The essential dos and don'ts of online dating in 2018

The turn of a new year always sees a spike in the number of people signing up for online dating services - with as much as 75% new memberships expected during January.

Women aged 30 and 25-year-old men are the most likely groups to go online to try to find love.

The whole experience can be a completely daunting one, especially in the first instance.

But to help you with your search for a soulmate, we’ve provided an ultimate guide full of tips to navigate the world of online dating.

Creating a profile:

DO research on the different online dating services available.

Select which ones suit your needs and what it is you are looking for. Where there are many great free services, if you are super-serious about finding love, it could be worth paying for a membership - financial investment means those using that particular service may be more serious about dating. 

E-Harmony is advertised as a site for those serious about love, where people using Tinder are traditionally not looking for a long-term relationship.

DO take your time to fill out your dating profile properly. 

A carefully thought out profile will show you are taking the whole thing seriously.

DO be positive. 

Writing with enthusiasm and positivity will draw people to engage with your profile and will increase the chances of initial contact with another member. Optimistic language always goes down well.

DO try to be original.

Be specific about your interests - this is your chance to catch someone’s eye. I mean, everyone loves long walks on the beach and listening to music. Think about what makes you interesting. No matter how weird you think your hobbies are or how unusual your quirks seem, they could be what makes your profile stand out from the rest.

DO check your spelling. 

A study has shown that in the UK, the biggest turn-off about an online dating profile is poor spelling and grammar. Leave the txt spk 4 l8r too.

DON'T skimp out on filling in the details. 

Avoid terms such as “I’ll fill this out later” or “Ask if you want to know.” It screams lazy and half-hearted.

DON'T use your profile as a wish list.

If you write out what you are looking for it can read like a shopping list and they can be pretty off-putting. Not to mention you could be inadvertently dismissing a great match before you even have a chance to talk.

DON'T be Google-able. 

It’s important to stay safe when you’re online - just as much as when you meet someone in real life. Be careful what you say about yourself online and avoid disclosing certain personal details that means someone could track you off the dating site. And it’s not just the obvious things like your address or phone number. Think carefully about what you write. Your job title, for instance, means a stranger could potentially find out where you work.

Photo etiquette:

DO use a photo. Always.

A profile without a picture says a number of things to a reader such as: “I am unattractive so I didn’t want to post a photo,” “I am actually married and don’t want my spouse to find out.” or worse. That, and people are less likely to want to interact with a person without a face.

DO use a recent photo. 

It’s not likely to end well if you meet your date in person and they realise your picture was taken eight years and four stone ago.

DO upload more than one photo. 

A single photo isn’t enough to give someone a decent idea of what you look like. Post at least two - one portrait style and another full-length picture of self.

DON'T lie with the camera. 

Positioning the camera high above your head in a bid to take a more flattering photo not only doesn’t work, it can give an unrealistic depiction of what you actually look like. Forget Photoshop, image editing apps and the like. A clear photo of nice outdoor lighting can work wonders.

DON'T use Snapchat filters.

Yes, they’re fun, but the dog filter is overdone. Almost as much as the butterfly crown. Duck faces aren’t a good look either. Save all that jazz for when you exchange numbers.

DON'T use "sexy" photos. 

A photo with your shirt off or a cleavage-heavy lingerie shot may make you feel attractive, but it can give the impression you are a) desperate or b) only looking for one thing.

DON'T use a group photo as your profile picture. 

People will want to know which person they are sending a message to.

DON'T use photos of you holding a recently caught fish.

For some reason, there is a class of men who think this makes them look like hunters. It doesn't it just looks odd.

DON'T use a photo of you and your ex. 

No matter how hot you think you look in that particular photo, it’s a huge online dating no-no.

Making the move via messaging

DO make the first move. 

If you like the look of someone’s profile, it won’t hurt to make the first contact. Make sure you have read their bio properly and use details from it to construct an initial message. A personalised message goes a long way.

DO be brief. 

In the first message, your opener should be a light contact. And you could well be sending messages to several people so it will also save time. A couple of lines will be enough.

DO be mindful of what you say.

Whether you are making the first contact or sending a reply, this person is still a stranger and you need to stay safe.

DO be polite. 

We’ve all seen the cringy Tinder exchanges (if not search for Tinder Nightmares online). If you are serious about meeting a new partner, being genuine is important.

DO show interest in their personality and their passions, not just their appearance. 

And don’t put too much emphasis on a photo. A picture is worth a thousand words but it is absolutely no reflection of what a person is like in real life.

DO consider arranging a video chat before meeting up in person.

It's a safe way to "meet" your date before making the commitment to meet in person and if have a video wall to talk about your self DO IT it will get you looks of 58% more maybe you will find the one sooner.

DO accept that not all messages will receive a reply. 

It’s just a fact of life and is no reflection on you. If you are struggling to get any sort of response, take another look at your profile and maybe make some small tweaks and perhaps changing up the photos a little. Look at successful profiles and pick up some tips.

DO keep an open mind. 

Your ideal partner may not be the person you have pictured in your mind.

DON'T send a message simply saying “hi” or “hey”. 

It gives the recipient nothing to work with, and it comes across a bit half-hearted.

DON'T be rude or abusive.

If someone doesn’t respond or rejects you, it can be disheartening. But it doesn’t give you a free pass to be nasty. Dust yourself off and move on.

DON'T send explicit photographs or messages. 

Even if you have been speaking to the person for a long time, you need to be able to completely trust someone with that sort of material. Also, it's pretty low rent.

DON'T copy and paste the same message to every person. 

Yes, it’s a timesaver if you are playing a numbers game, but you can guarantee you won't get a response if you address it to the wrong name.

DON'T allow an email conversation to drag on without a date.

You cannot judge chemistry until you meet in person and someone who seems perfect for you online could be far from it in real life. Letting a conversation go on for weeks on end without a date is not only a waste of time, but anyone who is reluctant to meet in person may be hiding something.

DON'T believe everything you hear. 

You are getting to know this new person and have to take things at face value. But the Internet provides the perfect medium for someone to claim to be something/someone they are not.

That’s why the MTV show Catfish is so popular.

DO have fun

There are loads of great people online and it's a really handy way to meet new people when you have a busy lifestyle. The person of your dreams could be just a click away.

And above all - STAY SAFE.

If you do arrange to meet someone offline, be sure to let someone close to you know all the details and where they can pick you up if there's a problem. Also, make sure it is somewhere public never GIVE OUT where you LIVE or personal phone numbers till you are sure they are what and whom they say and YOU FEEL SAFE.

Orginal story - read here - https://goo.gl/uBXRgQ