Things like; misleading profiles, getting unwanted attention, some physical safety concerns, lack of chemistry, being too superficial, being ghosted, scammed or catfished… [insert your own experience]… Am I right?

There is some truth in these complaints, but I also think it’s how you chose to ‘play the game’ that generates the outcome.

So how do you navigate the minefield of online dating in order to get the results you want?

Dating apps (or pre-internet dating agencies) are no longer associated with the stigmas of the past; the thinking that if you’re searching for love online, it means you can’t meet someone physically – which simply isn’t true anymore. 

Online dating apps are the Number 1 way that people meet and fall in love in the 21^st century. Like all things digital, they’ve evolved and continue to do so.  So, if you are looking for love, in the world today, you need to have an online dating profile, whether you like it or not. 

Here are my tips for navigating the world of online dating…

✅  DO – Be specific in your profile bio.  Be clear about what you want or don’t want and ensure your algorithms reflect that.  Limited the algorithm reach.  You might not get as many matches but the ones you do match with, will be more aligned with what you’re looking for.  Ultimately you will be spending far more productive time with the people you actually share interests with and want to meet.

❌  DON’T – Be generic in your profile, that’s vanilla! And will get you a whole load of vanilla. It wastes time and takes all the fun out of finding a match.

✅  DO – Share what ignites your passions, what makes you smile and brings you joy. Confidence is sexy AF, so don’t be afraid of expressing your special secret sauce.  

❌  DON’T – exclusively talk about things you don’t like, those deal breakers and heartbreaks, when you got betrayed, any man/woman hating – negativity is a turnoff and will attract the same to you.

✅  DO – have multiple dates – this doesn’t mean being sexually intimate (unless that’s your thing) – this is about getting practiced at meeting people, having fun with it and not being to serious.  If you’re going on one date every 3-6 months, you’re going to be nervous and have high or unrealistic expectations. Going on multiple dates means you will be more relaxed and approachable. Remember it’s a date, not a marriage proposal.

❌  DON’T – turn the date into an interview, as if you are ticking off a series of check boxes. Be real; ask and answer some questions about yourself. A conversation goes two ways, it’s a dialogue, not a monologue.

And more than anything have fun. You are the prize x