Online Dating
Bringing Fit and Active People Together Dating Tips and Articles    Free Dating Guide
Home   Signup   Login  

Archive for the ‘Dating Tips’ Category

« Older Entries

Detailed Guide to Online Dating

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

An online internet dating site is (in my opinion) the easiest way to find a partner in today’s world. With the ever-increasing technology aids, not only can you correspond with someone, but also see them in real-time. It used to be that an internet dating site was a taboo and people just didn’t trust it or the quality of people they might meet. But even so, you run the same risks as if you were to actually meet the person face-to-face. What is the difference? Well, you can’t smell a person through an internet dating site!

This article was written to give free dating tips and dating advice to those who are unfamiliar to internet dating. Or maybe you’ve had a couple bad experiences and are wondering why you are running into “duds”. My dating advice is not aimed particularly at either men or women, but looks at both sides. I am not a psychologist or therapists and all dating advice and tips are my personal thoughts found through my internet dating experiences.

So why choose online dating services rather than conventional dating? I’ll list a few benefits:

Millions of people from around the world sign up for internet dating services everyday. So not only can you find a person to match your needs but also a dating service built around your specific need. You’re in the US, you can meet someone from Australia. Find someone in a different state that you would enjoy visiting. There are Asian dating, Jewish dating, Christian dating, adult dating, senior dating, hiking dating, dog walking dating sites and the list goes on.

Your search criteria can be more detailed, less compromising later.
What hobbies are they into?
What are their turn-offs?
What are their interests?
People tend to be more honest through correspondence. You know the true person quicker.
You can still have an online date even if you’re sick.
It’s safe because you’re not in the same physical environment, at least initially.
You don’t need to meet the person until you are totally comfortable. Never meet anybody unless you are 99% comfortable.

The first date or 2nd, 3rd, and 4th should be out in public.
Let someone know where you are going.
Ladies, I highly recommend you bring a friend or double-date!
Do not allow the person to pick you up. Provide your own transportation
Bring defense items – pepper spray, whistle, gps tracking device. Be careful of bringing weapons that can harm you – knife, gun, clubs…etc
Ladies, even if the date is going well and it’s the 1st date, DO NOT be persuaded to get into a car alone with him. If he is a predator, he’ll get agitated and possibly upset. If this happens, then CONGRATULATIONS you may just SAVED YOUR LIFE and walk away now! A real gentleman will understand your fear and rather spend time with you than miss a party, concert or whatever. Just be sure to let him know prior to the date that you will not leave the initial meeting place with him unless your friend can come along.

Those are just a few reasons and each person will benefit differently based on their character and personality. The precautions would also relate to conventional dating practices and not just internet dates. So what are some of the drawbacks of internet dating:

Do they smell?
Are they really writing or just cut-and-pasting?
Cameras and lighting can be manipulated to hide certain features (flaws).
The photos in the ads maybe professionally done or retouched and not be a true reflection of the person

As with the benefits, there are other downsides to internet dating that aren’t listed and will vary from person to person.

So who is the best internet dating service? That’s a hard question to answer because there are so many variables and there is no one best service. I say the best dating site is the one you find what you are looking for on. Luckily, most like FitMatch are free to join, although you will get limited functionality and features of the program. But at least you can get an idea of the types or kinds of people who have joined that particular internet dating service. There are more and more online dating services that are specific to certain groups like – people who are in the service, Christian dating, pet lovers dating, and so on. The major dating sites will have these people as well, you’ll just need to sift through the members to find out if someone shares your passions or hobbies. What it boils down to is that the more people to select from, the better your chances of finding a match.

So, does internet dating really work Yes! It did for me. I live in the US and met my wife who lived in China. We corresponded for 6 months, sent pictures to each other, and finally met when her company came to the US on a business trip. We hit it off and for the next year, she came down to visit and a couple months later I went to China to visit her and meet her parents and family. Keep in mind that it could be expensive to go this route because of airfare and those sort of things. Lastly she had another business trip scheduled and we got married during that trip.

Marrying someone from another country is not as easy at it seems. There’s visa and passport issues, US Immigration forms and regulations, and much more. Most big internet dating sites will have a section to help with immigration issues. Things went fairly smoothly for us and we now have a beautiful 7 month old son.

