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Online dating is a great way for people to find love, but it’s not always as easy and straightforward as we would like it to be. Many people spend months trying to meet the person of their dreams on the Internet and get nowhere. The checklist below will help you troubleshoot your cyber dating experience if things are not going as well as you would like them to. Have you uploaded a picture?
We’d all like to be loved and appreciated for more than just our appearance, but the fact is, online daters like to know who they are talking to. Many people won’t bother contacting someone who hasn’t uploaded a picture, thinking that person obviously has something to hide. A good picture is one that shows people what you look like. Don’t be put off uploading one if you are not conventionally “beautiful”. Whatever you look like, it’s a safe bet to assume that people who look like you meet and fall in love all the time. Uploading a clear picture where you’re smiling and look friendly is your best bet. Headshots are best, with full body shots OK as a second picture. Uploading pictures of anything or anyone that is obviously not you will only damage your chances.
Your aim when writing a profile is to make people want to get to know you. With thousands or even millions of people on a dating site, putting up a profile that says nothing but “ask me”, won’t make anyone want to contact you, unless you are a beautiful woman and have uploaded a photo (in which case, only guys who are after sex would bother contacting you). Show people a bit about who you are by writing a profile they will actually want to read. Spend some time actually describing yourself, rather than just listing adjectives (such as “I’m generous, friendly, good cook” etc.) anyone can write the words “I’m funny” but not everyone can make you laugh.
Whether you are a man or a woman, it helps to get out there and contact people yourself. Online dating is fast moving us from the times when men were the ones who had to make first contact and women had to sit back and wait or be thought of as too “forward”. With so many thousands of people to choose from, the person you want to talk to may never have a chance to browse your profile unless you let them know you exist, so do it! Regardless of whether they’re interested in you or not, no one will ever hold it against you if you send him/her a message.
You think your profile is as good as can be, you’ve uploaded a friendly picture and have sent messages to as many people as you’ve seen but still no response. What now? The next questions to ask involve the way you communicate with others. Was your message too short? Just writing “hi” or other impersonal, short messages can make people think your message was not sent personally to them or that you didn’t feel they were worth spending a few more minutes coming up with something better to write. Try to write a couple of paragraphs and make the message sound like you’ve put some thought into it. Maybe comment on that person’s profile and say why you chose to contact him/her. Unless you are on a web site where the premise is people have come there looking for sex, don’t be too forward. It would most likely not be appreciated. These are only a few of the “rules” for online dating, stay tuned for many more!
If you thought that because you're getting older means life is over, wake up! It's just getting better for some folks. Even if you haven't dated in years, you can start again with a little advice and encouragement. Sign up for my newsletter, read these great lenses, and get started now on a new adventure and a new life!
Visit over 50 dating review and find out more!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Dating Over 40 - How to Get Started Online
How to Start Dating Online
So, you work in an all female office building and nobody you know has one single friend to fix you up with? Hate drinking and can’t dance to save your life? What is a dateless girl to do? Before you start cruising the grocery stores trying to pick up hungry bachelors in the frozen food aisle, consider online dating. With a little planning, a good profile and some luck thrown in, the man of your dreams might be as close as your computer screen.
The first step, of course, is to decide which online dating site you will use. There are countless sites to choose from. One man I know views online dating like a job. He belongs to several sites and keeps notebooks with notations about profiles and his hits and misses. The man is totally obsessed. That is an extreme case, so don’t let that scare you off. Select a few sites by reputation and then narrow it down to the one that you can best afford. Remember, you are going to be dating now, you are going to need new shoes. Budget wisely.
Once you have selected the site, the next step is your picture. The first thing that people will look at is the photo. If yours is great, you could practically describe beating your mailman to death with a bagful of kittens and you will still get a handful of responses. Okay, so those responses are from people you want to say far, far away from, but you get the point. Pick a picture that highlights your best facial feature, like your sparkling eyes or your perfect smile. Try not to use that glamour shot that you got last year at the mall though, especially if a light brushing of mascara and some lip balm is your idea of putting on make up. Use a flattering, but truthful, realistic picture.
After the right picture is found, you will need to write a good, eye catching profile. Again, try to be honest and don't oversell yourself. Remember, you do want to meet some of these people in real life. Avoid over the top, million dollar words that you would not use in regular conversation. Try to remain upbeat but not annoyingly perky. In the section marked “pets” list what you have and be done with it. Now is not the time to spill your guts about every precious thing that little Sparky has done. Check the box and move along.
