A Guide to Navigating the Crazy World of Online Dating

One of the first things to think about when considering online dating is your intentions. What do you want? Where do you want things to go? This might seem like a simple question, but if you go into a relationship without knowing, then things could get complicated. Being honest with yourself and the person you are seeing are the first steps to any relationship or courtship.

Look at the Online Dating Options

So many sites exist these days for meeting people. Some have fees or membership costs, so be sure to know what comes with those costs and if those are necessary. Sometimes an entry cost to a dating site is a good thing if you are looking for something serious and want to weed out the people not willing to put in the effort of paying.

If you are just trying to enjoy yourself and engage in a casual hookup or a sex dating situation, then maybe it is best to consider some of the casual hookup apps. These casual apps and websites are especially beneficial to those traveling for work or studying abroad. This is an easy way to meet someone to go on a casual date with and hook up once or twice if it goes well.

Be Safe When Meeting with People from the Internet

This may seem obvious, but if someone is charming, getting caught up in a date is easy. This is important in any social situation, but after matching someone on a dating app, use the internet to your advantage and look them up. If it seems that they are who they say they are and their profiles have other people in them, then it’s a go.

Be Prepared to Find Love

This may sound romantic and cheesy, but many casual dates and friendships have the potential to turn into a romance. This can even happen from meeting people on casual dating websites. This is something to be wary of. This even makes being honest with yourself and the other person involved more important. If you suddenly become attached, say you want to consider making a casual fling into something more. Honesty really is the best policy.

Let Someone Else Choose Your Online Dating Profile Photo

People in this age make up their minds about another person’s personality within the first few seconds of viewing their profile picture. This is why you should pick a friend with your best interest in mind when it comes to dating. A study has found that other people are better at choosing a photo for someone. This might be because we are so used to seeing our own faces that it is difficult to distinguish one photo from the next, according to Time.

The Shorter, the Better

Messaging “Hey” to start a conversation may be a better bet than typing out an elaborate and clever message, initially. Studies have found that this may be the best strategy for attracting someone who is out of your league. Too much enthusiasm over the messaging function on dating apps may turn off the receiver of the message. With that being said, keep you messages short and sweet.

Keep the messaging casual and let your best bud pick your profile picture when trying to land a date on a dating site. It might feel like interviewing for jobs when starting out, but try to have fun and loosen up a little — you would be surprised by whom you might attract with your newfound online dating knowledge.