

Sure, you know where to go when looking for a no-strings attached interaction – the likes of Adult Friend Finder, GetItON, Passion, and more – but simply logging onto one of these self-proclaimed hookup sites hardly ensures your sexual needs will be met.

As frustrating as it may be, the irony can’t be ignored: You’re seeking nothing more than a straightforward, hassle-free sexual engagement, yet getting such an arrangement is the biggest tease of all.

It’s not that there aren’t interested parties. In fact, millions of attractive, diverse, interested singles are on hookup sites at this very moment, but simply putting up a profile and browsing aren’t enough. You still have to interact, show interest, exchange information, and participate in a conversation or – as some might see it – a game in which the rules and etiquette are far from clear.

Furthermore, thanks to the pseudo invisibility cloak people often put on when interacting through digital screens, users are much more likely to feel comfortable signalling interest in casual encounters online, even if they don’t actually plan to follow through with the act.

Some members may be testing the waters, experimenting with something they see as ‘taboo’. Many others are undoubtedly just letting off steam, perhaps as a result of a sexually-frustrating relationship or other unfortunate mishap. And of course, there are always those who ‘say’ via their actions or even words that they want something laid back, but secretly want something much more intimate.

Finding Casual Sex Partners

The result is an array of online members congregating on different hookup sites, trying to communicate amidst mixed emotions, uncertainty, and more than a little hesitation.

For the rest of the pack, those who claim they want a casual relationship and do indeed intend to act on their claim, the road from winking face to physical contact is paved with confusion. There’s an unmistakable disconnect between finding what you want online and actually getting it in person – the online to offline dating conundrum – that unfortunately doesn’t get any easier even if you’re on self-proclaimed ‘easy’ dating sites.

Deterred? Don’t be. The lack of clear rules and social norms associated with finding casual sex partners online gives those who know how to use it a massive upper hand. No, it’s not manipulative, you’re clearly on a hookup site, after all. And it’s not rocket science, either. It’s purely a no-nonsense system to help you get the most out of online hookup sites. Here’s how it works:

1. Get An Identity

Essentially, your profile is the sole slice of space you get within a huge hookup site to advertise yourself, elude to your interests and, at the end of the day, prove your worth. As such, it should be created with one thing in mind: To intrigue and entice readers to want to know (you) more.

The trick to creating a profile for finding casual sex partners online is really to think like a marketer. Highlight your best features with your descriptions and answers, and keep in mind the simple fact that online, you can only really appeal to one sense: the visual. You need to make a good first impression.