Internet dating doesn’t have to be about marriage and it will definitely differ for everyone. Maybe you just want someone to hang out with on the weekends and go to dog shows or a social outing or you want to go white water rafting but your friends aren’t interested. Many people just want to make friends and not really label it as dating, but rather companionship and someone to talk to.

Some free dating tips and dating advice I can offer based on my experience that helped me find the love of my life and also general tips are listed below.

Be honest when you communicate
Speak from the heart, don’t try to be someone you’re not
Sign-up for more than one online dating site
Choose a general “big name” site such as FitMatch.
Search Google or Yahoo by typing “dating dogs” or “dating armed forces” or “dating Christian”…etc
Only pay for the sites that you feel there are more than 5 profiles that match what you are looking for, remember most are free to sign up, but you will have limited capability.
Stay away from free online dating sites, you get what you pay for. The more serious a person is, the higher amount of money they will pay to find quality people. That means if someone on a particular dating site has the highest level membership (Gold Member) then they are serious about finding someone. 2nd to the highest level (silver) may be those who are serious but don’t have a lot of money to spend. Anything less are in my opinion “gamers” and just passing time. HOWEVER! In countries or areas that are poor and under developed, they simply can’t afford to pay the membership fee. They are probably using a computer at school, a library, or a friends, so you’ll need to be extra patient.
Stay away from ads that don’t have pictures or at least make sure they will send you a picture. Some people don’t want to be seen in fear of their friends colleagues or family seeing them on the internet. That’s perfectly understandable, just make sure you get REAL pictures once getting to know the person.

Send and receive many pictures, insist on casual setting pictures and not professional retouched photos

Be patient, if they live in another time zone it can be difficult to call
If they live in another country, get a calling card or use a webcam and microphone.
Since my wife didn’t have a webcam, my phone bill averaged $1200 a month and I didn’t know about calling cards.
Call your phone company and get a plan with better international rates.
There’s more options today like VOIP (voice over IP) pc2phone that’s a lot cheaper and the sound quality is much better now also.

Ladies, when you do meet, make sure it’s with one or more of your friends even for the first few dates. Safety first and if the guy can’t understand that, then that’s a RED flag!
Ladies, purchase some books on pick-up lines, how to seduce a woman, and those sort of things. If your correspondence contains many of what you find in a book, then the person may not be sincere. If you’re tired of finding losers, this is your wake-up call to find out why.

Men, buy books on how to treat a lady. Buy books on how to seduce a woman, but only use it after you know they want to be seduced by you (later in the relationship).

Be Honest! – If you’re serious and want a life-long mate
Be upfront, put EVERYTHING on the table. Too many unexpected surprises will kill the relationship.
Don’t try to be what you think the other person wants. You can’t put on a show forever.
Get a webcam so you can see and hear the real person. Sometimes you get a glimpse of their room. Is it messy Are there naked people hung up on the wall It can also be a lot of fun once you are closer and can be more intimate. BE CAREFUL! What you do on camera can be recorded and exposed if things don’t work out.

Make a list of things you absolutely do not like or won’t compromise on. For example, you dislike it when your partner drinks too much, does drugs or things like that. Don’t ask these questions straight out, but have them elaborate when they had a night out with the guys/girls. Just keep a mental note to yourself.
Make a list of the key things you like that make you feel adored and desired.
You like feeling pampered by getting breakfast in bed
You like it when doors are opened for you
You like it when girls pamper you
You like it when girls make you feel special
How does the other person perceive what making someone feel special is.

What is your definition of joy and happiness

Be Honest! I know I keep saying that, but it’s the most important thing!
If you’ve been burned once too many times, do a background check on the person. You can find out if they have been married, divorced, in jail, law suits against them, and things of that nature. It costs a little money, but can save you years of heartache and disappointment. Some people may feel this is an invasion of privacy or a sign of not trusting the other person. I say it’s a matter of feeling secure and if the other person can’t understand that, then they are hiding something or don’t care about how insecure you may be feeling. Another RED flag! Online dating has evolved to where it’s common place to check on people.

