Does online dating really work? If that question has been on your mind, chances are you’re contemplating hopping the bandwagon of seeking love through the internet. The chances of locking eyes with a sexy stranger in a coffee shop and being asked out are anyway few and far between now.
Online dating is the way of the future. It seems like everyone has tried the most popular online dating sites such as Tinder, TrulyMadly, Happn or Woo in order to either play the field or find true love.
But does it really work? Research about online dating shows that one-third of people who use online dating services will never meet the person they are chatting with online.
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8 Tips To Ace Your Online Dating Game
Online dating might be a tricky arena to go looking for love. But if you know the right way to go about it, you might end up finding your special someone on the world wide web! Keep these tips in mind when you browse those dating sites in the search of a potential date, and you can land yourself a winner:
1. Be crystal clear about what you want
Being direct is the way to go while you are online dating. If you’re looking for love, experts say, put it in your profile. This way you will attract less noise and more music, if you know what we mean. It will act as the first level of filter and get across only those who are also looking for love and commitment on dating sites.
A study conducted by the dating website Plenty of Fish found that people who used the word “love” in their profiles were more likely to be successful in finding meaningful relationships on the internet than those who did not.
Don’t pretend you’re up for something you’re not. Be clear and direct in your profile about looking for a committed relationship – not a hookup situation. And the best part is there are plenty of totally free online dating sites.
2. Do your own research about the online dating platforms
Odds are that you know somebody who has used some of the online dating sites or apps (even if they haven’t admitted it to you). There are many different opinions about what is the best route to take when it comes to online dating.
Some suggest that if you want to find a serious relationship via online dating, you should consider paying for it, such as you would through eHarmony or Match.com. Others claim that by paying for a website or app, you will find someone who is serious about finding love through online dating (plus, you’ll avoid being harassed with inappropriate messages.)
So, we feel before embarking on this new journey of online dating, you should do your homework on the best dating apps and sites. Don’t be shy about asking your friends, family and coworkers about their experiences on online dating sites.
Hearing both success and horror stories can help you narrow down which subscription service will work best for your interests.
Related Reading: 5 Reasons To Research Your Online Date Before You Meet
3. Tread cautiously when taking things forward IRL
When you are meeting someone offline for the first time after communicating on online dating sites, you need to take certain safety precautions. The astounding statistics on safety concerns vis-a-vis online dating even in 2021 are proof that it’s wise to err on the side of caution.
The following basic measures can help keep you safe from the adverse outcomes of online dating:
- Meet ar a public place
- Consider taking a friend with you. Of course, they won’t be part of the date but they can always be in the vicinity. For example, if you’re meeting for coffee at a mall, your gang of girlfriends could plan a shopping trip to coincide with your date
- Let trusted friends and family know where you will be well in advance. Keep them notified about any sudden change in plans
- Trust your instincts
- Do not go home with your date or give away personal information on the very first instance
- Google your date (ensure there are no police records or reflags indicating that they be out to catfish you)
- Drive yourself to your date and back. Or take public transport. Don’t let your date pick or drop you
- Video chat with your date before meeting in person
4. Set realistic expectations
There is no success formula to falling in love. Online dating helps make the process of finding someone to spend your time with a lot easier than scouring coffee shops and clubs, but nothing guarantees a happily ever after.
One of the biggest relationship tips you can follow is to have realistic expectations when it comes to online dating. Don’t pour your heart and soul into each and every new date thinking that you’ll be riding off into the sunset together.
Algorithms of the online dating sites can align goals, locations, and interests for potential couples, but they cannot account for chemistry.
5. Always give priority to communication
You may not be in a serious relationship yet, but that doesn’t mean communication should be sent to the back burner. Even when you are talking to a person on any of the online dating sites, you should ensure there is no scope for a communication gap.
Couples should make communication a priority, no matter how long or little length of time they have been online dating. Communication is the key to getting what you want out of a relationship. You must communicate your wants, needs, goals, and desires to your potential spouse. When they convey the same to you, you can meet in the middle and decide if you are actually right for one another.
Related Reading: 13 Tips To Date Online Successfully And Find Your Ideal Partner
6. Don’t let distance stand in your way
While most dating sites and apps allow you to search for singles in your vicinity, others will allow you to date people in different countries, states, and provinces.
If you begin dating someone online who lives half across the world, be careful. Often, long distance relationships work only when there is an end date in mind.
If you have been dating your long-distance partner for a couple of months online and you feel like you have a serious connection, it may be time to finally start talking about the future.
For example, if you’ve beentogether for considerable amount of time, you should have a conversation about being together and taking the next step in your relationship.
7. Give up the temptation of finding a better prospect
Dating online isn’t as easy as it sounds. Yes, there are plenty of opportunities out there in the online dating world. But this can be a double-edged sword. The grass always appears greener on the other side when using dating sites or apps like Tinder.
There are so many options for dates available that it’s quite easy to ghost someone who is perfectly attractive (and awesome to talk to) in the hopes that the next best thing is just a swipe away.
One of the best tips to date online successfully is to focus on quality over quantity. Don’t go swiping away in search of that perfect, imaginary partner when you have a potential match right in front of you. If you really connect with someone, don’t let them slip away into the unending irresistible maze of online dating sites.
Related Reading: Top 15 Best Alternatives To Tinder – It’s 2020!!
8. Refrain from lying and unfair means
In the age of Catfish and reverse Google image search, your best bet when it comes to online dating is to avoid lying. Don’t use someone else’s photo, don’t stretch the truth about what you do for a living, and don’t emotionally mislead people you connect with.
You want someone to love you for you. They can’t do this if they don’t know who you really are. So, don’t try to be someone you are not, just because you are on the other side of the screen. Steer clear of sketchy people, and be as truthful as you would be had you met someone in a coffee shop or night club.
When it comes to online dating remember to be clear about what you want. Don’t waste your time with creepers and those you aren’t genuinely interested in pursuing a relationship with. Most importantly, don’t throw away something amazing in hopes that something better is just around the corner.
By following these relationship tips you’ll be well on your way to finding the love of your life, even if you have already steered your boat through the multiple ports of online dating sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long should you give online dating before you meet in real life?
Two to three weeks is the most optimum amount of time you should give to a person you come across on online dating sites. It’s just the right amount of time to get to know them just enough but not too much that you end up overthinking and the spark fizzles. Having said that, every blooming relationship takes its own course. If it feels right sooner than that, you should surely go for it.
2. How to know if a person you meet on online dating sites actually likes you?
Though we always try to know what’s going on in the mind of the person on the opposite side of the screen, there are some things that truly give away in online dating. Make sure to notice if the other person replies instantly, compliments you, respects your personal privacy, shows interest in knowing about your day, makes an effort to know you more, shares about themselves, and you know you have a real catch.
3. How to identify the red flags of online dating?
There are certain things that can go wrong with online dating sites such as fraud, IT security breaches, risk of deception etc. So, some common red flags which you should be on a lookout for are display pictures with old time/date stamps, different age listed on the profile and disclosed by the person, too many photos showing off an upper-class lifestyle, messages containing strange links, an urgency to meet up offline, also an unwillingness to meet in real life, and finally trust your gut. It rarely lies.
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