Whatever your reason for wanting to dip your toes in the dating pool, there’s plenty to be gained from taking your search for love online.
As online dating has swept the globe, one in five new relationships in the UK now start online. For the most part, any stigma and prejudices attached to the idea of meeting someone online are long gone – and online dating is widely seen as a convenient and effective way to connect with singles.
Below, we’ll discuss the benefits of online dating for those over 50 and offer 10 tips on how to get started.
If you’d like to give online dating a go, why not sign up to Rest Less Dating? Here, you can connect with singles over 50 in a safe and secure environment.
The benefits of online dating in your 50s and above
Like everything in life, online dating comes with some challenges. For example, it can sometimes be tricky to know if you have chemistry with someone, you might be concerned about scams, or perhaps worry about how best to start a conversation.
However, online dating also offers many benefits. These include…
Being able to connect with a diverse range of people
You’ll come into contact with far more people than you’d likely meet in your daily life which can increase your chances of meeting people who you have things in common with. Plus, you’ll know that everyone is also single and looking to meet new people which can make it easier to connect.
Convenience
Whilst a blind date can be exciting, it can also waste a lot of time because you have no idea whether you’re going to find the person attractive. Online dating allows you to form an impression of someone first, and find out whether there are things you like about them, before deciding whether it’s worth investing in a date.
You can also get to know people from the comfort of your home and whenever it’s convenient to you. This means it can be a quick and easy way to introduce dating into your day-to-day routine.
Low commitment
If you speak to someone online and instantly realise that they aren’t the person for you, it’s much easier (and less awkward) to cut contact politely.
It can be fun!
Sitting down and getting to browse potential partners over a cup of tea or a glass of wine can be great fun and very exciting.
10 tips to help you get started with online dating
1. Consider whether you’re ready to start dating
There’s a good chance that if you’re reading these tips, you’re curious about the idea of online dating.
But, before putting yourself out there, it can be helpful to spend some time thinking about whether you’re ready to let someone into your life, and what you’d like to gain from doing so.
For example, are you looking to find a long-term partner or for someone to share your company with every now and then over dinner or a movie?
Online dating becomes much easier when you know what you want from it and are able to be fully open to the idea of meeting someone.
If you’re unsure whether you’re in the right place to find a romantic partner, why not read our article; 8 questions to help you decide whether you’re ready to date again?
2. Find a dating platform that works for you
There are hundreds of dating websites and apps out there, so if you’re new to online dating, it can be daunting trying to work out which ones to use.
The best platform for you will largely depend on your needs and desires. It may be something that becomes clearer once you’ve started your online dating journey; when you know more about the type of companion you’re looking for and how the websites work.
For example, you may be interested in a site that’s aimed at a specific type of person – such as professionals or people who love the countryside (yes, that’s a real dating site!).
If you’re looking for somewhere to start, it can be a good idea to try a well-known, reputable site, like the ones below…
- Rest Less Dating is great to connect with other like-minded singles over 50. By selecting qualities important to you, you’ll meet your match faster in a safe and secure environment.
- Match is good for anyone getting back out on the dating scene, especially if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for as it has a very diverse user base.
- eHarmony can help to find compatible matches as users are required to fill out a detailed questionnaire.
You can sign up to all three sites for free, which will allow you to create your profile and view other people’s profiles. Though, online dating is one area where upgrading to paid versions can be beneficial. People who are willing to pay for a dating service are often much more serious about meeting someone and forming a steady relationship.
Paid sites also often have better verification and privacy processes in place.
If you’re not sure whether a dating site is for you, it can be worth signing up for a free membership and browsing user profiles to see whether you come across anyone you’re interested in. If you don’t, you can always cancel your account and try something else – but if you do, you could consider whether you’d like to pay and make full use of the service.
3. Be selective about which information you decide to share
Once you’ve chosen a dating site that works for you, it’s time to set up your profile! The structure and length of your profile may differ depending on which dating site(s) or app(s) you decide to sign up to, but as a general rule, it’s always best to keep it brief and avoid oversharing.
You have no idea who’s going to be reading your profile, so it’s best to only share what you would comfortably share during a random conversation with a stranger at a pub. This is also a great way to give potential partners a reason to send you a message to find out more.
4. Choose your photos carefully
Your photo is going to be the first thing that others see when they come across your dating profile, so try to use a photo that helps to show off your personality. For example, a fun holiday snap or a picture of you doing something you enjoy.
Your photo choices are important as it can give someone a clearer idea of both what you look like and the sort of things you like to do.
For more tips on choosing the right photos, check out our article; 10 tips for creating an online dating profile.
