The online dating craze is happening now and it is high time you took part in it! If online dating was regarded as the last resort for single people in the past, modern era has brought some major changes and we will all sooner or later become part of the fastest growing networking trend in the world. The number of single people joining an online dating site is on a constant rise and thousands of people are probably creating their profile while you are reading this text. The question we would like to pose here is how do we know which online dating site to join? We did check hundreds different online dating sites and we made a top list of the best ones. These are:
Checklist: The most important criterias for dating sites
Table of Contents
With the online dating craze happening now, it is obvious that the number of available dating sites is increasing day by day. Once you are ready to join the online dating world, the vital thing to do is check the type of a dating site you want to join. By type we mean, whether it is location based online dating site, personality matching site, whether it is dedicated to serious relationships, casual dating, flirt and sex etc. And yes, pay attention to details, you may even find a so called niche online dating site for Star Trek and sci-fi lovers. The number of available alternatives is immense, so set your goals and let them lead you to the right choice. Before you choose which online dating site to join, it is important to take into consideration the following criteria:
What the site can offer?
You have made a decision to join an online dating site dedicated to serious relationships? That`s great, you have passed the pre-selection process. Next, you should choose which one of the many dealing with the same issue to join. The first thing to do is check the number of registered members and the percentage of men and women. The ratio on almost all websites tend to be 50/50, however some dating sites such as match.com and eHarmony.com have slightly more women than Lavalife.com where men dominate.
Then, check the target groups. Some websites deal with older people, while others focus on people in their 30s. So check the age of the target groups, check the education status (some may allow members with BA degree only, check the income (some sites use this filter too) and finally check the sex preferences: you don`t want to end up joining a site filled with straight people when you are gay.
After you are done with this, a more concrete step follows i.e. ways to contact people. Many people see this as a crucial element when choosing a dating site. The ways to communicate with the other active members range from winking at someone to setting up a video call. The regular send/receive message is available everywhere.
Do not forget to check if the site focuses on people with meaningful profiles. It is true that whether a profile will be meaningful or not depends on the character of the user and the way he/she presents himself, however some sites thanks to their questionnaires and profile creation techniques foster a creation of more meaningful profiles. By meaningful we mean truer to the actual personality of the user and with less online dating clichés.
Last, check if the online dating sites has a special policy on dealing with fake profiles. Fake profiles may appear everywhere and it is not something that a dating site can prevent from happening. However some dating sites use techniques to discover and delete fake profiles. Before making a decision to join a particular online dating site, make sure you check its online history and the percentage of fake profiles.
Mobile dating
Mobile dating (cell dating, cellular dating or simply cell phone dating) is especially important for busy people who spend most of their time in the office. It does not only offer a more convenient way for communication, but it also speeds up the whole process from initial contact to setting a date in person. By mobile dating we mean using online dating via your smartphones. It is quick and easy, and it saves time. You can make contacts everywhere, anytime. Most of the popular dating sites nowadays, do offer a mobile application which can be downloaded on any device through the Android or Apple stores. However, not all mobile apps function properly. So, when considering a certain online dating site, it is advisable that you test their mobile application, its merits and limitations. Some online dating applications are available only on your smartphones. If you decide to download one of these, we advise you to check their rating on the internet. And don`t get confused when you find hundreds different alternatives.
Bonus offers and promotions
Before choosing which dating site to join, checking its sign-up bonuses and special promotions is a must. In order to lure a greater number of candidates, online dating sites tend to offer some special bonuses and promotions right after you set your account. These may include free weekends, discounts on some of the subscriptions, free trials, 20% discount on different plans, 3 months for the price of a one etc. Sometimes there are special events promotions, such as Christmas discounts, Easter freebies etc. Although the bonuses and the promotions usually are not sky high in terms of discounts, they somehow increase the excitement and enjoyment especially when they include organizing face to face events where all candidates meet.
Costs and payment options
If you are a newbie in the field of online dating and want to taste the waters, you will probably choose a free membership option. Some sites offer a free membership for a couple of days, just for you to try out the site and see if it fits, others are permanently free, and there are those who can be joined only by paying a fee. So, here, you may ask yourself what is the difference between the free membership and the paid membership. Free online dating sites are a great way to start since they offer more flexibility for different type of relationships such as same-sex relationships and casual hookups because they are not intended exclusive for dating, but making friends too. They usually offer a free personality test, free chat and emails, users can rate your picture etc.
If you are past the casual dating phase and you are looking for something more meaningful you will probably choose a paid dating site or you will upgrade to a premium membership. Premium memberships offer many additional filters, you can search by keywords, you can check who has been viewing your profile, you can set up a video call, participate in quizzes, receive advice from experts in the love field etc.
If you plan on being active for more than a year, you should probably check for discounts for yearly subscriptions. Online dating sites take care of their loyal customers and often create special promotions for them. When it comes to banking, check the available payment options. Dating sites tend to offer a variety of different payment options and everybody can look for the one that suits them best.
Data and privacy protection
Unfortunately, it has been widely acknowledged that many dating sites face serious problems when dealing with data and privacy protection. Users risk their privacy by being exposed to public either due to intuitive privacy settings or due to security flaws of the system. One way to keep yourself safe when using online dating site is to check each and every privacy setting. Most websites offer an option to hide info for not approved contacts. Make sure you activate this option. Also, never skip reading the privacy policy of the dating site. Here you can find a description of the information being collected, how it can be used, with whom it may be shared, and your choices about such uses and disclosures. Check what happens when you decide to delete your account. Many sites keep your profile, including your photos, long after you`ve deactivated your account (just in case things go wrong again and you want to reactivate your account in the future).
Dating sites for different sexual preferences
You no longer have to worry whether your potential candidate for a romance loves to do something you have a strong desire of. Today, new fetish online dating sites are being introduced on hourly basis. If you want to indulge into your fetish, without having to give any explanations or whatsoever, find someone to share it with. Fetish sites allow you to find a partner tailored to your needs. There is a special page for nearly all preferences. Here we may also mention the same-sex preferences. If you are interested in gay people, there is huge number of possible alternatives. Just google them and find the most suitable one. Any way you want it, that`s the way you need it.
6 tips for your profile
Whenever you join a certain social network you are asked to create your own profile as a way to present yourself to others. Since you do not have a face to face contact, at least in the beginning, your profile speaks volumes about your personality, the things you love, the things you hate etc. That is why it is crucial to spend some time on creating a good profile which will represent your true self. And to be honest, success in online dating very much depends on how good your profile is. Your profile in the online dating world is your appearance in the real world. First impressions cannot be changed.
Let`s start with the profile picture. Choose it wisely. Do not use selfies and make sure both your body and your face are in the focus. It is even better if you use a photo of you smiling. Everybody wants to meet optimistic people full of energy and life. A study shows that people using selfies as profile picture on online dating site get a negative response rate. On the other hand, using photos where your whole body is visible, together with the face, increase the response rate by 205%.
Whenever writing, use proper language. Be as polite as possible and avoid being vulgar (especially when you make your first contact). This does not apply, when dealing with certain fetishes, where being vulgar is the norm. And, yes, forget all standard boring cliché phrases. Everybody has heard of them and no one wants to hear them being spoken of his/her potential candidate. It is always better to speak your own words, no matter how bad they might be.
Stay honest. Honesty is the best policy even in the dating world. It will keep you safe and secure. Lies may help you in the start but they will only hurt you on the long run. Avoid giving too many details. If someone visits your profile and reads through all the unnecessary details, they might get bored and decide not even to contact you. Not too much, not too little. Balance is the key.