Find someone awesome before summer's over. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images The summer can be a great time to start a new relationship.

Maybe it's that lingering "school's out" mentality that makes us feel young and carefree. Or, hey, maybe it's that people look better when they aren't bundled up in an oversized turtleneck sweater.

Dating site Match told Business Insider that July tends to be one of its busiest months. Match's chief scientific adviser, Helen Fisher, said that might be because summertime is the mating season in many species — and even though humans breed all year long, "increasing light does give us a sunny personality and more energy and optimism — all of which could increase our sexuality.”

If you're thinking about joining a dating site in the near future, and if you're somewhat terrified by the prospect of wading through thousands of nearby matches in the hopes of finding someone decent (who thinks you're decent, too), we've got you covered.

Below, we've rounded up some of the most practical online-dating advice we've published in the last year. Read on to learn the tricks of the trade — and the biggest mistakes to avoid.