How to Find Pen Pals Online

Having a pen pal is a great way to find out more about a different part of the country, or even the world. Take the time to write to a new friend and see what you will learn.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Scanners
• Internet Access
• E-mail Accounts
• Postage Stamps
• Envelopes
• Personalized Stationery
• Writing Pens
• Computers

1. Do a search for a combination of words like "pen pal", "find" and "write".

2. Try using several different search engines to see what types of things you find.

3. Visit some of the sites that come up.

4. Look for those sites that seem to meet your goals, whether it is to find a friend across the world or to develop a romance in the next state.

5. Find services that are geared to your age, whether you are a student, a parent or a senior citizen. Different sites may cater to different audiences.

6. Consider using sites that ask you to share your interests and then match you up with someone who is similar. This can save you the time of searching through hundreds of ads yourself.

7. Always find out if any fee is involved before you sign up for any services.

8. Check through some of the ads of people seeking pen pals to see if any catch your attention.

9. Remember that some sites include photographs of the pen pals so you will know what your pen pal looks like. This can be useful if you are hoping your pen pal will turn into a date.

10. Post your own advertisement and let others do the work and contact you.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for chatrooms hosted by pen-pal sites and participate in an ongoing discussion.

• Be on the lookout for others who have similar viewpoints and might be good pen pals.

• Always be cautious when you give out personal information. You can never play it too safe.