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Online dating feels like a tricky way to meet the right person for you, then you’re not alone. Research has found that even though the number of people using online dating is growing, more than a third of people who use these services haven’t actually gone out with somebody that they met online. In many ways, online dating is completely different to meeting somebody in real life, and in other ways, it’s quite similar.
Typically, you will meet somebody online and get to know them a little bit before taking the relationship to an in-person level. Before you actually meet, you’ll typically have more information on somebody than you would in real life; you might have read their profile or had extensive messaging conversations with them. Online dating is a way to open doors to meet and date people, so how do you make it work for you?
Pick Dating Services Wisely:
Online dating isn’t something where you can see all your options and then make a decision. It’s important to be selective about the services that you use. Some apps have a reputation for facilitating hookups while others are designed to bring users together based on a shared religious belief or hobbies that they have in common. Research the apps available and use the ones that are most suitable for what you are looking for – this list by Collette Murphy might help.
Be Honest:
Research suggests that people tend to be interested in other people who are similar to themselves when it comes to a range of factors such as relationship history, whether or not they have or want children, the types of pets that they prefer, hobbies, religion, and more. It can be tempting to exaggerate certain aspects of yourself or play things down when online dating, but being honest about who you are and what you want will improve your chances of finding people that it’s likely to work out with.
Spend Time on an Interesting Profile:
Spend time putting together an interesting profile. But, bear in mind that people tend to swipe through profiles quickly, so get to the point and include anything distinctive and interesting about yourself. Don’t forget that people tend to be interested in interesting people so list anything that you’ve done that’s exciting or unusual and likely to be a good conversation starter. And, include some information about what you’re looking for in a potential partner. Ideally, you should include around 70% about yourself and 30% about what you’re looking for.
Be Open-Minded:
Online dating can put you in front of a wide range of people and you might be surprised as to who you actually end up being interested in. Just because somebody has a hobby that you’ve never been interested in trying or they aren’t as tall as you’d normally go for, don’t give up on them. Try to be open-minded and get to know somebody for who they are before you make a firm decision as to whether or not it’s worth pursuing. And, don’t be disheartened – even if somebody doesn’t end up being ‘the one’, you might still make a great friend.
Online dating is an increasingly popular way to meet potential partners, but in order to have a successful online dating story, you need to be ready to make it work for you.
