Years ago, we would meet potential mates at church, through newspaper classifieds, at social events, at the local pub or on blind dates.

If you are single, divorced, separated or widowed, surely you have had moments when you’ve thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice if I could share this with someone by my side?” It’s only natural to want that. Companionship — and love, if the romantic stars are aligned — matters to most people.

In 1988, a creative artist I worked with responded to a classified ad in the newspaper posted by a man looking for an engaging woman who was creative, smart and fun. He owned an up-and-coming business, and she was everything he was looking for. They met, dated, fell in love, got married and had two children a couple of years later.

Back then, no one really wanted to admit they were looking for dates that way, let alone seeking a lifetime companion. It perhaps signaled desperation, or a last chance for romance, or an inability to find a great date the “normal” way. It was a hidden pursuit shrouded in secrecy because of a cultural stigma attached to it.

About a dozen years ago, the daughter of my karate master announced she was getting married to a Marine she had met on an online dating site. She herself was a fourth-degree black belt who kicked my butt many times, but she also was very attractive, accomplished and mature at 24.

Until then, I had never heard of online dating.

I didn’t really think about it again until about four years ago, when I was in a personal transition. I got divorced after 22 years of marriage and two 20ish-year-old children. I didn’t feel comfortable or ready to start dating right away. I needed to feel single again — to be moving forward in my life, not looking back and carrying a ton of emotional baggage. No one wants to hear about your past personal issues while on a date.

Six months of singlehood later, I thought I was ready to date again. I wanted to meet women and have fun, perhaps have a serious relationship, but definitely without marriage in mind. So I turned to the internet, where a variety of sites offer to connect you with your perfect match. Each asks what you’re looking for in a relationship, as well as other questions about you and your interests.

I knew it was unlikely that a good-looking, educated, compassionate woman who loved music, the arts, nature, travel and wine would just happen to come knocking at my front door to introduce herself. I tried to keep my expectations reasonable.

When I found someone on a dating site who was attractive and articulate in her profile, and showed a few flashes of off-the-wall humor, I would reach out to her with a brief, interesting message. We would write back and forth via the dating site, then exchange email addresses, then phone numbers and then schedule a first date. This process could take a week or a month. There is no surefire step-by-step manual for online dating.

Over a year or so, I dated about a dozen women, plus another 10 or so I spoke with but didn’t date. About half were one-and-done dates, three or four were two dates, and one or two lasted for three dates. Then I met my eventual girlfriend of nearly three years on match.com and we moved in together last month. There were no real surprises when these women and I met in person; they all pretty much matched the profile they presented online. A successful date really came down to chemistry, and whether I wanted to see her a second time.

During this time, I encouraged my widowed sister, who was in her mid-60s, to at least consider communicating with a man online. After many months of indecision, she finally signed up with match.com, but only to view pictures and profiles. Then she took the plunge. No responses. Her married daughter helped her rewrite her profile and select different profile pictures. It worked; she met a man and they’ve been together for nearly two years.

Reluctance to indulge keeps wannabes away from romantic possibilities; jump in when you’re ready and join the nearly 40 million people who are actively scrolling through profiles on their phones or their computers. More men than women do it, and most report that common interests are the most important aspect in dating (“travel” is the most commonly used word), followed by “physical characteristics” as a distant second, according to Statistic Brain Research Institute. Most women prefer a “nice guy,” and most men are looking for a “modern career girl.”

On personal profiles, men lie most about their age, height and income. Women fib most about their weight, physical build and age. Eighty-one percent report they fudge the truth on something.

Some dating sites are free, like OK Cupid and Tinder. Others charge a monthly fee for membership. Some users subscribe to several sites simultaneously. Overall, the online dating industry generates more than $1.8 billion annually.

The most popular site among men and women ages 25 and older is match.com, which has more than 24 million members. Other popular sites are zoosk.com, for younger singles; ourtime.com, for mature singles; eharmony.com, for those 25 and older; and elitesingles.com, for single professionals. Group-specific sites attract blacks, gays, lesbians, Jews, Christians, farmers, single parents, geeks, singles with food allergies, men looking to cheat on their wives (think Ashley Madison) and many others.

