It helps to narrow your search criteria so that you know what kind of places and people you should focus on. If you're in school, try classes or clubs. If you're not, try meetup groups or volunteer work.

Do you just want someone to go out and do things with, such as movies or dinner?

Do you want someone you can share specific hobbies with and help each other with projects?

Do you want to learn and grow from discussing the finer points of topics and encountering new perspectives?

How much does personality and lifestyle matter?