Keen to get a date but are sick of getting the same old time wasters or dick picks on online dating apps?

Diving into the world of online dating isn’t for the faint of heart, and for those who are familiar with online dating apps, you know just how many time wasters, losers and Mummy’s boys there are out there – ewwwww!

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If you’ve made up your mind to look for your match online, here are some tips to help you get started on the right foot. Here are our tips for dating online!

10 Best Australian Online Dating Sites | Stay at Home Mum

Make Sure You Have a CURRENT Profile Picture

Most people won’t deny that when it comes to finding a partner online, the profile pic is the first place we look (judge!).

When you’re finding the perfect profile picture, try to keep it simple and personal. Authentic pictures are a much better choice than heavily photo-shopped or airbrushed pictures because they say more about who you really are. Moreover, it should be recent. As much as you might like that picture when you were ten years younger, it will give your dates a false impression about what to expect.

We make our first impressions of people visually – so a good photo showing who you really are is imperative! A good number of photo’s to place on your online dating profile is about 5 – 7. Any more than that and it may become overwhelming for potential suitors!

Make sure you have a few photos showing not just your face, but you doing things you love and a full head to toe shot. Apparently, when you have a variety of photographs you are more likely to get a better match!

List of Must-Have Photo’s for Your Profile:

A close up of your face (waist or shoulders to the top of head), smiling
A full-length body shot
A photo of you doing something you love (sport, with your fur baby etc)
A non-posed photograph of you laughing

Write a Short Bio

Some people make the mistake of writing their bio as long as they can, but according to online dating experts, you’ll get the best response from something short and simple. Use small paragraphs and provide a bullet list of your favourite characteristics in a mate. Focus on your positive attributes, and make sure the bio reflects you as a person, not what you want people to think of you. Be careful not to give out too much personal information!

Write about what you love to do, your interests and hobbies and most importantly, what you are looking for in a potential partner! Now is the time for honesty.

Think about it as an elevator speech, but instead of work, you are selling yourself as a potential partner.

The Three Paragraph Bio

Three paragraphs are absolutely plenty.

The first paragraph should introduce yourself, who you are, what you do, how old you are (if you want to go there).

“Hi I’m Natalie and I’m a 30-year-old Advertising Executive who loves puppies, walks in the rain and chocolate-chip ice cream”.

“Hello, I’m Tracy, 25 years young, I’m an accountant and avid book reader.”

“Hi there, nice to meet you, my Names sally, I’m 23yrs old, I work as a retail store manager and am a country girl

The second paragraph should be about what you like to do.

“I love spending time with my fur-baby Annabelle, I like shopping for antique and unique furniture, swimming in the ocean and mountain bike riding.”

“I love going on adventures to new places, having a drink or two and also enjoy doing yoga.”

And the third paragraph should be what you are looking for in a partner.

“I’m looking for someone to get serious with. Someone who loves to laugh, watch movies and eat popcorn on a night in, I’m not into a party animal, just a down to earth guy with a good sense of humour.”

“I’m looking for something more casual and some fun on the weekends, someone looking to go for hikes and beach walks and also don’t mind a drink or two. Someone I can feel comfortable around.

Choose A Suitable Username

Chances are, your real name is already taken; there are more Rachaels and Julias in the world than just you. While some people decide to just put numbers after their name Julia3985473 go instead for something more creative and memorable.

If your username has a personality you’ll have better responses from potential mates. Remember though at the same time that that user name reflects on you, so a name such as Drunktoxicpsychochick is probably a no-go.

Keep Everything Honest

The best tactic you can use when talking to potential mates who message you is to just keep everything honest. If you’re divorced or have kids, don’t lie about it. One thing you SHOULD avoid is emphasizing how much you want to get married. If that’s one of your goals, fine, but don’t make it the subject of every conversation. More often than not it will scare your date away.

Most online dating websites have a checklist for what you’re “looking for” out of your dates. If you are searching for a long term partner, go ahead and put a check in the marriage box, but leave it at that.

Update Your Online Dating Profile Periodically

Finally, don’t forget to keep your profile updated when new things happen in your life. If your profile hasn’t been changed in months, it will begin appearing less and less in searches on the site. On the other hand, if you keep it fresh and new you’ll have a better chance of bringing in interested mates.

If you go on a trip, add some new pictures to the profile; if you just watched a great movie or read an interesting book, write something about it on your profile page. Finally, keep updating your headline on your profile page.

What Online Dating Sites Should I Use?

Here is a list of some reputable Australian online dating sites for you to try:

Top Pick: eHarmony

eHarmony is an online dating website designed specifically to match single men and women with each other for long-term relationships. I like that they can match you by age and your area. They have a dedicated area for seniors.

The way they match couples is all science-based and are so successful they have patented the technology. 11,000 members have married through meeting on eHarmony. Recommended for: Anyone looking for marriage and children.