How to Properly Navigate the Online Dating World (At Any Age)

If you’re thinking of online dating for the first time you’re certainly not alone. According to Statistics Canada, there were 14.2 million single Canadians in 2014. PlentyOfFish, a Vancouver, British Columbia based dating website, has 100 million users worldwide alone. According to research by IBISWorld, the use of online dating websites and related services in Canada has grown to $6M per year since 2010. It’s obvious the online dating scene in Canada is growing. Here’s a few important considerations for you to be mindful of when you decide to take the plunge into digital dating.

Your online dating profile photo is arguably the most important photo that makes or breaks your success of getting noticed when you’re online dating. You definitely want to choose a photo of yourself that is clear, recent, attractive and is an actual representation of who you are. Do not use snap chat or Instagram filters to enhance your looks that make you look more like an Anime character than a real life person.

It’s so important for you to pick the right dating site or dating app when you’re choosing to date online. There are literally thousands of online dating sites and hundreds of new online dating mobile apps to consider. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the choices, use an online dating review site such as DatingAdvice.com or BestDatingSites.com. Properly navigation the online dating world begins with choosing a site you are comfortable with and also provides you with the greatest opportunity of meeting the right people based on your personal preferences. For example, if I’m 65 years of age and a widow seeking companionship, I may be much better off using OurTime versus Tinder as a way for me to meet someone who shares my interests and relationship goals.

Now that you’ve decided to give this a go, you must lead with a positive attitude. Dating can be frustrating so having an attitude of gratitude will help you on your journey. No one ever wants to meet a Debbie Downer or Negative Ned type. When you write about yourself and the kind of person you’re looking to meet, you should use positive, descriptive language as opposed to writing a long list of don’ts. Having fun along the way is your goal while treating negative encounters as an opportunity to learn and grow.

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Contributor: Carmelia Ray
Photo by Pablo Heimplatz on Unsplash
Carmelia Ray is an Author, Speaker, Television Personality, Celebrity Matchmaker and Canada’s most sought after Certified Dating Coach and Online Dating Expert.