Have fun on your date but pay attention to
Do they open doors for you
Do they talk negatively about too many things.
Are their eyes busy wandering rather than focusing on you
Are there too many lines or quotes from the dating books

You may want to keep a score card or write down notes immediately after the date. Just make sure you destroy them all when you are exclusively seeing that person. Nobody wants to know they are being compared, but it’s a good way to make sure the person has all the qualities that are truly important to you. To be on the safe side, never ever write down anything relating to sex. Technique can be learned if the person is willing to satisfy you. Talk about it, if they aren’t interested in what turns you on, that’s another RED flag. Lets face it, sex is an important part of a relationship. For some it isn’t but for the majority, it is. It’s also a two-way street. In order to get, you must give and if you give, you should get. It’s that simple.
Is this person someone you want your family and friends to meet
And for the last time – BE HONEST!

I hope this article has helped and you feel more secure about online dating. I endorse it 100% and am not afraid to admit that I met my wife on through an internet dating site. It makes me feel good that out of the 200 or so other people that responded to her ad… she picked me :) I firmly believe that internet dating is the most efficient way to start a relationship and meet people.

Russ http://www.helpmehowto.com/internetdating.html

Posted in Dating Tips, Online Dating | Comments Off

Funny Pick UP Lines

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

 

Initiating a conversation with an attractive woman is not always an easy task. In fast, it can be quite intimidating to a lot of guys. No, this article is not going to provide you with some humorous pick-up lines to use with women. Actually, listen to me closely when I say this- do NOT use funny pick-up lines!

Does the following situation sound familiar? You see an attractive woman standing with her friends. You want to meet her, but you have no idea what to say. So, you take the advice of your friends and use one of their funny pick-up lines. However, rather than engaging further in conversation, she turns the other way in disgust.

If you still haven\’t figured out what happened above, I will tell you. It was an poorly chosen conversation starter. Funny pick-up lines are not effective conversation starters with girls. You may find them funny, but they do not work with women. Instead, you should try a more natural way to initiate conversation when trying to meet women.

The goal is to avoid sounding tacky or cheesy. Below, I describe four ways you can initiate a conversation in a manner that comes across more naturally and not so ‘obvious.’

First, a great way to start a conversation is to focus on a situation or event. Situational conversation starters are terrific ways to use the environment at the time to engage in conversation with a woman.

For example, if you notice a couple arguing and she spills a drink on him, you can go up to a woman nearby and joke about how great a couple they are together. Say something like, ‘wow, what a close relationship they have.’

Secondly, a cliche pick-up line is far different from a genuine compliment. Complimentary pick-up lines are effective because woman love flattery and will be less likely to ‘walk away in disgust’ after you just complimented her.

Keep in mind, though, that you should compliment a woman on something other than her looks. If she is attractive, she has probably heard similar compliments many times. Rather, try complimenting her on her fashion style or her dancing skills. The point is to make the compliment appear genuine and natural.

Third, just be yourself and act normally. Approaching a woman with confidence in your own personality and abilities will set you apart from the crowd. Your straightforward, natural approach may impress her far more than you anticipate, especially if guys continue to stick by the corny pick-up lines.

Finally, there is always the cocky-funny approach. It is, actually, a great way to meet women and build the attraction further. This method was created by David DeAngelo and involves approaching a woman with a slightly arrogant attitude while also trying to make her laugh.

The reasoning behind this approach is to build yourself up so that she wants to work for your attention, and you can do this by using opportunities in the conversation to tease her. It is effective because your intentions are not obvious. You give the impression that you are just focused on enjoying the conversation and making her laugh.

Now, funny pick-up lines may actually her laugh, but they really are not the best choice of conversation starters with girls. The next time you are trying to meet a woman, opt for one of the four methods above. You will find that they are much more effective at meeting women.

On the following site, Scott Patterson will help you discover a wide selection of openers and pick up lines you can use on women!

Posted in Dating Tips | Comments Off

Anxiety-Proof Dating Tips

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

Some men are naturally gifted when it comes to talking to women. Although most men need to fine-tune their dating skills. Let’s weigh in on some advice from the dating experts as to how men can start pushing the right buttons and attract the ladies!

