GREAT solid advice. I've found out most of these things through trail and error for myself. The biggest single most helpful thing is whether your family and friends like her/him. Your family and friends LOVE you... and they can tell the difference between a jerk and a great, caring significant other instantly!
NOt always true, my wife's friends hated me when we started dating.... if she'd listened to them we'd never have been married.
Instead we are closing in on 9 years married and 12 together. Exterior perceptions are not always accurate. I met my wife at a very low point in her life, and our relationship was never intended by either party to be more than a fling.... her friends saw me as nothing but using her, even though frankly and she admits she was using me.. of course her friends never saw that.... in the end it worked out.
We've been together 12 years, and none of them are even married, and have been through many guys who have disrespected and cheated on them..... So, remember, friends don't always know the whole tale... and come to the party with preconcieved concepts.
I'm a binary person... You either "get" me and love me, or you "don't" and you hate me.. I am not the type of person that gets the "he's ok" response when asking others about me... they are either "he's awesome" or "he's an ass"... and I know this openly about myself, and often those who think I am an ass if they stick around long enough realize I am "awesome".. and others just drop by the wayside.... but that's ok.. it doesn't bother me, and I know I am not the only one like this.