Internet dating is rather like a lottery-some people are lucky enough to pick the winning ticket the first time they play, whereas others endure no success whatsoever!
You might think that success in Internet dating is all purely down to luck, and to a certain extent you would be right, but there are a few tips and tricks you can use to ensure that you are in the best possible position to make the most of your foray into the world of online dating.
I know people who have tried Internet dating-but with no success!
The key to success in online dating is to know exactly what you are looking for. There is no point in signing up for a dating site if you are unsure of whether you are even ready for a relationship.
If you have only just come out of a long-term relationship, think long and hard before jumping feet first into dating again. You might believe you are ready to meet somebody new, but the chances are you need some healing time first. Only when "your song" comes on the radio and you don't immediately burst info tears, are you ready to move on.
My ex is a distant memory and I'm ready for pastures new!
Congratulations! Now you are ready, it is time to sign up for an Internet dating site. It is usually best to try one of the big sites as they usually have the most people available to choose from. Pick a site and try it for free. Once you are happy it is right for you, then you can sign up for a period of time and take advantage of all the features the site has to offer.
Do I just sit back and wait for people to contact me?
No! You have to be proactive and go searching through the profiles. You will probably find people send you messages, but to make the most of your time on the site, you should actively look for people who match your criteria.
Don't be too picky. If you have a wish list that runs to several pages, you are doomed to fail. It is OK to filter profiles based on important attributes like smoking habits, but to decide in advance that you are only willing to date 6 foot, blond, blue-eyed doctors, is ridiculous!
I've seen a couple of profiles that I like-what happens next?
When you have a shortlist of possible candidates, read their profiles and if you still like the sound of them, send them a message! Keep it short and sweet-if you launch into your life story in the first message, the recipient is unlikely to reply. Always say something that references what the person has mentioned in their profile. This shows you have actually read the profile and have not just sent a batch of generic messages to 100 lucky recipients.
I'm trying, but I'm not having much luck so far...
Don't give up! Internet dating is a numbers game. The more people you contact, the greater the chances are that you will get chatting to someone you click with. Once that happens, the next step is a date to see if the chemistry is there.
And if the chemistry is not there, do not despair. There are plenty more fish out there!
