Follow our top tips and get the relationship you’ve been dreaming of in no time.
- Have realistic expectations. So many people who begin dating whether it’s online dating, dating agency, or simply hitting the local hot spot, are not realistic when it comes to love. You may be hoping for the perfect man or woman but a Rom Com this is not and it’s important to remember everyone has their flaws. It’s great to be confident but not everyone will think you’re the bee’s knees and the cat’s pyjamas. By keeping that in mind and remembering that you are looking to meet just one person to fall in love with will ensure that you ace the dating scene. So if you’re a 60 year old man, by restricting your preference to 25 year old females, we’re not saying you won’t have any luck (many girls like older men) but by including women or men of your own age (whatever your sexual preference), you are sure to cast a wider net and stand a FAR better chance of success! The same goes for being realistic as to the type of person you would like to meet in terms of looks and background. So if you’re not in the best shape of your life and have some baggage, don’t limit yourself to doctors and lawyers who have never been married and have no children. So while we admire confidence, don’t be over confident and be sure to keep some realism.
- Be yourself. We’re all about talking ourselves up but within reason. Don’t put on airs and graces as you can only keep up a pretence for so long before you either get fed up or caught out. The more true you are to yourself, the quicker you’re sure to find love online.
- If someone keeps letting you down, then make a break from them. Changing a date because something has come up is one thing, but doing it several times speaks of ‘I’m so not into you’ and is the utmost disrespect. Instead, forget about that date and move on. Your heart and your mind will thank you for it.
- Rome wasn’t built in a day. You may have to kiss a few frogs until you meet ‘the one’ but it’s all part of the fun of dating in Ireland. So many people fail at online dating and in matchmaking because they don’t give it a chance and think the first person they meet will be their marriage partner – it’s not the case. Think of it as a sweet shop – you have to try out several varieties before you decide on the cola bottle or bon bon that you really like!
- Be mysterious. Don’t give away every detail of your life at once but at the same time, you want potential partners to find you appealing. Make your profile shine by being specific about what you’re looking for. Think about listing the song you like to sing at karaoke or during a sing song, talk about some of your favourite hobbies and favourite memories – that way you’re letting your date in on your life and allowing him or her to know what their life could be like if they had the opportunity to spend it with you.
- Be proactive. Playing the waiting game is so last year. Remember, if your potential date is available you, he or she is probably busy making the effort to try and meet someone. If you delay or play hard to get, by the time you decide to act, you may have lost your perfect match to someone more active. The early bird catches the worm and all that.
- Avoid typos. When you’ve made the first contact and you’re into communication territory there’s nothing worse than bad grammar or English – it’s an immediate turn off so proof read everything and read over your texts and emails before you hit the send button. Believe us, you’ll thank us for it. Text speak is also so last decade so avoid the use of words such as ‘der’and ‘gr8’ – it will make you appear common and uneducated. You may have a high IQ but language like that will not impress potential partners.
- Be authentic. Post interesting content on your facebook page/dating profile and nice photos – we cannot emphasise this enough. Your photo should reflect how you currently look so don’t include a photo from ten years ago when you were two stone lighter. While we’re on the appearance topic, be real about your weight, height and age. Arriving at a date where your date doesn’t recognise you from your profile picture is a sure sign that you’ve failed on this one.
- Avoid drama. Nobody likes a drama queen or king, that goes without saying. So exaggerating your circumstances or overusing emotions and exclamation marks is a definite turn off. How many times have you heard friends say they are looking for a drama-free woman or man? Exactly our point! So avoid using the happy face or multiple exclamation points in your correspondence, until you’re on familiar terms.