5. Include information that could start a conversation with like-minded individuals
Whilst the information in your profile should be brief, it needs to also be interesting enough that it catches people’s attention.
Consider what you’re looking for in a partner and what you’d want to read on someone else’s dating profile. For example, if it’s an absolute must that someone not only likes you, but likes your dog too, then make it clear that you spend your weekends going on long walks with your dog.
If you have a slightly unusual hobby and you’d love to find someone that shares a similar interest, make sure you mention that in there. Or, if you’re mad about cooking and you want to meet a fellow foodie, include that, and so on.
You can’t include absolutely everything on your profile – so think about which things would ultimately be a dealbreaker when it comes to choosing a potential partner, and go from there.
6. Keep it positive
If you’ve not been lucky in love in the past, your experiences may have cast a shadow of doubt over any future romance – but don’t let this show.
Make sure that your profile is positive and upbeat. Avoid using it as a place to put yourself down or reference past relationships, and try to choose a photo where you look happy, as a smile is infectious.
7. When you’ve written your profile, read it aloud
It’s not uncommon for people to use bad jokes or sarcasm in their dating profiles in an attempt to make others laugh. However, this may not always come across in the way that you hope it will online.
People interpret humour differently and it has the potential to come across like you aren’t serious about dating – which can be off-putting for some. It’s better to save your best jokes until you meet in person and your date can get a more well-rounded picture of who you are.
8. Stay safe
Online dating can be a lot of fun, as long as you stay safe. It’s important to remember that not everyone online will be genuine – and that ‘catfishing’ and romance scams do happen.
So, make sure you never give out any personal information (like your address or your bank details). If you’re going to exchange information for the purposes of planning a date, only ever give someone your telephone number or email address, as it’s easy to block communications from a person if you need to.
It’s also important that if someone is asking you for money through a dating service, you report it, as this could prevent others from falling victim.
In general, it’s a good rule of thumb to take everything that you read and see online with a pinch of salt until you’ve met a person in the flesh. And make sure you always arrange to meet in a public place, and tell a trusted friend or family member when and where your date will be taking place so they can check in with you to make sure everything is okay.
However, having said this, try not to let stranger danger put you off online dating – just make sure you’re sensible about it and if something feels wrong, trust your instincts.
Our article, 10 tips for staying safe while dating online, has more tips that’ll hopefully help to put your mind at ease.
9. Try not to get too hung up on one person
You might start talking to someone online and think that they seem like your perfect match, but when you meet up everything isn’t as it seems. For example, they might look nothing like their photo and/or have lied about a couple of things on their profile.
This is a scenario which you should always prepare yourself for when you start online dating, so try not to put all your eggs in one basket and keep an open mind.
When you first start online dating, there’s nothing wrong with setting up a few dates with different people so that if one doesn’t work out, it doesn’t seem so bad because you have another one next week. It’s also completely normal to be positively surprised by people whose profile didn’t really do them justice, so it’s good to keep an open mind.
It’s quite normal to meet a number of people that you may not have a romantic connection with – this may just mean you end up making some new friends.
10. If you’re not enjoying a date, it’s okay to leave
Finally, don’t feel that just because you agree to a date with someone, you have to sit through the entire thing if you’re not enjoying it or it’s making you uncomfortable.
If you realise that this person just isn’t for you, it’s perfectly okay to end the date early and leave. And you don’t have to give specific reasons as to why.
If you’re nervous about this, you could arrange to meet virtually first, or go for a quick coffee or a drink for your first date. This might help you feel more relaxed as leaving early from a full-on dinner commitment can feel a little more awkward.
Final thoughts...
Plenty of people who meet through online dating sites go on to form long-term relationships, and it can be a successful way to meet your next life partner at any age. Nevertheless, the process is typically much more enjoyable if you can have fun with it and not take it too seriously – especially at the beginning.
If you have a friend who’s also single, sometimes it can be nice to sign up to a dating site or app at the same time and start your journey together. This way, you can support each other through the highs and lows of the experience.
Whatever happens, try to remember that there are plenty more fish in the sea and the right person will be out there somewhere! And sometimes, you just can’t rush love…
For more dating tips and advice, you might like to visit the dating section of our website. Here, you’ll find everything from affordable date inspiration to ideas for what to talk about on a first date.
Or, if you’re ready to give online dating a go for yourself, why not sign up to Rest Less Dating? You may also like to read about Dawn and Dave’s experience of meeting on the platform.
Have you had any experience of online dating? Do you have any tips for how to get started? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
* Links with an * by them are affiliate links which help Rest Less stay free to use as they can result in a payment or benefit to us. You can read more on how we make money here.
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