Get Selective!
Online dating is a lot like eating at a buffet restaurant in the sense that the selection can be overwhelming and leave you wanting to pick more than you can chew. A virtual buffet of so many potential dates can make it hard to decide who you should date and who you shouldn’t. You’ll have moments when there could be literally dozens of great candidates filling your inbox and times when pickins’ are so slim that you want to give up. You’ll need to learn to pace yourself as well as how to pick and choose dates with potential is a must if you want to get the most out of your experience with online dating and stay on the path to true love without wasting too much time veering off course along the way.
The best way to choose dates with potential is to get a good grasp on what you really want in the first place. Okay, you want to date, but do you want to date in hopes of finding a real connection or do you just want to date for fun? If it’s love and a connection that you’re after then don’t waste time on those who aren’t looking for the same thing that you are. It may sound like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many men and women will connect with someone online who looks great and seems perfect “if only...” Hoping that someone will change is never a good idea and will inevitably prove a waste of time, not to mention potentially heartbreaking! So if he or she seems perfect but isn’t looking for a commitment and you are, then save yourself the time and the hurt and move on. Don’t get sidetracked from what you really want.
While you don’t want to waste time dating people who aren’t looking for the same things that you are, you do want to keep an open mind and not limit yourself too much. Think of the traits that are deal breakers for you and be reasonable. If you want kids then stay away from someone who doesn’t. If you want someone who shares your religious beliefs, then seek them out and don’t bother meeting anyone who doesn’t share your beliefs. But, if you have a thing for blonds, well, maybe it’s time to let up on the hair color and open yourself up to brunettes and redheads that just may meet all of your other and more important criteria. Keeping an open mind broadens your horizons and just may lead you to a diamond in the rough.
Finally, when trying to spot dates with potential be sure to look for those who seem serious about meeting and aren’t playing games. You want someone who calls when they say they will and wants to meet you as much as you want to meet them. It takes two to tango so make sure that you only invest time on those who want to dance with you!
Creating The Perfect Profile
If you’re wondering how to create the best online dating profile I can tell you that it all starts with honesty. Yes, honesty. As tempting and easy as it may be to puff ourselves up to something that we’re not when we’re creating our dating profile, you really are doing yourself an injustice by claiming to be anything other than what you are. As much as you may think you’ll fare better by saying that you’re an astronaut or actress, you’ll be setting yourself up for embarrassment and pretty much ensure that you end up alone once the jig is up—which it inevitably will be.
The best online dating profile is one that best reflects who you really are and describes what you are looking for to a tee. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for love or a fling because in the end, being honest is the only way to get what you really want because you’ll know that those who do contact you based on your profile are doing so because they like what they see—you! Being honest doesn’t have to mean listing every last detail about yourself of course. And honesty doesn’t require you to get down to the nitty-gritty in a way that may be unflattering. For example, you can admit to being short or fat without actually using those words to describe yourself and instead opt for wording that is a tad more appealing. Or, you could choose a current picture and let the picture do the talking and leave words for describing your personality as well as what you’re looking for.
Speaking of pictures; a profile with a picture always gets considerably more hits than one without, so including one is definitely a must if you want to create the best online dating profile for yourself. Be sure to choose a photo that is not only very recent but also shows your personality a little. A picture taken while doing something that you really enjoy or a candid shot of you laughing is always a great way to show yourself in the best and most genuine light. If a posed picture is all you’ve got, just make sure that it’s recent and shows exactly what you look like right now as opposed to a few years ago.
Finally, when it comes to how to create the best online dating profile you want to put some effort into what you write. As much as the photos may say, you still want to come across as someone with a personality worth getting to know. A sonnet isn’t necessary but you don’t want to be the schlep who only throws a sentence or two together and thinks that should be good enough! Your profile is your first impression and will be the deciding factor in whether or not someone contacts you or replies to your messages, so give it a little thought and try to stand out above the rest somehow.