Guys wondering how to ask a woman out on a date and get her to say yes should see the movie The Social Network. It’s a somewhat half-fiction film about Mark Zuckerberg, the genius behind the number one social networking site on the planet, Facebook.

In the opening scene are some good examples of how a man should not talk to the female species: speaking in rapid-fire fashion while jumping from one topic to the next, 90 percent of the time talking about himself, while his confused date struggles to keep pace. All her efforts to understand what was going on were met with a defensive and acerbic comment. He’s a jerk and when she dumps him in the end, telling him, going out with you is like dating a Stairmaster, we heave a sigh of relief.

Striking a conversation with a woman and asking her for a date is arguably one of the most nightmare-inducing things known to man. What if she rejects him? This fear of rejection may even immobilize him from actually initiating a conversation with a woman, even if she is already sending positive signals his way.

According to therapy guru Dr. Phil McGraw or Dr. Phil (as he is more widely known), men have to reverse this internal dialogue or it will keep them from having a healthy dating life.

To those who believe they are doomed to be shy wallflowers for the rest of their date-less lives, rest assured that successful daters weren’t born that way; dating skills can be learned. Here are some tips from dating and relationship coach DeAnna Lorraine on how to push women’s buttons the right way:

Don’t worry about the outcome. It’s not the end of the world if she rejects you, so take it in your stride. Approach many women (1 out of 2 women in the U.S. alone is single!), considering each encounter as a practice round until you gain enough confidence in yourself.

Don’t put her up on a pedestal. Like you, women are just well, mere mortals. Treating her too highly will make you feel less confident about asking her out. Treat her as an equal so she’ll respond the same way to you.

Steer clear of cliche lines. Overused pickup lines and excessive flattery won’t get you anywhere with her. Engage her attention by asking open-ended questions so she’ll have a chance to elaborate instead of simply responding with a yes or no. Don’t try so hard to impress her with highbrow talk either or you’ll come off as just being full of yourself.

Let your body send the right signals. Never cross your arms, fidget, or look away when you talk to her or stare too hard until your eyes start to water. Look in her eyes for 5 seconds, blink and then look away. Keep eye contact again for 3 seconds, look away and then repeat the process. Maintain a distance of about 2 feet away so she won’t feel uncomfortable that you’re invading too much of her personal space, but not too far away that you make her think that you’re feeling intimidated yourself.

Don’t overstay your welcome. Some men make the mistake of hanging around too long. It’s either they are so smitten with her that they are reluctant to leave, or they simply don’t know when to make a proper exit! Lorraine says guys should depart (after you’ve asked her for a date and got her card) when the conversation is going great, not when it already starts to wind down. This gives her the impression that you have a life, making you more interesting in her eyes and leave her wanting to get to know you more.

A great way to re-engage the singles scene is to embrace the social acceptance of technology. There are some fantastic free online dating sites available these days which are far less intimidating than bars or clubs. Free dating websites allow you to slowly merge back into the dating game and to slowly hone your dating skills and confidence.

Matt provides Sydney dating services for local men and women who are looking for new relationships.

Posted in Dating Tips, Romance | Comments Off

Dating Etiquette

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

Sometimes, what could otherwise be an enjoyable evening with someone gets ruined because the other person has annoying habits that just go against the rules of proper dating etiquette and social manners.

How would you like to date a woman whose eyes look like a raccoon’s? If you think Avril Lavigne’s trademark eye makeup is sexy, maybe it is, but on someone you’re dating? In broad daylight? I wouldn’t touch a girl wearing that much eye makeup with a ten foot pole.

And while we’re on the subject of annoying things, I thought about some of the annoying habits people make while on a date. The one above is one, and the following make up the rest.

1. Being late. Being late at acting awards is quite cool, but you’re no Angelina Jolie and I’m no Brad Pitt and we’re not vying for any awards. In my book there’s nothing more annoying than your date showing up late. You’re looking to get off to a great start right at the get-go so don’t be late, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle before the date even begins. Show some respect, please.

2. Blabbering. Okay, your date did show up early, but then he/she starts talking nonstop about himself/herself. Could be a sign of nervousness, you say? Could be or you could be talking to a self-absorbed swellhead with an ego the size of Manhattan. If you’re guilty of this, please stop. It’s simply not cool.

