How exactly does Dating DNA work?
STEP 1 - Get YOUR Free Dating DNA Number.
Just like every person's genetic DNA is different, so to is everyone's "dating DNA." Your personal and unique Dating DNA is represented by a special 9-digit number (example: 347-129-655). This is a free service and it costs nothing to get or use your Dating DNA Number. Simply answer a series of questions about yourself and what type of person you prefer to date, and once completed, you will have your very own Dating DNA Number. Get YOUR Free Dating DNA Number.
STEP 2 - Set your "Compatibility Threshold" to determine how compatible someone must be to contact you.
How "picky" are you? When answering the questions to receive your Dating DNA Number, you will be asked to set a "Compatibility Threshold." Your Compatibility Threshold lets YOU decide and set the rules for just how selective you want to be. It is the minimum Compatibility Score you and another person must reach in order to view each other's profiles, email each other, and so on. If others try to meet you, but do not reach or exceed your Compatibility Threshold, your privacy and personal information are protected. The more selective or "picky" you wish to be, the higher you want to set your threshold. The more open you are to meeting others, even if they aren't completely compatible with you, the lower number you should set for the threshold.
STEP 3 - Use Your Dating DNA Number with others.
When you meet someone you might be interested in dating, whether online (Facebook, MySpace, Craigslist, chat rooms, etc.) or offline (at a club, work, church, etc.), simply give them your Dating DNA Number and tell them to visit www.datingdna.com. To protect your privacy, it's always better to give new people you meet your Dating DNA Number, rather than your phone number. If the other person already has a Dating DNA Number, then you can get their number from them as well. Don't forget to make it easy for others to meet you by putting your Dating DNA Number on your Facebook and MySpace pages, in your Yahoo profile, in your Craigslist postings, and so on. Dating DNA even provides fun applications, widgets and buttons to help you share your number on other sites. This allows others to see if they are compatible with you 24/7, even when you're not on your computer or out meeting others. You just never know when Mr. or Ms. Right might come along. (You can also give others your email address, as they can look up your Dating DNA # with that, but if you want to ensure your complete privacy, it's best to give them your number, rather than your email address.)
STEP 4 - Visit DatingDNA.com and get a Compatibility Score.
Either party can then visit the DatingDNA.com web site and enter in the other person's number, and within seconds, a Compatibility Score from 0 to 10 (with one decimal place) will be displayed. For example, a score of 2.4 would not be very compatible at all, a score of 6.4 would be somewhat compatible, and a score of say 8.6 would be quite compatible. Anytime a Compatibility Score analysis is done, an email is sent to both parties, letting them know that a comparison has been made and the resulting score.
STEP 5 - View the full profile of those who meet or exceed your Compatibility Thresholds.
If the Compatibility Score is too low and does not meet or exceed your Compatibility Threshold, then none of your personal data, photos or contact information is shared with the other person. However, if the score is high enough, and does meet or exceed your Compatibility Threshold, then your profile is "unlocked" to the other person. Likewise, if the score meets or exceeds their threshold, then their profile is unlocked for you to view. This will allow you to view a Compatibility Summary, so you can quickly see which areas you were or were not compatible in, as well as look at their individual answers to all the questions. You will also be able to view any photos or videos the other person has attached to their profile. By looking more deeply at the profile of those you have a high Compatibility Score with, you can decide if you wish to continue getting to know that person.
STEP 6 - Communicate and perhaps meet with those you're compatible with.
Anytime a Compatibility Score meets or exceeds the threshold for someone, the other person is then able to privately send email messages through the Dating DNA site. Your personal email address is never shared, but using Dating DNA's mail system, others who meet your threshold have a way to communicate with you. You can use Dating DNA's mail system until you become comfortable enough with someone to then share personal email addresses, phone numbers, IM account names, and so on. As your communication with others advances, you can decide if and when you would actually want to meet. (See "What safety precautions should I take when meeting someone from the Internet in person?" below.) The Dating DNA system is only intended to help you find out how compatible you are with "the basics" of someone else. You, through your own interaction, will have to determine the next level of compatibility and chemistry. However, by cutting down on the time it takes to get the basics out of the way, and not investing time in those you have little in common with, you'll have more time to get to better know those you are at least somewhat compatible with.
STEP 7. Use Your "Friends List" to keep track of those you are interested in.
Regardless of the outcome, anytime a Compatibility Score is generated between you and someone else, the other person is added to your "Friends List." Your Friends List is basically a history of everyone you've ever been matched against with Dating DNA. You use your Friends List to review the score and profile of others, but more importantly, you can also add your own rating and notes about each person. Your Friends List becomes your "little black book" of information on those you're interested in, providing you a place to keep notes of your interaction with each person. For example, suppose you score an 8.7 with someone, so you meet them in person, but you had no chemistry with them when you met. You could give this person one or two stars and make a note in your Friends List. The Compatibility Score is just the beginning. Your Friends List helps you track and keep notes on your communication with prospective matches throughout the dating process. By combining the automated Compatibility Score with your personalized interaction and record keeping in your Friends List, you have everything you need to better get to know your dating partners.
STEP 8. Tell others about Dating DNA.
If you like this free service and find it useful, we hope you'll tell others about us. As mentioned above, one of the best ways to let others know about Dating DNA, is to post your Dating DNA Number EVERYWHERE! Place it on your MySpace and Facebook pages, in your AOL, MSN and Yahoo profiles. Use it when making postings in the personals on Craigslist. Put in on a T-shirt and wear it out when you go clubbing. Put it on a business card to pass out at clubs. Put it on a bumper sticker on your car!
STEP 9. Meet other Dating DNA users directly on the site.
Once you have a Dating DNA number, you can visit your "Matches" area to find others with whom you meet or exceed their Compatibility Threshold. This is a great way to start adding several compatible people to your Friends List. Your photos and profile are never shown to anyone who doesn't meet YOUR Compatibility Threshold, and the rules YOU set.