Meeting your match: 7 things to know when venturing into the world of online dating

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Online dating has been popular for many years and has recently become even more widely used due to the Covid-19 regulations that we are all endeavoring to abide by. Meeting the love of your life in a bar or club has become even less likely, so if you are single and like the idea of spending next year with a partner, online dating might be your best option.

If you plan to dip your toe in the water, there are a few things you should be aware of before you do. You may have visions of logging on, meeting the man of your dreams, and living happily ever after, but the reality is usually quite different.

Here are 7 things to know when venturing into the world of online dating.

Create a profile

There are several online dating platforms to choose from, and although there are some differences between them, the basics are pretty much the same. Once you have created an account, spend some time writing your bio. It is your chance to tell prospective matches a little bit about yourself. 

You may want to include as much information as you can, but it’s better to keep it brief – anything that’s too long will probably be skimmed over anyway. 

Add photographs

You don’t have to add images to your profile, but including them will increase your chances of finding your perfect match. Although looks aren’t everything, most people want to know who they are talking to and whether there is a physical attraction, so add a few photographs and make them as natural as possible. 

Although filtered photographs may make your skin look perfect and your eyes sparkle, you have to remember that you may end up meeting your matches in person – so keep it real! Bunny ears and cartoon sunglasses may look cute, but they can put a lot of people off, so it’s wise to stay away.

When you find a match

When you match for the first time with someone, you may feel a little excited and start considering whether you may have found your perfect partner. It can happen, but the reality is that it usually doesn’t happen that quickly, so don’t get too carried away. 

There are no set rules in terms of who should make contact first, so if you want to send the first message – go for it. Men like confidence, so it won’t do any harm and might even make them more inclined to reply.

Many people on dating sites match solely for the ego boost, so don’t be disheartened if you don’t receive a reply. As the saying goes, there are plenty more fish in the sea, so if they don’t respond within a week (they may be busy), unmatch and move on. We would recommend that you don’t message more than once. Not only can it appear a little desperate, but if someone isn’t interested in making an effort, they probably aren’t right for you anyway.

The first date

If you have successfully matched and have arranged to go on a date, you must always keep safety in mind. There are some creeps out there, so even if they seem lovely and act with decency, you never know what they are really like until you get to know them in person. 

Arrange to meet in a public place, exchange phone numbers, and give a few friends their contact details as well as info about your meeting place and time. It’s unlikely that you will encounter any issues with safety, but you can never be too careful. 

If your gut instincts suggest that something isn’t right or you want a bit of reassurance, you can always use a reverse phone number lookup to find the truth about them and check that they are who they say they are. If you still aren’t comfortable or feel that something is not right, you should cancel the date. You may, of course, offend them, but feeling safe is not negotiable.   

Ghosting

Ghosting is not pleasant, but it is a common occurrence in the online dating world, so if your latest match disappears without any warning or explanation, you should chalk it up as a mistake and move on. Anyone that ghosts you didn’t respect you or like you enough in the first place, so don’t waste any time pondering it. You deserve to be treated well, so the earlier you find out that they weren’t the one for you, the better. 

Don’t give too much away

When messaging back and forth for a while, you may start divulging a bit more about your personality and your life, such as hobbies you enjoy or how you like to spend your free time. Although you should be open and honest, you must also be sure that you don’t tell them too much about your personal life. For example, you can mention how many kids you have and how old they are, but offering information about their interests or the school they go to is too much too soon. 

You may assume that everyone is as honest and kind as you are, but that is not the case. Don’t be tempted to drop your guard until you have met several times and are satisfied that there is relationship potential.

It can affect your confidence

Although online dating is a great way to meet people, it can dent your self-confidence if you don’t match or connect with many people. You may have been talking to someone for a while and thinking it’s all going well, then one day, out of nowhere, they disappear. No, it’s not a nice feeling, but it isn’t any reflection on you or your personality. Things change, and it may be that they weren’t as interested as you thought they were. 

As disheartening as online dating can be at times, try not to give up on it too quickly. Above all else, you should bear in mind that you may have to kiss many frogs before you meet your Prince Charming.