Here some ideas for partner-serach.

Extensive search-options are mandatory. The partner-search-system should be multistage. Start with some criteria like area, sex, education and age-range. Then filter the results with criterias like hair, children, (non)smoker. There is another way in a psychological love-match, where the focus is set on personal characteristics like character or size.

A "who is online"-function helps to find contacts quickly. A "who has checked my announcement"-function is a good indicator for success or failure of a partnership announcement. Moreover You have a point of contact to get in touch with a person. If You can save Your personal partners-search-parameters You can check again later the partner finder with that same criterias. Search-results should be clearly arranged and sortable by different criterias. Example: "last online" or area. The search-results should open in a new window. Is there an automatic e-mail about matching announcements?

The big online-partnership-agencies offer a worldwide search. So You are not limited to Your country or area. You are able to contact worldwide. Please keep in mind the cultural differences, even within the west world (Middle-Europe to United States of America).