LOVE is in the air - or is it? Don't fret, the Irish Voice is here to help and just in time for Valentine's Day. If you're in serious need of some solid dating advice but don't know where to go then keep reading.Maureen Tara Nelson, matchmaker extraordinaire from Long Island, took time out of her busy schedule - "this time of the year is my busiest," she admits - to give Irish Voice readers tips on finding true and everlasting love.Nelson, who only works with clients who are of marriage mind, is responsible for well over 700 successful matches. "How do I do it? I guess I just love my job, I give it 100% and I know that my Irish mother who is in heaven is with me all the time," she said.Asked for some simple advise on dating, Nelson said her rule of thumb is, "If going it alone give it six months, and if nothing happens after that then seek the advice of a professional."Comparing the search for that someone special alone to "finding a needle in a hay stack," Nelson advises that the first step is to project a positive outlook."Let everyone you know, know that you are single. Most importantly walk around with a smile on your face. A smile is contagious and everyone responds well to it, and people will even approach you," she advises.However, Nelson, whose clients vary between 20 to 80 years of age, strongly suggests staying clear of the bar scene and the Internet. "Bars are full of married people and the Internet is extremely dangerous," she said. Nelson proposes taking up a new hobby or joining a club in a serious effort to find love. "If you like reading go to the bookstores every Saturday when you wake up. Don't be afraid to approach people in a gentle way. Maybe they are reading a book you like - it would be a great ice breaker!"If after six months you're still unlucky in love, then Nelson recommends enlisting the efforts of a professional matchmaker.Nelson, who is dubbed the "Irish matchmaker," works around the clock with her clients. She not only selects for them a perfect match, she also coaches her love-seeking clients on how to date.When asked what gift should a person buy for their loved ones on Valentine's Day, she provided some simples suggestions. "If a person has been dating someone for more than six months then I usually tell my clients that jewelry is a great option because it's very personal," she says.For those who are dating under the six-month mark, Nelson admits it can be trickier. "I usually recommend the guy taking the girl out to dinner and getting her a card. The girl should only give the guy a card," she said. Mentioning that men get afraid of early signs of emotions from women, Nelson said that her advice to a girl is to keep the card low key. "If that card is too mushy he will go running," says Nelson, adding it's a good idea to buy a card that is about "20% less than what a girl feels."Nelson, who has been in the dating industry for more than seven years, said that Valentine's Day is always a top time of the year for people to realize it would be nice to have a companion to share their life with. "People get lonely this time," she said, hence the 30 messages she had to attend to after speaking with the Irish Voice.On the other hand, Nelson wants to remind people that Valentine's Day is only a day. "It can be a difficult day for people who are not in a relationship or just out of one. What I say to these people is go to a movie with a friend. It's only a Thursday. Go hang out with friends, family, your nieces or nephews - just stay away from restaurants to avoid the happy couples," she said.Discussing the difficulties shy people have in finding that right person, Nelson said that it's the bashful ones who mostly benefit from her service. "Realistically, shy people do fantastic in my program because that is the only thing holding them back. For example, a shy person might be attracted to an extrovert because opposites attract and we all know that it never works out, so I do the matching for them. I do everything from A to Z. All they have to do is make the call." Nelson coaches her clients in the right direction, arranges a few dates and more often than not finds a perfect match for her customers.According to Nelson, who uses a thorough screening process and background check in all states on her clients so she can weed out the fakers from the genuine people, it has been proven that only three out of every 100 people that meet are compatible for each other."People waste years trying to meet the right person. I can tell after a few minutes with a person what their personality is like, and I often immediately have a person in my mind from my clients list that would be perfect for them," she said.Nelson, whose grandmother from Knock, Co. Mayo was also a matchmaker, said that both parties must to be compatible in two main areas - interests and philosophies. "They both have to like to do the same things, for example going to the theater, dining out or traveling, but they also have to respect each other's interests. If someone loves to play golf and the other person doesn't then they need to be happy and proud of their partner. Both of their philosophies must be on the same wave length," she maintains.As regards the big proposal, Nelson warns the gentleman planning to pop the question to make sure it's within the comfort zone of his girlfriend. "If she is a shy person then make sure it's not too dramatic. Remember, a proposal is one of the most important days of a girl's life, second to marriage and giving birth," she said.As for purchasing a ring, Nelson suggests finding out beforehand what kind of style of ring the girl likes. "I always suggest, when you start talking about marriage, casually go together shopping and look at rings. You don't want to take a chance with that. The girl doesn't have to pick it out, but it would be nice to have an idea which style she prefers," she says.One of the Long Islander's proudest successes was the match she found for her father Earle. "My parents were married 50 years. My father was devastated when my mother passed away. Four years later I insisted that he become a client, and after three matches I found him a wonderful woman called Lynn," said Nelson, joking that she hardly ever sees her 81-year-old father now because he is off traveling the world with his new companion.Nelson, who admits that her favorite clients are the Irish-born ones - "I just love their brogue to death," - attributes some of the success of her matchmaking business to the various matchmaking shows on the television. "Although, I don't particularly like the shows, I take my business very seriously, and matchmaking has become very popular these days," she said.Nelson's annual Valentine's Day party will be held on Thursday, February 14, from 6-9 p.m. at the Main Event restaurant/bar in Plainview, Long Island. She will provide complimentary hor's d'oeuvres, and a cash bar with drink specials will be available.She is expecting between 50-100 attractive singles to attend. Registering beforehand is a must. There will be free memberships, and great prizes will also be raffled off. To register call Maureen Tara Nelson Private Matchmaking Inc. at 1-888-31-MATCH, and either ask for Donna or leave a message with name or names.