The internet is no longer perceived as the realm of misanthropic deviants. With our towns and cities becoming increasingly anonymous, thousands of people meet and fall in love every day thanks to the interconnectedness provided by the internet – in the UK alone, thousands of people create a profile for online dating sites every day. Before hastily announcing your cyber arrival, however, make sure you’re fully prepared for what it involves…

 

 

Who’s there?

People can only form an idea of who you are based on your profile. Many people either forget this or think that a ‘less is more’ approach works. In reality, a lack of details only serves to raise suspicion about what the person isn’t saying. Create your profile with lots of information and consider avoiding the profiles of people with a distinct lack of information.

Honesty is one of the key attributes in online dating and will go a long way to securing you a successful date. For reference, the most common obfuscations relate to age, employment, relationship status and appearance.

 

 

Don’t take it personally

Many internet daters, especially those who are more experienced, simply ignore emails from people who don’t interest them. Don’t take this personally – just move on and forget about it. If you receive mail that doesn’t interest you but you feel obliged to answer, try a stock reply such as: ‘Thanks for getting in touch, but I don’t think we are a match.’

Email expectancy

For most people, the ultimate goal of internet dating is to arrange a date in the real world. For others, though, it can be a means of establishing a long-distance relationship. When engaging people in an email conversation, bear in mind that most of them will expect to arrange a date by the third or fourth email. If someone is hinting at a date, don’t avoid the question. If you’re not willing to arrange to meet up, say why.

Expanding your portfolio

Whether you’re casting your net across the nation by taking out an ad in the Guardian, or hoping to find a Sheffield date with eHarmony, involving yourself in the world of online dating is yet another way to increase your chances of finding a partner. Using it on your own terms as an additional means of creating opportunity can be both immensely satisfying and rewarding. One study by psychologists from Bath University found that dating websites give people a ‘surprisingly high’ chance of long-term romance, with 94% of people seeing their ‘e-partner’ again after their first real-world meeting.