Consider online dating to be a process not a miracle maker. Just as you are not going to wake up one day to find that you have been declared CEO of your company, you are not going to log on and find a love connection with the first man that you date. You might find yourself repeating the same process over and over until you finally get it right. You go back and forth with the emails, answering questions and reading responses, until you get to the answer that is the deal breaker. You move on to the next match and start all over again. You might even get to the part where you even get to meet someone in real life. Maybe he is the one for you, maybe not, but that is what dating is all about whether it is online or not. It is a gamble. You roll the dice, sometimes you get snake eyes and sometimes you hit the jackpot.
If you thought that because you're getting older means life is over, wake up! It's just getting better for some folks. Even if you haven't dated in years, you can start again with a little advice and encouragement. Sign up for my newsletter, read these great lenses, and get started now on a new adventure and a new life!
Visit over 50 dating review and find out more!
So, you work in an all female office building and nobody you know has one single friend to fix you up with? Hate drinking and can’t dance to save your life? What is a dateless girl to do? Before you start cruising the grocery stores trying to pick up hungry bachelors in the frozen food aisle, consider online dating. With a little planning, a good profile and some luck thrown in, the man of your dreams might be as close as your computer screen.
The first step, of course, is to decide which online dating site you will use. There are countless sites to choose from. One man I know views online dating like a job. He belongs to several sites and keeps notebooks with notations about profiles and his hits and misses. The man is totally obsessed. That is an extreme case, so don’t let that scare you off. Select a few sites by reputation and then narrow it down to the one that you can best afford. Remember, you are going to be dating now, you are going to need new shoes. Budget wisely.
Once you have selected the site, the next step is your picture. The first thing that people will look at is the photo. If yours is great, you could practically describe beating your mailman to death with a bagful of kittens and you will still get a handful of responses. Okay, so those responses are from people you want to say far, far away from, but you get the point. Pick a picture that highlights your best facial feature, like your sparkling eyes or your perfect smile. Try not to use that glamour shot that you got last year at the mall though, especially if a light brushing of mascara and some lip balm is your idea of putting on make up. Use a flattering, but truthful, realistic picture.
After the right picture is found, you will need to write a good, eye catching profile. Again, try to be honest and don't oversell yourself. Remember, you do want to meet some of these people in real life. Avoid over the top, million dollar words that you would not use in regular conversation. Try to remain upbeat but not annoyingly perky. In the section marked “pets” list what you have and be done with it. Now is not the time to spill your guts about every precious thing that little Sparky has done. Check the box and move along.
Consider online dating to be a process not a miracle maker. Just as you are not going to wake up one day to find that you have been declared CEO of your company, you are not going to log on and find a love connection with the first man that you date. You might find yourself repeating the same process over and over until you finally get it right. You go back and forth with the emails, answering questions and reading responses, until you get to the answer that is the deal breaker. You move on to the next match and start all over again. You might even get to the part where you even get to meet someone in real life. Maybe he is the one for you, maybe not, but that is what dating is all about whether it is online or not. It is a gamble. You roll the dice, sometimes you get snake eyes and sometimes you hit the jackpot.
If you thought that because you're getting older means life is over, wake up! It's just getting better for some folks. Even if you haven't dated in years, you can start again with a little advice and encouragement. Sign up for my newsletter, read these great lenses, and get started now on a new adventure and a new life!
Visit over 50 dating review and find out more!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Dating over 40 - start your search out right!
Ok, so you have decided to take the plunge and start dating again, possibly against your better judgment. But where do you start? It’s not like you’re a kid anymore, so you can’t just peddle on down to the school and hang out for the afternoon, hoping to meet someone new. There are many questions like this that the over 50 crowd have when they first start dating after a divorce or loss of a spouse, and I’m hoping to give you some ideas in this article on where to go to get started.
First of all, forget all of the “horror” stories you’ve heard about dating from your friends. Are some of them true? I’m sure they are, but if you take a few precautions and do some planning ahead, you should be able to avoid these nightmare first dates. Remember, finding and meeting the right person may just involve an element of luck, too. But if you are prepared, sometimes you make your own luck, right? I always believe in that premise, and it rarely fails me.
There are countless ways to meet new people, and many times you don’t even have to be looking, just paying attention! But if you really want to tempt fate, here are some great ways to get out there and start the search:
Church – It’s been said many times, and it’s probably true. If you want to meet a “nice” guy or lady, go to your local church. Not a member of any church? Even better, look in your local community directory or website for one close by, and take it upon yourself to check it out. That is one place that new people are always welcome.
