Are you struggling to meet your perfect match every time you go to parties or gatherings? You’re not alone. Many people find it difficult to click with someone or to tell whether someone is interested in them romantically. If you’re one of those people, then perhaps it’s time to try online dating.
If you’re new to the world of online dating, it can be overwhelming at first. But we can help you make sense of it all in this article. We’ve provided tips to choose the right dating app, how to set up your first date, and more!
Choosing the Right Dating App
The first step to online dating is finding the right platform. Not all of them are the same. Some have annoying flashing ads, and other apps are streamlined to make it easier for you to find your perfect match. With that being said, here are tips for choosing the right dating app.
Ease of Use
If you’re not a tech-savvy person, then you won’t do well with complex dating apps. An online dating platform should be easy to navigate through, and it should be effortless to access chats, matches, and menus.
One such app that provides ease of use is Plenty of Fish. This dating site has over 150 million active users, so you’re bound to find someone who shares the same interests as you. It also provides search filters for you to look through profiles and match with your perfect single.
Features
Any app you choose to download should have all the features you’re looking for. With dating apps, you want features such as:
- In-app chats
- Voice and video calling
- Push notifications
- An option to block and unblock users
- Filters to find singles near you
- The ability to upload multiple profile pictures
- Opportunities to add short bios
- Safety features to protect you from potential abuse
Before downloading a dating app, research what features it offers and if they align with what you’re looking for. You can also read reviews to give you first-hand experience from other users.
Support
Support on a dating app is crucial, especially if you’re experiencing inappropriate behavior from other users. You must have the option to report users if you’re feeling uncomfortable. Additionally, if your app isn’t working, you’ll need customer support to help fix the problem.
Some apps have FAQs so you can find answers to your questions with a click of a button. Other platforms will allow you to send direct messages or emails if you’re experiencing problems with your dating app. Choose an app that offers multiple support options.
How to Initiate a Conversation
When you’re new to online dating, you may find it difficult to initiate a meaningful conversation with someone you like. The only information you have about the person is what’s in their bio. Some people start a conversation simply by sending “Hey,” and others ask questions.
Here are some tips on how you can start chatting with one of your matches on a dating app:
- Ask about something specific on the person’s profile. For example, if the person loves traveling, ask about the places they’ve been to.
- Consider “would you rather?” questions to break the ice. This can give you an idea of the person’s personality or even what their pet peeves are.
- Test your match’s intelligence with a riddle. This is also a fun way to strike up a conversation because it can keep it going until the person gets the answer correct.
- Avoid dead-end questions such as “How was your day?” or “What are you up to?”. Consider asking philosophical questions or something along the lines of “What made you laugh the most in the past week?” These conversation starters tend to make the chat last longer.
Use your creativity when starting a conversation. Use the person’s profile as inspiration to start the chat. You could even use their profile picture to start asking questions, especially if it’s an interesting image of the person traveling or doing sports.
When to Set Up a Date
Some online daters don’t usually have rules as to when it’s an appropriate time to set up a date. But it would be best to get to know the person first before agreeing to meet with your match. This is to ensure you build trust with one another.
However, dating experts suggest that it’s best to set up a date sooner rather than later. One to two weeks is the best time to set up a date with someone online. This gives you enough time to get to know your match but not too much time that the spark between you fizzles out.
Final Thoughts
If you’re not feeling a connection with the people you’ve matched with, then simply keep fishing for new and exciting people. There are bound to be plenty of singles in your area. There is no rush to find someone who matches your energy. If you’re not sure how to start dating through online platforms, then use this article to guide you through the process.