When I first went online, I was looking for emotional fulfillment that my marriage lacked for many years. I did little research and signed up with a site that turned out to be a disaster. I was overwhelmed with responses, every one of them scammers from Ghana, Nigeria and Russia. Numerous red flags appeared: form letters professing love after two days, then pleas for money for her mother’s health issues, internet connection service, food, clothing, passport credentials. These scammers download photos of porn stars and celebrities and post them as their own. Watch out: They play on your sympathy.

Here is some online dating advice:

When messaging with potential matches, don’t give out personal information that isn’t already in your online profile.

Make sure your photos are recent and pose naturally. Show your face, and don’t wear sunglasses.

Be honest and specific in your profile. Express your interests in detail.

Answer messages quickly if interested.

Be reasonable with your geographic search area (within 25 miles, for instance).

Never do anything you’re not comfortable doing; trust your instincts.

Never give money to someone you haven’t met.

Always meet in a public place on your first date. Do not let your date pick you up at home.

Meet during daylight hours for lunch, coffee, a walk or a glass of wine in the late afternoon.

If you’re ready for the first kiss, you’ll know.

Some dates are purely to meet and talk. Other suitors might have an agenda unbeknownst to you: money, emotional security, sex, marriage. Be clear about your expectations (and your date’s).

Take a deep breath, calm your nerves and just go for it.

First date suggestions

Looking for a little romance or companionship in your life? Find a date online or via an app.

Single adults are out there. On Hilton Head Island itself, there are 11,914 of them —17.2 percent of them have never been married, 5.3 percent are divorced, 3.3 percent are separated, and 2.1 percent are widowed, according to Point2Homes.

Here are a few suggestions for a casually cool first date:

Meet at Hudson’s Seafood House On the Docks on the north end, sit outside on the deck at water’s edge, and experience the casual Skull Creek vibe in the late afternoon. If you can’t relax and have fun with your date at this island favorite, see your doctor!

Reserve two seats aboard the 53-foot Pau Hana catamaran for a two-hour sunset sail. Spot the dolphins and great blue herons in Calibogue Sound and the Intercoastal Waterway from its Palmetto Bay Marina launch site.

Head to historic Honey Horn for its Art Market on May 1 to find original artwork and jewelry presented by more than 90 artists nationwide. Or just wander through the Coastal Discovery Museum’s galleries and walk its splendid grounds and gardens with piers jutting into Jarvis Creek.

Starbucks

Make an appointment at The Bike Doctor at one of two locations on the island, rent two bikes and set off on any one of the 7,846 bike trails and six miles of bike lanes. Stop often and just smile at each other.

Jake the Salty Dog is calling from South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. Grab a light bite at the café, The Wreck of the Salty Dog or Lands End Tavern, lick an ice cream cone, shop, listen to live music, and watch the pelicans sitting dockside. Hope you like people — lots of them.

Venture to the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island and find a seat at Bayley’s Bar and Terrace or Seacrest Terrace and Patio for light and lively afternoon refreshments, tasty snacks, sweets and unbeatable ambiance. Then stroll the lush grounds onward to the beach.

Also consider: Sitting outside at the Rooftop Bar at Poseidon restaurant at Shelter Cove Towne Centre, sipping a rum punch with a side dish of sashimi and watching the sun go down along Broad Creek. Taking in the beautiful Hampton Lake views at Backwater Bill’s in Bluffton while munching on Lowcountry-style fried flounder bites. Wandering in and around the more than 80 gift/specialty shops, restaurants and kiosks at Hilton Head’s Coligny Plaza, then crossing the street for a stroll along the Atlantic Ocean. Browsing through the Smith Galleries at The Village at Wexford or the Pluff Mudd Art Gallery in historic downtown Bluffton for artistic inspiration and conversation. Stuffing a picnic basket full of deli goodies, salads and veggies and finding a table lakeside at Jarvis Creek Park. Heading over to the Neptune statue at Shelter Cove Harbour from 6-9 p.m. on May 19 to catch Deas Guyz perform your favorite songs for free.

The author of this article, Dean Rowland, with his girlfriend of three years. The couple first met on www.match.com .