Clubs/organizations – There are many different kinds of clubs you can join, some you probably have never heard of. Of course you probably want to start with a hobby – such as a sport, stamp collecting, mountain climbing, jogging, book club, there are probably a hundred different clubs you could join. And they are a great way to meet someone with the same interests!
Speed Dating – Yes I can hear you already. Most people our age shudder at the thought of something so “competitive” sounding as speed dating, but many people find it very stimulating. It is a great way to meet a lot of people at once, which is somewhat intimidating for some. The question is, how badly do you want to meet someone? Be bold, be daring!
Personal Ads – There still are many local newspapers out there that have personal ads for folks to post, and now there are also the online version. The ones in newspapers cost a few dollars, but it’s just another way to get your hook in the water, so to speak.
Internet Dating – This is the big one now that the internet is so prolific, nearly everyone in this country from 5-year olds to 80 year-olds have an email account, right? Ok, not everyone. But internet dating is one of the easiest ways to meet someone, since you have complete anonymity until you want to actually meet in person. Research has found that 43 percent of people age 55 or older believe it is possible for people to meet via the Internet and fall in love. And the prices vary, but for the most part even the better dating services are around $25 per month depending on how long you subscribe to the service. Be careful which service you choose, some have better options and are more complete. A free trial is normally offered for 30 days, so that is a good idea to try things out first.
All in all, it’s up to you. Depending on what you personally feel comfortable with and can afford, these are probably the best methods to meet new people besides just wandering around the mall on a Saturday afternoon. Come to think of it, add that to the list! Be creative, talk to friends, and find out where the single folks are at for your age group. You may be surprised, they don’t all sit at home!
If you thought that because you're getting older means life is over, wake up! It's just getting better for some folks. Even if you haven't dated in years, you can start again with a little advice and encouragement. Sign up for my newsletter, read these great lenses, and get started now on a new adventure and a new life!
Visit over 50 dating review and find out more!
First of all, forget all of the “horror” stories you’ve heard about dating from your friends. Are some of them true? I’m sure they are, but if you take a few precautions and do some planning ahead, you should be able to avoid these nightmare first dates. Remember, finding and meeting the right person may just involve an element of luck, too. But if you are prepared, sometimes you make your own luck, right? I always believe in that premise, and it rarely fails me.
There are countless ways to meet new people, and many times you don’t even have to be looking, just paying attention! But if you really want to tempt fate, here are some great ways to get out there and start the search:
Church – It’s been said many times, and it’s probably true. If you want to meet a “nice” guy or lady, go to your local church. Not a member of any church? Even better, look in your local community directory or website for one close by, and take it upon yourself to check it out. That is one place that new people are always welcome.
Clubs/organizations – There are many different kinds of clubs you can join, some you probably have never heard of. Of course you probably want to start with a hobby – such as a sport, stamp collecting, mountain climbing, jogging, book club, there are probably a hundred different clubs you could join. And they are a great way to meet someone with the same interests!
Speed Dating – Yes I can hear you already. Most people our age shudder at the thought of something so “competitive” sounding as speed dating, but many people find it very stimulating. It is a great way to meet a lot of people at once, which is somewhat intimidating for some. The question is, how badly do you want to meet someone? Be bold, be daring!
Personal Ads – There still are many local newspapers out there that have personal ads for folks to post, and now there are also the online version. The ones in newspapers cost a few dollars, but it’s just another way to get your hook in the water, so to speak.
Internet Dating – This is the big one now that the internet is so prolific, nearly everyone in this country from 5-year olds to 80 year-olds have an email account, right? Ok, not everyone. But internet dating is one of the easiest ways to meet someone, since you have complete anonymity until you want to actually meet in person. Research has found that 43 percent of people age 55 or older believe it is possible for people to meet via the Internet and fall in love. And the prices vary, but for the most part even the better dating services are around $25 per month depending on how long you subscribe to the service. Be careful which service you choose, some have better options and are more complete. A free trial is normally offered for 30 days, so that is a good idea to try things out first.
All in all, it’s up to you. Depending on what you personally feel comfortable with and can afford, these are probably the best methods to meet new people besides just wandering around the mall on a Saturday afternoon. Come to think of it, add that to the list! Be creative, talk to friends, and find out where the single folks are at for your age group. You may be surprised, they don’t all sit at home!
If you thought that because you're getting older means life is over, wake up! It's just getting better for some folks. Even if you haven't dated in years, you can start again with a little advice and encouragement. Sign up for my newsletter, read these great lenses, and get started now on a new adventure and a new life!
