Online dating is the perfect way to get to know people whom you may never meet otherwise. More and more people are looking at online dating to expand their social circle, and with practically everyone having access to the Internet, this is really not surprising at all. What we all have to remember, however, is that online dating is not that much different from “real life” dating. We still interact with people with the aim of building up relationships with them.
Just like in real life, it is easy to make mistakes when engaging in online dating. Just because you are shrouded in the relative anonymity that the Internet offers, it does not mean that you can do whatever you want without any regard to the consequences! Today, I offer you online dating tips – mistakes that you do not want to commit.
I don’t like pictures, so I won’t post mine.
I know some people who say that one reason they want to try out online dating is that they have this aversion to pictures. True – you have the option not to include a photo in your profile, but hey, we have to admit that people still do look at these photos. Trust me, I believe that looks are overrated and all that, but at the end of the day, people like having a face to associate the name with. Just choose your best photo – exert a little effort, will you – and stick it up there. I promise you, it won’t kill you.
I don’t feel like putting much effort into my profile.
Wrong! Do not make the mistake of thinking that online dating does not require any effort at all. Just like in real life, you have to do a little work. Your profile is basically the equivalent of YOU in real life. What you put in your profile will let other people know who you are, what you are like, and so on. If you do not take the time to input specific details in your profile, how can you expect other people to determine whether or not to hit you up?
Here’s a simple tip: see all those fields in the profile section? Make sure you fill them all out and be as specific as you can be. Set aside an hour or two to complete your profile – more if you need to. Do not rush yourself. Instead of merely writing “I like listening to music,” think about the specific kind of music you like. Look at your playlists. What artists are there? What songs? Follow this line of thought, and fill out the rest of your profile the same way.
I’ll throw in a few white lies – what they don’t know won’t hurt them.
Just because you’re online, it doesn’t mean that you can lie through your teeth. Eventually, you will want to meet with a person if you click. Do you want everything to go down the drain when that moment comes simply because of a little white lie that you told ages ago? I think not!
Just follow this basic principle: tell the truth as you would in real life.
I don’t have much time. I’ll use a generic e-mail for all initial contacts.
When sending out an “exploratory” e-mail or message to someone that catches your fancy online, it is best to personalize it. One of the biggest mistakes that people do is to craft one or two generic e-mails and then use that for initial contact with other people online. If you are looking for a date or partner online, why would you send something impersonal? Put yourself in the recipient’s shoes. What kind of first contact e-mail would you like to receive? Bear that in mind and personalize your messages.
I KNOW all my expectations are going to be met with this/that girl/guy.
This is something internal, something that could very well be the most important dating tip I can give you in this article. We all have our expectations. Online dating might mean that you will meet that one person who can meet your expectations, but do not always count on it. Have realistic expectations, and don’t think that the first person you hook up with will be THE one. Reasonable expectations and hopes = a better online dating experience.
Have you made any of these mistakes? There’s still time to correct them!
Photo via Ed Yourdon