Get Ready to Date Online

Here in the UK, we’re already moving through the slow easing of lockdown restrictions. Right now, we can meet friends outside, enjoy a pint in a pub beer garden, and pop to the shops.

Combine that with the changing seasons, and you might be starting to think about dating again. While many leisure venues are still closed, it’s possible you want to get ready to date online.

We’ve already pitted different types of dating against one another. Click here to read our guide to their pros and cons. Obviously, several of these types of dating won’t be happening for a while, like speed dating.

But research shows that if current trends continue, 50% of relationships will begin online by 2035. It makes sense to try online dating if you’ve never used it before. If you have, now’s a great time to go back to it—armed with these helpful tips!

Sign up for Different Apps

Don’t restrict yourself to one or two apps. Different types of people use each of the platforms so you’ll widen your available pool of matches by using a few. People also have their own preferences, so if you only stick to Tinder, you’ll miss out on people who only use Bumble.

Be prepared to dislike some of the apps. This can be from a user experience point of view. Some daters swear by Hinge, while others find its lack of a written profile restrictive. Besides, not every app or website will have your kind of people on it, and that’s fine! That’s why there are so many of them.

I’d recommend trying one app and one dating website when you start out. Then after a week or so of using them, add another app or website. Tinder is still a recommended ‘starter’ option. It has 66 million average monthly active users.

Craft Your Bio in Advance

Writing a bio for a dating profile can be really hard. Some apps give you a character limit, so you need to be careful about what you include. Give potential matches an insight into what you’re like, while letting them know what you’re looking for. Ignore the dating advice to keep it vague.

Think about what makes you ‘you’. What are your interests or hobbies? What causes are you passionate about? Don’t worry that you’ll put people off by being honest about yourself. Anyone who’s put off by your profile likely wouldn’t get on with you in person. Putting people off is a great way to avoid wasting time on conversations that go nowhere!

You can always ask a few trusted friends to read your bio before you post it. Does it sound like you? Would they recognise you from the bio? 

Keep it positive—there’s nothing worse than a bio that specifies what a person doesn’t want. It goes without saying, but don’t lie about anything to get more matches.

Choose the Right Photos

Whether we want to admit it or not, humans are a visual species. So photos are a really important part of your profile. They also tell potential matches a lot about you, which saves your word count for the bio.

For example, are you an outdoorsy person who loves cycling and climbing? Include photos of you doing that. Show people what you do with your time so they can see what a relationship with you might look like.

Again, you can always ask your friends to choose their favourite photos of you. That way, you don’t need to worry about whether a photo looks good or not. Make sure you include at least one full-length photo. It sounds shallow, but it helps people see you as a full person, and not just a collection of selfies!

Know What You're Looking For

We’ve talked before about the importance of knowing what you want. If you don’t know what you want, how will you know when you get it? Spend time figuring out what kind of relationship you want. Do you want a partner who travels a lot? One without children? 

Think about the basic non-negotiables. You might not care about your future partner’s height or job, but it’s a deal-breaker if they smoke. Perhaps you only want to date vegans so you share the same lifestyle.

If the apps or websites let you filter these things, then use them. It’ll save you from going through matches that don’t suit your preferences. As a minimum, most apps let you choose an age range and an ideal location. Other websites and apps will vary, depending on how many filters are free with your account.

Set Limits for Using The Apps

It can be disappointing to spend time swiping through profiles if you don't see any that catch your eye. To avoid this, set time limits for using the apps or websites. Perhaps only spend 5-10 minutes on each app per day (outside of replying to messages). That way, the apps don’t feel like a chore.

The time limits don’t apply to messaging. Some coaches will tell you to wait a certain amount of time before replying to a message. It’s supposed to stop you from looking too keen. 

We don’t recommend this because it turns your interactions into a game with rules that make no sense. Instead, reply when you get the message. The right person will be thrilled to hear from you. Remember, it’s okay to put off the wrong ones by being authentic!

Start Matching

Different apps and websites have different processes for providing matches. Plenty of Fish and Match.com provide matches against vague criteria, or you can get specific with the search function. Other apps work against the location radius and age range you input.

Meanwhile, eHarmony will match you based on your answers to a questionnaire. You can’t search for people, so you can only message people they suggest for you.

Whichever option you choose, start matching! Don’t be afraid to message people first if you like them. Women sometimes wait for men to message first (except on Bumble, where female members have to send the first message). Yet this again turns dating into a silly game. Instead, get excited about the possibility of who you might meet on your dating journey.

Don’t Get Discouraged

We can’t promise that every encounter you have using online dating will be amazing. You might start talking to someone who seems like a great match, for them to ghost you after a week of messages.

Our final advice is not to get too attached to people—especially if they haven’t met you yet. No one owes anyone anything. While practices like ghosting hurt, you can’t stop them from happening. 

So treat messages as a chance to see if they’re right for you, without worrying how much they like you. You’ll find this really liberating and it’s a gamechanger when it comes to using online dating. So remember, if a person ghosts you, it says nothing about you as a person and everything about how they’re willing to treat others.

Get Ready to Date Online

With these tips under your belt, you’re ready to start dating online! 

But even if you’ve got a top-notch profile and a great search strategy, you may still wonder if you can find the right one online. If that’s you, we’ve got you covered.

Grab your free copy of our guide, 10 Ways For Successful Women To Improve Their Chances Of Finding Mr Right—Fast. You’ll learn what you want from a relationship, how to boost your chances of finding love, and how to date safely—among other things!

2021 can truly be your year for love.