So, you want to start dating again?
Maybe you’re fresh out of a long term relationship.
Maybe the divorce just became final.
Maybe you’ve decided you want a companion.
But where do you start?
I’m sure you’ve had this conversation with your married friends. They suggest the dating apps – which is like installing a rotary dial phone and expecting your teenager to know how it works.
The real question is – are you ready? You never know until you try, but taking that first step can be daunting… Don’t be scared. Put your best foot forward and be confident.
Here’s the 7 steps you need to get started on the dating apps and Diving Back into the Dating Pool…
- Sign up!
Go ahead and sign up on an app or more than one different dating app. You will find that certain apps are better in different parts of the country. There’s nothing wrong with trying more than one – you’ll often come across people who are on more than one app/site. Some people are only on one or two of the dating apps, and if you dont try different ones, you could miss that special person, or they could miss you.
- Photos
Photos are the most important part of your profile. Go ahead and upload some photos. Take some new ones if you need to. Make sure the photos you upload are recent (not from 10 years ago!), make sure that you have a headshot that clearly shows your face and great smile! It’s a good idea to also have a head to toe photo as well. If you want to use a group photo you can, but make sure you are clearly visible and it’s obvious who you are in the photo, dont leave them guessing. Be bold and show off a photo from an activity that you like or your action while doing something fun and interesting.
- Show off who you are
Fill out that profile! Who are you? Provide a little bit of real detail, this gives the person a better perspective on who you are and what you are about. What makes you that amazing person that people want to be with? Show off your lifestyle, and what you like to do for fun.
- Swipe
Once your profile is complete, start swiping! Taking some time looking at other profiles, can help you to be seen. Don’t be afraid to look, it typically a free activity on many of the dating sites. Get to understand the difference between swiping left (dont like) vs. swiping right (like), this technique will become part of your DNA eventually.
- Send that first message
When you match with someone be sure to reach out! It’s great when someone likes you and you like them, but if you never send a message, what was the point? Take a moment and say something more than Hi. Find something from their profile to comment on, this shows that you read their profile and not just looked at the pictures.
- Messaging
Keep messages fun and light. Messages on dating apps are way too soon in the dating experience to be sharing the heavy things going on in your life. We all have stuff going on.
There’s no need to unload on a complete stranger. Save that for your friends.
- Plan a date
The messages are going well? Plan to meet! Always plan to meet in a public place. Safety First. Once you meet someone in person you can then use your best judgment for future dates.
Dating can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Put your best foot forward and have confidence in who you are. Dates don’t always go past the first one, and that’s okay. It really is a numbers game to find the right person for you. Diving Back Into The Dating Pool takes a little bit of courage, but with these steps you are ready to get started on the dating apps.
