I have used the internet dating thing over the last 10 years and what I have found is that newbies on a site get loads of contact and then it all dies down to a slow trickle (hopefully). It is worth doing a search of men fitting, or similar to, your profile just to see what they are saying about themselves and so you know who you are up against.
Be honest in your profile and show a nice head and shoulders photo (dressed). Women I have spoken to don't like photos of men on the dating sites to be topless, doing a macho activity, snogging other women, posing with a big car or 4x4. Women also don't like 6'2" when you are really only 5'6" or 38yo when you are well past 50 looking for under 25s.
The ones I have met, on the most part, been fine.
One was not quite over her ex and so as much a we really liked each other it wasn't going anywhere.
Another was in another country trying to win custody of her kid so she could come home. She did in the end and 'came home' to someone else she had met.
Another was so nieve and innocent that I had to tell her how much risk she was at in meeting me without having told any one. I also ended up helping her with her self confidence and so she managed to meet someone else who was more interested in her then I was.
Another just wanted to drink a lot, smoke some weed and then get me in the sack. I wouldn't 'play ball' and so it didn't work.
Many others were a simple case of meeting up and one or both of us didn't feel the spark either on the first date or after a few dates.
Others have become friends over time.
All I would really say is be careful. They are not all nutters out there but you do need to protect yourself.
If you are going to meet, make sure a friend knows where, when and who you are meeting. Get them to phone you part way through the first date to check things are ok. It gives you a get out clause if you needed it and also means that if she is a risk then she knows you are playing it safe.
I always tell the date that I will be getting a check up call to make sure I haven't been abducted by a load of Russian blackmailers or something on a scam. They are generally cool about that as they should also be doing the same.
I operate a no sex on the first date rule just to temper my, and her, interest so that we can get to know each other properly without the pressure of not knowing where it might lead. Only broke that once and we were together for 3 1/2 years.
I don't bother with pay sites as I am tight and it is not the only place I will be hoping to meet someone. I have a message I need to reply to on one site but I don't know yet. On another site I found, after I joined, a stalker from 8 years previous suddenly appeared meeting my search criteria. She was the one true nutter I've met.
The important thing is 'no rush'. Give your self time to be re-established as your own person before looking for someone else to be with.
Funny story:
I was chatting with someone on a site (pre photos) just after my wife and I split up but before she moved out. We got on really well and so I decide to open up about my domestic situation and some more of my interests.
Later on I got a shout from Mrs NT:
'Are you [name] on [dating site]?'
'Err, yeah. Why?'
'You can stop chatting to me, it didn't work the first time!'
