Online dating is a $185 million industry in Australia. With more and more people of all ages finding love and friendship through dating websites, we take a closer look at the subject.
As people become more comfortable turning to the internet for the necessities of life – such as shopping and looking for a home, it should come as no surprise that many are also turning online for love.
About a quarter of all adults between 18 to 44 use a dating website or app to find people to meet and potentially fall in love with. According to IBIS World research, 15.1 per cent of users are over the age of 45 and 4.5 per cent over 65.
If you’re ready to look for romance and want to cast your net a little wider than your current social circles, exploring a dating website or app that matches people of similar ages and interests might be worthwhile.
So, what should your approach be?
Start with the right attitude
Just like with anything new, attitude is everything. Begin with an open mind and these three mantras:
- It’s going to be fun
- I’ll meet interesting people
- I’ll learn something new
Know what you want
When you better understand yourself, you have a better idea about who you’re looking for in a partner – that’s one of the advantages of maturity and experience!
Identify your core values and what your definite dislikes are, but otherwise be open to having a conversation with someone new. Treat online dating like mixing at a cocktail party – have a quick chat and move on until you find someone you have a real spark with.
Pace yourself
There are an increasing number of dating sites available in Australia, with some specialising in matching mature singles. Don’t feel obliged to try them all at once – start with one or two.
And don’t sit waiting by the phone either. Check the sites for no more than 15 minutes twice a day to respond to any enquiries, then go out and enjoy yourself with friends and family. There is no shortage of things to do at a Living Gems resort.
Cyber safety comes first
Set up a separate email address, such as a Google Gmail account, that you use exclusively to access online dating websites. This should be completely different to your primary email address. This makes it harder to get caught by scammers or being subjected to endless junk mail should your details be sold to marketers.
Check the terms and conditions of the website before entering personal and identifying information to ensure the information is being used to find potential matches, and no other purpose.
If someone you’ve only just matched with begins to ask you for money, then be highly suspicious and cautious.
Crafting your profile
Let your pictures do the talking. Pick six to nine nice, up-to-date photos, including:
- One or two recent head and shoulder portraits showing you with a smile (without sunglasses)
- One or two full-length portraits taken at more formal occasion (to show your potential date that you scrub up well)
- Photos of you doing the things you love – travelling, playing golf, at the beach, playing music, playing with the dog, reading books, etc.
Your written profile should reflect your personality in tone. It should also paint a picture which is consistent with the photos you’re using. If you’re not sure what to write, look for inspiration on other profiles.
On making a match
Ask the person’s last name before giving them your phone number and spend some time chatting before agreeing to meet face-to-face.
Keep the first meeting casual – choose a coffee shop for instance. Make sure this meeting is in a public place and tell your family and friends where you’ll be.
Your first meeting should be short and sweet. Let the other person know that you have an appointment to keep afterwards. If time flies by, arrange another meeting at the end of your allotted time.
If you’ve not clicked, then you have a legitimate excuse to leave. Besides, having another engagement demonstrates that you’re an active, vital person, which is always appealing!
Where to begin
As always, do your research before you commit to any dating website to make sure you’re comfortable and be sure to read the terms and conditions before you begin.
Dating websites to look at include:
