6 Things You Need To Know About Online Dating

So you’ve finally decided to try your luck in love via online dating. Whilst the team here have mixed feelings towards online dating. There’s no doubt that more people are finding love online. For those who’ve taken the plunge, we’ve enlisted the help of an online dating expert,  Oasis.com CEO Dave Heysen. Here are some insider tips for the no fuss guide to online dating. And in 30everafter style, we’ve included our commentary in blue.

Dive in

Whether you’re newly single or have been footloose and fancy free for some time, you’ve got nothing to lose by taking your search online. Online dating is a normal part of single life and everyone’s doing it. So ditch the excuses!

Yes everyone is doing it. So what if you stumble across your mate’s profile? Remember – if his profile is online, he’s made up his mind to give online dating a go too. It’s no longer an avenue for ‘desperate’ singles. 

Scope it out

It’s a good idea to browse other profiles to get a sense of what other people your age with children are saying about themselves, to help start you off.

In fact, watch this video of how a woman hacked online dating to attract her type. Consider telling a close friend that you’re planning to begin online dating and ask them to help you draft your profile. you closest friends won’t have any trouble finding positive things to say about you and highlighting your best traits.

Set up

Once you decide to get into the online dating scene it’s time to choose your username. We always recommend taking time to think carefully about what you want your username to be, as this is one of the first things other users will judge you on. Try to create a name that’s fun, but also reveals a little about your personality or your interests. this can help create a great first impression and snag some interest.

With this in mind, stay clear of names like Party_Girl or Stud4You if you want to be taken seriously. 

Next set about writing your profile description. For most people, this is the hardest part because many of us find it difficult to write about ourselves.

Think of your profile like a tweet, aiming to offer a teaser for something more. Keep it to a short and punchy 200 words or less, saying as much positive information about yourself as you can, in as few words as possible. This isn’t intended to be a romantic CV, just a summary of who you are and what you want. Use spellcheck before you upload.

Give yourself the best shot at success by filling out every section of your profile to improve your search. The more information your provide, the more matches you’ll receive. It’s that simple.

Now – the fun part. Select and post a handful of great photos of yourself where you look happy, relaxed and approachable. Good selfies can do the trick, but they work best if posted along with some candid social photos. A note to the guys – selfies of you with your shirt off are not attractive. Yes, you have nice abs and go to the gym ( a lot) but save your topless shots for another time and place.

Open your mind 

This is the perfect opportunity to broaden your horizons and meet new people – in your area – or from afar.  Be positive. Send those negative thoughts packing and be open to all types of matches and conversations. If you find someone you’re keen on, get in quick and get chatting before someone else snags your match. And if you really do click, bring the conversation offline. Someone might be fun, witty and charming online and completely different in person. You want to know if you click in the real world. 

Be safe 

Like using any website, it’s important  to be vigilant when online dating. Scamming is an issue that all dating sites take very seriously. While sophisticated systems are now able to block scammers, they can still be very cunning. If you come across any suspicious behaviour, be sure to report them immediately to the site administrator and don’t engage with that person. And if anyone asks for money, this should raise your alarm bells. If it sounds good to be true, it probably is. 

Keep it fresh 

Revisit your profile as often as possible to keep it fresh, appealing and up-to-date. A subtle change like adding some new interests (like flying trapeze or ukele playing would catch our attention), slightly re-wording your description or changing your location, will positively impact the chances of finding your next date.

Have fun and good luck!

About the author 

Dave Heysen, co-founder and CEO, Oasis.com 

Online dating guru and Oasis.com co-founder and CEO, Dave Heysen is a fount of knowledge on all things online dating and relationships. Having been in the online dating game for more than 15 years, Dave has played an integral role in the growth of the online dating industry in Australia and is an expert on online dating trends, behaviours and technology, in Australia and around the world.

Oasis.com is now Australia’s biggest dating site according to visits on Hitwise (July-December 2012), and has grown to have more than 50,000 members joining each month and more than 2.5 million engaged Australian members.

Photo credit: Nina Matthews Photography