Visit over 50 dating review and find out more!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Dating online - know what you want, get what you want!
Good Day,
In this post I would like to point out just a few tried and true tips on how to make your dating experience a little smoother. As we get older, we get a lot wiser! So show your wisdom by doing some planning in advance, so when you do seriously start meeting people for the first time in years, you will have a good idea what to do, what your looking for, and how to make your expectations known ahead of time so neither one of you waste your time. So with that in mind, here goes!
• Know what you want/don’t want: As easy as it may sound, many people make the mistake of going out in search of a date or a romantic partner without so much as a clue about what it is that they are looking for. The first thing you need to do before trying to find a date is to outline precisely what you want in a date and even more importantly, what it is that you don’t want. Develop a list of dating deal breakers or things that you are not willing to compromise on.
• Know what you have to offer: Dating is a give and take that should ideally be as balanced as possible so it is absolutely essential that you actually have something to offer. Always remember that you very often get what you give.
• Develop a plan of action: Think about the best ways for you to meet potential dates. Consider what social opportunities you might take advantage of and in what ways you will use the resources available at your disposal.
• Go for what you want: Armed with a solid understanding of what you want and a plan for how to go about making those desires a reality, you are then ready to get out there and make it happen. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t work out exactly as planned and you get shot down every now and then. Remember that even though they might sometimes feel like speed bumps in the road, set backs are really nothing more than opportunities for progress; it all depends on how you decide to use them.
And one other thing I forgot to mention, don’t forget that there are plenty of fish in sea, as they say. Don’t think you have any time-table to meet someone - have fun and just get out there and do it! Like anything, dating takes practice. So get some practice, ok? Pretty soon you will find the right one for you, as long as you keep positive and keep looking.
If you thought that because you're getting older means life is over, wake up! It's just getting better for some folks. Even if you haven't dated in years, you can start again with a little advice and encouragement. Sign up for my newsletter, read these great lenses, and get started now on a new adventure and a new life!
Visit over 50 dating review and find out more!
In this post I would like to point out just a few tried and true tips on how to make your dating experience a little smoother. As we get older, we get a lot wiser! So show your wisdom by doing some planning in advance, so when you do seriously start meeting people for the first time in years, you will have a good idea what to do, what your looking for, and how to make your expectations known ahead of time so neither one of you waste your time. So with that in mind, here goes!
• Know what you want/don’t want: As easy as it may sound, many people make the mistake of going out in search of a date or a romantic partner without so much as a clue about what it is that they are looking for. The first thing you need to do before trying to find a date is to outline precisely what you want in a date and even more importantly, what it is that you don’t want. Develop a list of dating deal breakers or things that you are not willing to compromise on.
• Know what you have to offer: Dating is a give and take that should ideally be as balanced as possible so it is absolutely essential that you actually have something to offer. Always remember that you very often get what you give.
• Develop a plan of action: Think about the best ways for you to meet potential dates. Consider what social opportunities you might take advantage of and in what ways you will use the resources available at your disposal.
• Go for what you want: Armed with a solid understanding of what you want and a plan for how to go about making those desires a reality, you are then ready to get out there and make it happen. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t work out exactly as planned and you get shot down every now and then. Remember that even though they might sometimes feel like speed bumps in the road, set backs are really nothing more than opportunities for progress; it all depends on how you decide to use them.
And one other thing I forgot to mention, don’t forget that there are plenty of fish in sea, as they say. Don’t think you have any time-table to meet someone - have fun and just get out there and do it! Like anything, dating takes practice. So get some practice, ok? Pretty soon you will find the right one for you, as long as you keep positive and keep looking.
If you thought that because you're getting older means life is over, wake up! It's just getting better for some folks. Even if you haven't dated in years, you can start again with a little advice and encouragement. Sign up for my newsletter, read these great lenses, and get started now on a new adventure and a new life!
Visit over 50 dating review and find out more!
Dating for the over 40 crowd - online is the way to go
Hello,
So you have found yourself dating again, for whatever reason, for the first time in many years? Well, you might be surprised at how common the situation is these days. Yes the statistics show that there are more unattached adults over the age of 50 than ever before, due to higher divorce rate, longer life-spans, and a tendency for some to put off marriage until later in life. When you consider that of the 97 million Americans who are 45 or older, nearly a full 40 percent or 36.2 million claim to be single, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That makes the odds a little better, doesn’t it?