3. Checking out someone else. If you’re with me, your eyes should be ON ME at least half of the time. I give you permission to look at the floor or ceiling or your shoes once in a while, and your food, but never, ever, let me catch you checking out that sexy dude at the other table or I’m out of there faster than you could say, “Wait!”

4. Being kiss and tell. And on Facebook and Twitter, no less! I know this is the digital age and some of us just have this compulsion to share everything about what we do on a daily basis. But for the love of God, please refrain from posting blow-by-blow status updates about how your date is going, what he/she looks like, the food you’re feasting on, and whether you are making out inside the car at 11 p.m. Especially if your date happens to be one of your contacts.

5. Having no opinions about anything whatsoever. It’s just so annoying when you’re with someone and you ask her what she thinks of, like, that crazy preacher guy’s prophecy that the world is going to end soon, and she says she doesn’t care and just leave it at that. Then anything else you ask her earns nothing but “maybe.” I’m not saying you have to have a mind of a scientist here, but at least have something interesting to say, dammit!

6. Being deathly serious. This is a date, not a funeral, okay? Just chill out. Recently YourTango quizzed 20,000 men about what turns them on the most and sense of humor scored higher than any particular body parts. For many, laughter is a form of foreplay. It’s just so damn sexy if your date can make you laugh.

7. Texting nonstop. Or looking at your phone during a date. It’s just super rude. Okay, enough said.

Still looking for clues to make an impact on your dating game? Free online dating sites are the ideal way to make your mark. Dating websites are without doubt the number 1 matchmaking tool for modern singles!

Matt provides Sydney dating services for local men and women who are looking for new relationships.

Posted in Dating Tips, Romance | Comments Off

Dating on a Budget

Sunday, July 10th, 2011

When every penny counts, how can one impress a lady when dating on a budget? How will you woo your girl without breaking the bank?

Sure. In this economic state we should keep our belt tighter. But hey, who says it should spoil our dating fun?

Remember that dating is not just about a coat and tie event or should be all about romance. It also should be a way to enjoy each other’s company and relaxing after a stressful day.

So take these inexpensive dating ideas and have a lovely time together:

Picnic in the Park

Well this might be the most cliché dating move but you have to admit it is fun, romantic and cheap! Just bring a basket with a bottle of wine, good homemade food, throw a blanket on the grass and viola! Besides you have all the beauty of the world before your eyes, so what else can you ask for?

Sounds boring? Bring on a Frisbee, it will surely go a long way on a pretty day.

The Coffee Date

Forget Starbucks for a while. We are trying to get frugal here. Walk along the memory lane, somewhere with familiar surroundings where you’re in your element. The local hometown cafe is always a safe move.

Get Fit

When you go running or cycling, tag your sweetheart along. Working out together is a great way to have fun and to make sure you are both in shape. And speaking of shape, you can always get hold of your feminine side and strut your stuff or give him flashes of that flirtatious killer smile to make the whole experience spicier. It’s a well-known fact that exercise induces those hormones too!

A Night of Pampering

The perfect way to stay in and up all night! No expensive or fancy spa required. You can always start by cooking dinner together. Then prepare a bubble bath for two. Dip in and treat yourselves to a full body massage. Sleep in the next day.

A Stroll to the Flea Market

Shopping may not be your man’s thing but he will appreciate the company if you drag him to the flea market. There are a number of things you might discover you thought never existed. And there is something for everyone at the local markets. Who knows, your hubby might have a knack for weird collectibles you did not know about.

There are still many date ideas that are light on your pocket. No matter what you do as long as you are with someone who can make you laugh, smile and feel sexy, hot and loved all at the same time, everywhere you go will be special. If you both have great chemistry, the date venue is irrelevant.

If you’re still a little unsure about where to take your date, check out his or her facebook page for a few hints. Dating sites also provide some excellent resources for dating tips so go online and start researching some unique dating ideas to make the occasion a memorable one.

Matt provides Sydney dating services for local men and women who are looking for new relationships.

Posted in Dating Tips, Romance | Comments Off

« Older Entries