Effective Online Dating: The 5 Golden Rules

Stuck in a dating rut, or simply don’t know where to begin? Here are five key tips to help you navigate the online dating wilderness, and create more meaningful connections. Effective online dating is possible - if you play by the rules.

More people will meet their partner online than offline if current trends continue. Indeed, 2037 has been pinpointed as the year when the majority of babies in the UK will be born to parents who met via the internet - so it’s easy to see why as many as 48% of singles are keen to take a dip into the online dating pool.

But it’s a jungle out there - and thanks to so many daters behaving badly, the journey from singleton to ‘plus one’ has become even more daunting.

So here are five of our top tips that can help to put you on the right trajectory from the offset.

1.) Find the right platform.

If you’re serious about finding a great relationship, then you need to be looking in the appropriate place. Sure, Tinder might be the perfect platform for casual hook-ups - but if you choose to step into the circus, you can’t complain when all you find are clowns.

Do your research, and select a dating community whose ethos, rules, long-term goals and values are aligned with your own.

2.) Invest your time wisely.

When it comes to searching for your future partner, dating should be seen as a worthwhile investment. Your profile is your shop window; your opportunity to tell prospective partners who you are.

Incomplete or ‘lazy’ profiles might suggest that you’re either too busy, or not serious enough to commit to the process.

3.) Be honest.

This is vital when it comes to dating. Don’t be tempted to lie or exaggerate in your bio, or use filtered, out-dated pictures – even if this may help you to gain more swipes or likes initially. Behaviour like this is misleading and can cause more serious issues later down the line – for example, when you come to meet in person.