While online dating used to be met with a raised brow, it is no longer the case with the massive influx of dating apps like Tinder, OKCupid, Coffee Meets Bagel … the list goes on.

You no longer have to lie about how you met. In fact, when people reveal that they met their partners through a digital middleman, friends will be naturally inclined to jump on the bandwagon. According to art director, Eugene Ho, who met his wife online, three of his friends subsequently found and married their soulmates from dating sites.

It's fun and interesting to see and meet hundreds of different characters out there, but Ho warns that it's not for everyone, especially those who are too cynical and private about sharing details online."You need to have an open mind and know that there will always be hits and misses," he adds.

Online dating can be a difficult terrain to navigate, what with deciding how to present yourself well and filtering out the riff-raffs. Here's a checklist of useful tips provided by four couples who made it to the finishing (off)line.

Do post recent photos

A recent well-taken photo of yourself with a warm smile will definitely get you lots of hits. "A photo speaks volumes about what kind of person you are. I don't recommend cheesy poses or skimpy outfits. You're looking for a partner, not trying to scare them away or make them throw up," laughs Ho.

Don't be a cliché

Let your personality shine through with a unique and witty paragraph. Just be yourself, advises teacher, Siti Jabbar. "A detailed introduction could make your profile more attractive." Try to avoid pretentious quotes and typical stereotypes like "having wanderlust".

Do be discerning

It's hard to distinguish sincere people from unsavoury characters, but with a little bit of trial-and-error, you'll be more savvy. The fakes will tell you what they think you want to hear, or they will talk about sex from the get-go, says Gina Sebastian. If the person was only free to chat at certain times of the day and secretive about their social media profiles, you might have to wonder if they could be attached or married, warns Jabbar.

Don't be Mr or Miss Boring

If you're lucky enough to get a match, don't turn them off with mundane questions. "Be relevant and a little more creative. Try not to kick off the conversation by asking where they work or what they do. Instead, ask about the photo he or she posted or even the nickname they adopted," advises Ho. Interesting questions can leave an impression and set you apart from the flock.

Do have fun

Keep an open mind! If the date doesn't work out, you walk away with a new acquaintance or friend, and a fun story to share. "I was cynical at first but I took my chances with the intent to just get to know people and make friends. You observe and you fine tune to make each encounter better," shares Eugene.

Don't be superficial

Although we stress the importance of a well-taken and appropriate photo, don't let appearances turn you away from a potential match. Good looks never last and ultimately it's a good personality that matters. "I didn't think much of Doug's profile picture, but I didn't want to judge a book by its cover. I thought if it didn't work out we would still be friends," confesses university academic, Sebastian.

Do practice online and offline safety

As much as you think you know your match, always practice safety precautions when you're chatting online. Don't disclose too much details, take as much time as you need before deciding to meet up, and don't give out your contact too early. "My personal rule was to e-talk for a while, and then talk on the phone, even before considering to meet up," says Sebastian. She always made it a point to only meet in public places in the day.

Don't give up

You've been warned: Finding The One takes time and lots of patience. Scrolling through a dozen faces can be tedious. Most times it's just repetitive thumb work finding that one little thing that would fit in the mould of your ideal choice, laments Ho. "You need to log in often to check the profiles and send out requests. It's exciting at first but it can get tiresome and disappointing when you get continual rejections or people don't respond to your messages," adds Sebastian.