How to Be Better at Online Dating

Online dating can be a time-consuming, frustrating process. It requires patience, self-awareness and a commitment to being your best, not just on the apps but in other aspects of life as well. But if you take your online dating seriously, you can be better at it and find love sooner than you might think.

It’s also a numbers game: The more dates you go on, the higher your chances of finding a match. However, that doesn’t mean you should give up if your first few matches aren’t what you want. Taking some time to weed out bad matches can help ensure that you’re only wasting your time with quality people, instead of ones who might turn out to be a fling or not even worth pursuing.

1. Know your values and what you’re looking for

Having a clear picture of the kind of person you want to meet can make it easier to connect with someone who shares similar values, according to Salama. This can include things like what kind of music they listen to, what they value about food and what type of activities they enjoy.

2. Create a clear online dating profile

The first step in being more successful with online dating is to have a clear, clean, and well-written profile. This can involve writing a short, sweet profile about yourself that highlights your strengths and what you’re looking for in a partner.

3. Do the work to make yourself memorable

Keeping your photos current is one of the most important steps in being better at online dating, and it’s essential that they reflect you in your best light. Using old or blurry photos can be tempting, but it doesn’t serve you well in the long run.

4. Stay authentic

Rather than relying on advice from experts, it’s better to follow your gut instinct and your own personality when creating an online dating profile. This is especially important if you’re trying to find something more serious than just a fling.

5. Maintain multiple conversations at once

You can’t possibly spend hours talking to every single match on a dating app, so it’s best to keep a few different chats going at the same time. Doing this will prevent you from getting too attached to any particular match before you meet them. If one conversation gets stale, it will be easy to cut that person off and find another.

6. Keep your private information safe

It can be tempting to share as much of your personal life as possible on your dating profile, but this can make you more vulnerable and open to scammers. This is particularly true if you’re in a relationship or you’re just starting out on online dating. It’s always wise to protect yourself by keeping information about your location and workplace private until you’ve established a good rapport with your match.

It can also be helpful to have a friend check out your online dating profile to see if it sounds genuine and authentic. This will save you from making any embarrassing mistakes and ensure that your profile is as honest and true to you as possible.