Since the vast majority of these single folks are baby-boomers, that means that many businesses are already targeting them. Yes, that’s a large group of people, most of whom are middle to upper-middle class, fairly well educated, and willing to try new things if it means a shot at happiness. Which is another reason that dating at this age is a bit easier, since it is very common. Not only that, there is a cottage industry of dating services both offline and online to meet the demand. So whatever you’re comfortable with, you will surely find a way to meet someone!
One way that dating for the older crowd is easier is that we tend to know ourselves much better now, at least in comparison to when we were in our twenties or even thirties. Some recent research has also pointed out that we tend to be more practical than the younger daters, rather than only considering the emotional issues involved with dating someone. Over 50 daters tend to think that there is more than one “perfect mate” or soul mate out there, rather than waiting for the perfect person that may not exist (who are we kidding?) This means our expectations are more in line with reality, rather than some fantasy we had when we were young.
Another reason dating over 40 is a bit easier is that we have our careers pretty much nailed down by now, unless of course you are one of the “career-switchers” that are more common these days. However, the rule seems to be that by this age, most people are pretty settled on a career and at least somewhat happy in their choices. That means much more time and energy to spend on finding the right person to spend time with, which is good. It does take both time and energy, and some perseverance as well, to launch a hunt for that new relationship.
Of course by this age we’re well aware that nothing is free or easy, right?
And lastly, the over 40 crowd tends to have a good amount of people skills by this time. Most have dealt with many different types of people, usually through the work environment, and are better judges of people than when they were younger. That doesn’t mean we can’t be fooled, of course. But with age comes experience and nothing can replace it, so this is another big plus for most of us. If you haven’t had to deal with people in your job or social life recently, brushing up on these skills is usually like riding a bike as they say. It won’t be long before you will comfortably talking to the single men/ladies again with ease. Right?
If you thought that because you're getting older means life is over, wake up! It's just getting better for some folks. Even if you haven't dated in years, you can start again with a little advice and encouragement. Sign up for my newsletter, read these great lenses, and get started now on a new adventure and a new life!
Visit over 50 dating review and find out more!
So you have found yourself dating again, for whatever reason, for the first time in many years? Well, you might be surprised at how common the situation is these days. Yes the statistics show that there are more unattached adults over the age of 50 than ever before, due to higher divorce rate, longer life-spans, and a tendency for some to put off marriage until later in life. When you consider that of the 97 million Americans who are 45 or older, nearly a full 40 percent or 36.2 million claim to be single, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That makes the odds a little better, doesn’t it?
Since the vast majority of these single folks are baby-boomers, that means that many businesses are already targeting them. Yes, that’s a large group of people, most of whom are middle to upper-middle class, fairly well educated, and willing to try new things if it means a shot at happiness. Which is another reason that dating at this age is a bit easier, since it is very common. Not only that, there is a cottage industry of dating services both offline and online to meet the demand. So whatever you’re comfortable with, you will surely find a way to meet someone!
One way that dating for the older crowd is easier is that we tend to know ourselves much better now, at least in comparison to when we were in our twenties or even thirties. Some recent research has also pointed out that we tend to be more practical than the younger daters, rather than only considering the emotional issues involved with dating someone. Over 50 daters tend to think that there is more than one “perfect mate” or soul mate out there, rather than waiting for the perfect person that may not exist (who are we kidding?) This means our expectations are more in line with reality, rather than some fantasy we had when we were young.
Another reason dating over 40 is a bit easier is that we have our careers pretty much nailed down by now, unless of course you are one of the “career-switchers” that are more common these days. However, the rule seems to be that by this age, most people are pretty settled on a career and at least somewhat happy in their choices. That means much more time and energy to spend on finding the right person to spend time with, which is good. It does take both time and energy, and some perseverance as well, to launch a hunt for that new relationship.
Of course by this age we’re well aware that nothing is free or easy, right?
And lastly, the over 40 crowd tends to have a good amount of people skills by this time. Most have dealt with many different types of people, usually through the work environment, and are better judges of people than when they were younger. That doesn’t mean we can’t be fooled, of course. But with age comes experience and nothing can replace it, so this is another big plus for most of us. If you haven’t had to deal with people in your job or social life recently, brushing up on these skills is usually like riding a bike as they say. It won’t be long before you will comfortably talking to the single men/ladies again with ease. Right?
If you thought that because you're getting older means life is over, wake up! It's just getting better for some folks. Even if you haven't dated in years, you can start again with a little advice and encouragement. Sign up for my newsletter, read these great lenses, and get started now on a new adventure and a new life!
Visit over 50 dating review and find out more!
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