Online dating can be a scary place, especially as a woman. You’re not looking for just anyone, you’re looking for someone who will love and respect you. But with all the options out there, where do you begin? That’s where I come in! I’ve been online dating since the early 2000s (yes, that is an actual sentence), and I’m here to guide you through your journey. Here are some tips to get started:
Do some research.
- Look at other people’s profiles. If you’re looking for a job, it would be helpful to read up on the industry and see what kind of skills are in demand. If you’re dating, take a look at other people’s profiles to see what they’ve written about themselves and the type of person they’re looking for.
- Look at the profiles of people who are similar to you. If there’s something important missing from your own profile that might prevent someone from contacting you (like no photo), try filling that gap by looking at others’ profiles and seeing how they’ve handled similar situations–or ask friends or family members for advice on how best to present yourself online.
- Look at the profiles of people who are different than yourself: What do their photos look like? How long is their bio? Do their interests seem compatible with yours? The more information we have about ourselves and others alike, the better equipped we’ll be when deciding whether or not those potential matches could work out well together!
Make a list of what you really want in a partner.
You don’t want to waste time with someone who doesn’t meet your standards. So before you go on a date, make a list of what you really want in a partner.
- What are the things you absolutely cannot live without?
- What are the things that would be nice, but not deal breakers?
- How specific do you need to be? For example: “I’m looking for someone who enjoys spending time outdoors and has an interest in sports” versus “I’m looking for someone who loves tennis as much as I do.”
Set up your profile.
- Use a good photo.
- Make your profile interesting.
- Include a bio, but don’t make it too long or overly personal (no one wants to be that guy/gal who goes on and on about their life).
- Be honest about what you are looking for and don’t be too picky–there are plenty of fish in the sea!
It’s not all about looks (but they do help).
Looks are important, but they don’t tell the whole story. You have to be careful not to get too hung up on looks. For example, you might think a guy is ugly at first glance but then realize that he’s actually quite handsome once you get to know him better.
The same goes for women: It’s easy for us ladies who like fashion and makeup (like myself) to feel like our partner should match us in terms of style, but what really matters is whether or not they make you happy and feel appreciated by them — regardless of how they look or act. This is especially true if youth culture has made it difficult for us older folks who are used to dating within our age group!
It’s ok to be picky.
There is no shame in being picky. You are allowed to have high standards when it comes to dating and relationships, and you should never feel bad about that. If you find yourself saying “no thanks” or “not interested” to someone who does not meet your criteria, that’s ok!
You deserve only the best for yourself and your time–and if someone doesn’t measure up? They can always try again next week.
Don’t get too attached too fast.
You’re not going to find your soulmate on the first date.
You might meet someone who seems perfect for you, but he or she still may not be the one. Don’t get too attached too fast, because it’s better to have a few good dates than dive in headfirst and wind up heartbroken later on.
The same goes for crushes–it’s ok to like someone, but don’t let them know it right away! Letting them know too soon could make things awkward between the two of you if they don’t feel the same way about you (and they probably won’t).
Have fun and don’t be afraid to mess up.
Don’t be afraid to talk to people, even if they don’t seem like your type. Don’t be afraid to mess up and ask questions as you go along. And don’t worry about saying ‘no’ if something doesn’t feel right; there will always be another opportunity down the road!
Online dating isn’t just for 20-something men any more!
Online dating isn’t just for 20-something men any more!
Women are more likely than men to be on dating sites, and they’re looking for a partner who is serious about finding a relationship. According to Match.com’s annual “Singles in America” survey, women are more likely than men to say that they’d like their next relationship to last at least three years (52% vs 46%), while men tend towards shorter-term goals: 29% expect their next relationship will last less than one year; 21%, between one and two years; 22%, two years or longer but less than five years; 7%, between five and ten years; 3%, over ten years.[1] Women also prefer partners who share similar values: 69% say it’s important that their potential date shares similar political views compared with only 39% of men.[2]
Finally–and perhaps most importantly–women want someone with similar interests: In another study conducted by Match.com using data from its own website memberships,[3] researchers found that while both sexes value intelligence highly when considering potential dates online (with 86 percent saying this trait was either very important or extremely important), neither sex was willing[4]to compromise on looks when looking at photos during initial contact stages – even though many members reported later feeling disappointed after meeting face-to-face due solely because they felt deceived by misleading profile photos.[5][6][7]
Online dating is a great way to meet people, but it’s not for everyone. If you are looking for something serious, make sure that you are on a site that caters to your needs. You can also try using an app like Tinder or Bumble which allows users to connect based on their interests rather than just looks alone.
