Online dating has come a long way since it began in the 1990s and today, it is the norm for many singletons. According to the Daily Mail, a recent study by Pew Research Center found that 23 per cent of singles who meet through online dating end up marrying their partners.
7 Tips For Finding Love in the Digital Age
So, if you’re thinking about taking the plunge, how do you master the art of online dating?
If you’re a beginner, read on:
1. Use an attractive and recent photo. Don’t pick one that was taken 10 years ago just because you think you look slimmer! If you’re modest, get your friends to choose one for you and fill in your profile on mysinglefriend.com. It is important to choose a photo that looks like you now rather than 5-10 years ago!
2.Be open minded – you may be surprised. Of course you are allowed to be fussy but remember this is why you are now using an online dating website in the first place! Decide what factors mean the most to you and what you are not willing to compromise on, but be flexible with the rest.
3. Don’t be rude. If someone contacts you that really isn’t your type, be kind in your response and simply say that you are not interested. Treat people as you would want to be treated and think how you would reply if they came up to you in person. The same goes for chasing up on a message, if you haven’t had a reply, don’t become a stalker, take the hint and move on!
4.Be honest. Lies will only catch up with you further down the line, and would you like it if the other person lied to you? According to Wired, a recent study found that 80 percent of online daters lied about something on their online profile, whether it was weight, height or age. Lying before you’ve even started a relationship won’t give a good impression so be open about who you are and don’t try to create a false image.
5. Stay safe. Avoid giving your contact details out until you feel completely happy that it is safe to do so. Get to know them out of the dating site via email or Skype before you actually give out your phone number and arrange to meet.
6.Keep the first date simple. When arranging a first date, plan to keep it short and sweet. It’s better to end a date looking forward to the next and wanting to know more. If you’ve been talking through email or on the telephone, try not to give too much away, save some conversation topics for the date itself!
7. Enjoy yourself. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to fall in love straight away.
If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right! Enjoy talking to new people and try and relax. Yes, you’re likely to have a few bad dates too, but remember you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince!
Learn more about love and relationships at clichemag.com
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