Joining online dating for the first time can be an exhilarating experience, thanks to reams of attractive matches and a brimming inbox. But if you’ve been on the site for a while you might feel like you’re stuck in a bit of a dating rut; after all you’re no longer a ‘new member’ and you’re bound to notice some members you’ve seen before. You may be receiving fewer emails than you used to or be struggling to get the motivation to contact or write back to anyone. That’s why it’s a good idea to take stock every now and then and refresh your dating profile and your approach to online dating. Here’s our simple three step advice on how to breathe new life into your online dating experience:
1. Change your photo
The first rule of profile renovation is to change your photo. Imagine your profile as a book; your main photo is the cover of that book and whilst you should never ‘judge a book by its cover’…most people do. It’s the most noticeable thing about your profile and it needs to stand out. A profile that has had the same photo for months on end, reminds people that you haven’t been snapped up and may cause people to hit the ‘next’ button. But instead of swapping your photo for another one from your existing album, put some effort into it. Avoid camera phone self-portraits – these can look a bit tacky, as can group photos where you’ve cropped your friends out of the image. Ask a friend to take a photo of you in good, natural lighting wearing something bright and appealing or learn to use the timer on your digital camera. You should also think about adding some extra photos to your album that enhance your online dating personality, such as photos of you taking part in your favourite hobby.
2. Fill in the blanks
If you haven’t filled in all the areas on your profile, now’s the time to do it. A complete profile can help people find you more easily when running a search. So, for example, if you’ve entered your hair colour, occupation or favourite type of film, you’ll be considered in more searches that other members run. And if you haven’t written a personal ad yet…why not?? A personal ad is your opportunity to let your personality shine through and spark conversations with members you like. If you’re stuck for ideas, read our tips on how to write a great ad.
3. Search differently
If you mainly base your searches on your postcode it can be worth trying to enter neighbouring postcodes next time you search to expand the number of matches you’re shown. As long as you enter a sufficient radius, your town will still fall in the ‘catchment area’, but you might also see some new faces. The more profiles you then click on, the more people receive your ‘visit’ and are therefore made aware of your existence. Make sure you also make the most of the 1-click search tools, such as ‘new members’, so that you can cover more ground in your search for a great date.
And finally, remember to search with a new positive and open-minded attitude. You’ve hopefully learnt a lot about what you want out of a dating partner or a relationship, so use this knowledge when you search and communicate with others. In other words, take time to browse a range of different profiles and don’t be afraid to make the first move when you see someone you like.