Finding a Long Term Relationship

When you enter online dating realm, there are certain things to consider, especially if you are seeking a long term relationship. Rather than providing a list of things you should not do, this list is designed to help you see what you should do to be successful.

Use Current Photos

While it may be tempting to use an old photo, it is better to use a current photo. You need to be sure you’re accurately representing yourself, because if you meet someone in person and do not look like the photo you represented yourself with, you will turn the other person off. If you’re not photogenic, that’s no problem – you’ll get more respect for being real and honest.

Fill Out Your Profile Completely

Be specific with the information you provide – don’t be vague and say things like, “I like to listen to music and watch movies.” Tell the world about the types of music you like, the kinds of movies you enjoy, etc. This not only helps prospective profile visitors find out your interest, but gives you something to talk about. Do your best to accurately represent who you are – it can be difficult to do this without coming off too arrogant or too boring. If you’re not honest about who you are, then you are potentially turning away long term relationship prospects.

Don’t Write a Book

There’s a balance between not providing enough information, and providing too much information. Unfortunately, there’s no magic word count to abide by. The best rule you can follow is simply writing no more about yourself than you would want to spend time reading about someone else. Because the length is limited, make sure you place the critical information near the top of your profile, so you get the important stuff out of the way first. Even if someone doesn’t take the time to read the full profile, they will know enough to know whether they want to proceed – you do/don’t want children, you do/don’t already have children, etc.

Carefully Read the Profiles You Surf

You put time and energy into your profile – and so did everyone else. Invest time into reading profiles, because that’s the first step to making the connections that could lead to the long term relationship you are looking for. Don’t skimp here, or you could turn potential mates away.

Make Sure Your FIrst Message is Quality

When you make first contact – make sure you’re sending a quality message. It should be short and sweet, but reference something specific about their profile, while providing information about yourself. To keep the conversation going, end your correspondence with a question. These pieces of advice are not the all-inclusive guide to online dating. These are just designed to help get you started on the right foot. The landscape is difficult to navigate, but there are millions of people who are navigating it alongside you. Take it one step at a time – one date at a time, and go from there.