Did you know that two out of five single people in the UK now use some kind of Internet dating service? That’s forty percent of all singles! Unfortunately, the percentage of these people who actually find a real romance as a direct result of their site memberships is very low – probably less than 10%.
Why is this? Well, it’s true that some sites are better than others; they have more traffic, they are better to navigate; they just ‘work’ whilst others just don’t. It’s what you do on the site after signing up that’s important. Take my word for it, unless you take the five simple steps that I’m about to outline, you may as well do something more productive with your time than join a singles site. This may sound simple and pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people make things difficult for themselves. Right lets get started…
1. Write an amazing profile. This is the most important part of your Internet dating site experience. Don’t just say ‘Nice guy seeks nice girl for trips to the cinema’ – how boring does that sound? Take the time to say something about yourself, your lifestyle, your interests and the type of person you’re hoping to meet. Being miserable about your recent split is not going to help you, always sound confident, full of life and happy! This isn’t the time for modesty; if you think you’re pretty darn attractive, then be sure to say so. One of the best ways to break the ice is through humour, keep it fun and you are more likely to get a positive response.
2. Always Upload A Photo. Even if you don’t have a very flattering one to hand, you should always post a pic with your profile. Don’t forget that the majority of people on Internet dating sites, will not even read the profile of anyone who does not show a picture of themselves. You want to see what other potential partners look like so it stands to reason that other people will want to know what you look like too. An up to date photo is best but if you don’t have one, then say so in your personal profile.
3. Be Proactive. It’s no good becoming a member of a dating site then doing nothing, people will not get in touch, it’s like owning a website and not advertising it – It’s not going to work. A regular search for compatible people is important, if you find someone who fits the bill then get in touch with them as soon as you can.
4. Write fantastic Emails. OK, you’ve joined a dating site, you’ve searched for other members who fall within your specified categories, and you’ve been presented with a page of matching profiles. You are excited to send out a few emails…but what can you possibly say in them? Re-read the paragraph above about creating a great profile and apply the same rules to the first email that you send to another member. Sending boring one line responses and messages just doesn’t cut it, people will not reply to you if you can not be bothered to make the effort. Tell that person a little about who you are and why you think you might both be compatible – respond directly to what you’ve read in that person’s profile – sound interested and interesting and you’ll get an email by return – sound boring and downbeat and you’ll just be ignored.
5. Check Back With The Site. There are two reasons why you should do this as often as possible. Every time you log on check to see if there are any new members, you never know, the love of your life may have joined since you last visited your dating site. A little know fact is that the internal search engines on internet dating sites move your profile higher up the list each time you log on, giving you a better chance of being seen and therefore a better chance of being contacted. Don’t be a stranger to the Internet dating site you’ve joined and I recommend that you visit the site at least once a day during the lifetime of your membership.
