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So, you're over 50 and new to internet dating. Right now, you may be divided in having this online dating profile. It might even be uncomfortable for you. You may have came out of a very long-term relationship or marriage. In the intervening time the world had changed from romance classifieds ads, and mailing a stamp licked letter to your crush. Internet dating has become very popular and every single person I know has or is using it.  Recently, A work colleague of mine met his wife and had a family with a woman he met online. Could you be missing something by not trying it all? There is only one way to find out!  Here are some tips & suggestions for those over 50 and new to Internet Dating.

1-Read the profile of your date very carefully. You won’t look particularly clever if you meet in person and overlook a major part of their profile For example, they have a pre-schooler and you don't want kids, or a pet cat and you're allergic to cats.

2-When you make contact with someone for the first time, be careful of appearing too keen. A short message that says “Hi, I liked the look of your profile. Would love it if you took a look at mine,” is ideal. It’s an instant turn-off to be flooded with too much information straight away.

3-Learn the language. Internet dating comes with its own set of acronyms that can seem bizarre to the uninitiated. LTR, for instance means Long Term Relationship, WLTM means Would Like to Meet. Always check what an acronym means if you are unsure. You can even post your questions in the Forum.

4-Just like an ancient proverb-Action speaks louder than words. For your own peace of mind, not to mention safety, you should spend a while communicating online before progressing to phone calls or meeting in person. However there needs to be balance. If, after two months, and you’re still having online chats, ask yourself whether this relationship will ever progress. Just keep it moving.

5-Internet dating is not for lames. This is one of the greatest, albeit bluntest, piece of advice I can give you. If you are older, you may have never done anything like this before. Internet dating may seem a bit odd at first but it is normal these days. I, for one, know lots of people who are married or settled down with partners they met this way.

6-Remember it is called "Online Dating". You no longer have a local shot at meeting someone, but worldwide access to many types of people. If interracial dating was taboo in the days of your prime, now is the time to date who you want. You may be blessed and meet your lifelong partner. But also, don't take a rejection to heart. Continue with this and see what happens. There's nothing wrong with keeping your profile up for a while. Your new sweetheart may break up with their significant other, and find you a year after you created your profile. Don't miss opportunities because of pride.

7-If you decide to meet someone, make the first meeting brief. Maybe coffee, a drink, something you can get away easily if you can tell things really aren’t going to work out.

8-Use recent photographs on your profile. Some people innocently use old, youthful pictures because it’s all they have or shows them at their best. Just remember you are representing yourself in the now, and it isn’t fair to use an image of yourself from The Passion Tour in 1997 if you’re actually 46 years of age. If you're having issues with uploading your picture, contact us and we will help you with it.

9-Spend time looking at other profile pictures before you finish your own. See what you might like to try, and what really works. You can gauge that by browsing pictures and looking at who has the most star ratings and the most comments. It’s worth the time and effort to create something really good. Photography is an art. You’re already great, so let the world know you are.

10-Finally and most importantly; do not share personal contact information such as your home address on your profile. Always meet in a public place. Follow exactly the same rules you would if meeting someone on a blind date set up by friends.

I'm going to add one final point. Above everything else, have fun! That’s what glorious dating should be. With patience, You may find your Isaac/Rebecca. I wish you much success and hope you do. More than anything, enjoy yourself and meet some great, new people and friends.

Lots of people identify as introverted, or shy, and some socially awkward; but they still have happy, loving relationships. While dating may initially seem daunting, introverts often thrive on the dating scene.

Every personality type has pros and cons – it is what you do with the traits that really matters. If you are an introvert-like me, check out our advice below.

1-Visit places that make you feel good

Introverts often dislike large groups, overcrowded venues and too much noise, which can make them feel nervous and uneasy. Make sure that you actually enjoy your evening out by going somewhere that you know you like. The familiar venue will help you to relax and enjoy yourself.

2-Start a social hobby

If you are struggling to find a date at church or from friends, change your angle. Consider joining a club like painting or cooking where you can meet other people with similar interests. As you are not actively looking for love there, it takes the pressure off and makes it easier for introverted people to thrive.

3-Talk to strangers when you can

Small talk can be a real problem for introverts – especially with a stranger. Become a more confident communicator by making the effort to talk to strangers when you are out and about. You could try starting a conversation at the Metro with someone else who is waiting, or you could talk to the barista while he makes your coffee. There are plenty of people who are willing to chat!

4-Don’t assume that dating is easier for other people

You may see a beautiful person and think that dating is easy and fun for them. The truth is, you never know what someone else is going through – they may be going through a tough breakup, or they may have body confidence problems. When you realize that everyone is on the same page, dating becomes less scary and more fun.

5-Keep the conversation going

If you know how to, it is easy to keep a conversation going once it has started. Speak loudly and clearly so that the other person can hear you well, and make regular eye-contact and SMILE. This shows the other person that you are interested and focused, so they will continue to talk and ask YOU questions.

You can also ask open-ended questions, to keep the conversation flowing naturally without getting stuck on a “yes” or “no.”

6-Don’t let extroverts overwhelm you

Introverted people are often happy to be quiet when they are spending time with loud people – these can be pretty intense moments! However, keeping quiet often means you will go unnoticed.

Try to say something whenever you think of something relevant or interesting – don’t keep it inside your head, let your personality show!

Online dating is different to dating communication in real life. People tend to be more confident online, so they are more likely to send out multiple messages – but as people are doing this, it might mean that yours may get ignored!  Don't worry! Thankfully, there are lots of ways to make sure that people want to read your messages – you just need to know how to stand out. Here are some ways to increase your chances of finding online love.

Most people hate writing about themselves, but if you want your profile to stand out among the rest you will definitely need to write a bio! Thankfully you can use research to make your profile more interesting; a recent survey found that profiles that are between 200 words and 250 words long receive around 50% more messages than people with longer or shorter profiles, so aim for this length.

Some people can be pretty stingy with their pictures, choosing to upload only one or two, but this can result in fewer messages. In fact, a recent study found that people are 8-10% more likely to receive a message for every extra picture that they upload, so try to include as many pictures as you can on your profile!

If you send your message at the wrong time you are more likely to get ignored; an eHarmony survey found that people are least likely to get a response if they send a message between 8.30pm and 10.30pm, so try and send your messages earlier in the day.
 

It is easier to send a short message or a wink than it is to send a well thought out message, but people are much more likely to ignore short messages. For this reason you should take the time to read the other person’s dating profile, and then you can create a personalized message that is more likely to pique their interest and garner a response.

Online dating doesn’t have to be difficult. You just need to be aware of the difference between online dating and “real life” dating, as the rules are a little different. If you do the same old things, you'll get the same results. With online dating you have to try some new things, and meet people outside your social circle. Thankfully, it is pretty easy to pick up some advantages in online dating – especially if you use the information in our blogs!