After soliciting the help of my two friends who met each other on a dating website, I was able to put together a list of online dating no-nos to avoid when searching for that special someone. They explained to me the things that other users did that failed to impress and really turned them off. The small details that you include in your profile are important because they contribute to the first impression other online daters will have of you. Stay tuned for these online dating no-nos to help avoid any mishaps and get closer to meeting your other half!
One of the first online dating no-nos my friends mentioned was using a fake name. Some sites do tend to stick to usernames, but when prompted to use your name, use your real one. Nothing is a bigger turn-off than having xMuscleManx send you a message, so show people who you really are right from the get-go. If you're nervous about using your full name, use your first and middle name instead of your first and last name.
Don’t send someone a message asking for a date right away. Show the person that you’re interested in getting to know them first and let the date pan out naturally.
Once you have a couple of back-and-forths with someone, move the conversation offline. This way, the conversation becomes more personal, and the natural progression of dating can begin.
Try not to be cliche and put what you think people want you to hear in your profile. After all, you want someone to like you for who you are, so catering to what you think other people may like is not doing yourself a favor.
One of my friends mentioned that the girl in the profile picture he was talking to had long blonde hair and was very attractive. Turns out on their first date, she was a completely different person. Please don’t use a fake picture. This has bad karma written all over it and will definitely scare away your date.
It’s best not to be long-winded and throw a lot at someone all at once. Try sending a brief, flirty message to get things going.
This one’s a biggie. So many times I have heard a friend say they were dating a guy from an online dating website, but turns out, they were also talking to other people at the same time. It’s understandable to keep your options open in the beginning when you’re first meeting people, but just because it’s online dating doesn’t mean it isn’t real life. Always be respectful and don’t lead someone on.
Meeting people can be very difficult. Especially after graduating college and going out in the real world, it seems increasingly harder to meet people on a busy work schedule. Online dating can be an excellent way to get yourself back in the dating game, but just remember to be yourself. Hopefully these tips will be helpful and you’ll be meeting awesome new people in no time! Do you have any tips for dating online? Please share in the comments!