There is an old saying that goes ‘You can’t hurry love’. For some people though, the wait can go on for such a long time that they need to help love out with some action. Where before you would have needed to head out to a local or club to meet someone new to date, online dating makes it much easier.
Not only can you take your time to select the people who you want to date without leaving your house, it also gives you much more choice of potential partners. Of course, the course of true love never runs smoothly, and online dating is no different. You need to know a few little tips and tricks along the way to succeed.
Here are ten of the most useful.
10 – Stay Open-Minded
One of the great things about online dating is the sheer number of different people out there to connect with. This gives you a real chance to try out dating someone you might not necessarily go for usually. Unfortunately, some people completely miss this opportunity and enter the world of online dating with a very fixed view of who they are looking for. Don’t make this mistake! Keep an open-mind and you never know who you will find.
09 – Remember To Use It As A Starting Point
Online dating is a superb way to find people to date and help make an initial connection. Be careful to not only interact with people online though! Online dating is really a way to find people to then meet in real-life, rather than a resource to conduct an entirely online relationship. Once you have met someone you like, then take it into the real-world to see a film or go for a drink. This will see you build a real, working relationship with the person you find online.
08 – Sell Yourself
One aspect of online dating that can be tricky for some is selling yourself in your profile. It can feel a bit like applying for a job in some ways which is not very romantic. This is an important factor when using online dating though as your profile is what people first see and will attract them. Don’t forget they can’t see you or gauge your personality as they would in a real-life situation. Obviously, it needs to be fun but remember to big-up your best points.
07 – Make Time To Do It Properly
Many people see online dating as a quick-fix for their love life. While it can speed the process up compared to traditional methods, it is not instant. Be prepared to spend time connecting with people and viewing profiles before you find the right person for you. In the same way, you need to put the time into searching for that special someone. Half an hour every week won’t cut it! Make sure to schedule time each night to chance upon that special someone.
06 – Don’t Get Downhearted
As in real-life, sometimes you may have periods when your online dating adventures go a bit quiet. Or you may have met up with someone you really like who then disappears. If this happens, try not to let it get you down. It is just a part of life and the best thing to do is dust yourself off and get yourself back out there.
05 – Be Courteous
If you are rude to people, then you will not get very far in online dating. Always remember to be polite when chatting with people who you meet online, even if you have no interest in dating them. If anyone is being rude or harassing you then don’t get drawn into a war of words. Simply tell them to leave you alone and report them to the site admin. By doing this, it will keep the experience enjoyable for you and hopefully attract more dates.
04 – Photos!!
One of the best ways to get more views and more people interested is through putting photos on your profile. Humans are mainly visual creatures and a profile with photos will get lots more interest. Of course, this is great for you as it means more potential dates to connect with who otherwise wouldn’t get in touch. It is common sense when you think about it – most people need to see a person before they make the decision on if they would like to date them.
03 – Enjoy It!
Online dating should be fun so make sure you enjoy it! If you feel it is not working or getting your down, then have a break for a while. Once you have been away for a bit, you will find the right perspective to try again if you want too. Finding love should be one of the most amazing things you do, and online dating is no different. If you’re not enjoying it then it is not worth it.
02 – Be Honest
One area where online dating can prove problematic is when people are not honest in their profiles or the photos they post. With this in mind, it is crucial that you are honest yourself when it comes to the details you put on your profile. Not only is it ethically the right thing to do but it saves you wasting your own time. After all, if someone has agreed to meet as they think you are a 6-foot rugby playing red head, when they find out you are not they are likely to walk away.
01 – Stay Safe
If there is one absolute essential when it comes to online dating, then it is staying safe. Of course, when online this is quite simple as you are in the comfort of your own home with no-one physically there. Just remember to never give out any personal details such as your address or where you work to someone you have not met at least a few times in person. When you do move to the stage of meeting in person then always be sure to meet in a public place and tell friends where you will be.
If you are looking for love and have tried all the usual places, why not try online dating? It gives a simple, fun and easy way to connect with lots of people out there in the same boat. Just remember to follow the great tips above to get the most out of it.
*Images via pixabay