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Online Dating Articles & Advice for Everyone

Online Dating Advice

The Internet and digital technology have both changed the world all around us in more ways than we can even begin to count, but one that we know intimately is the shifts in the dating world that have led to a growing popularity in online dating and matchmaking. Zoosk is proud to be a leading online dating site with a proven algorithm and intuitive interface that is perfect for all ages and dating goals.

In addition to our ability to connect our customers to others who share similar interests, values, and personality compatibility, we also love to provide real, useful advice on how to get the most out of your time on our — or any — online dating platform. We sat down with some online dating experts to get some real-world advice on meeting that special someone online.

If you are ready to take the plunge, sign up for your free Zoosk account today! Below, we will go over some tips for making the most out of your time using our online dating service. If you have any other suggestions, please leave them below in the comments!

The Popularity Of Online Dating Explained

Online dating is no longer an interesting option for finding a match — it is so ingrained in our modern culture that it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t at least signed up for an online dating platform in the past 5-10 years. Ease of access, quantity of potential matches, and the quality of digital matchmaking algorithms are all qualities that are difficult to ignore when someone tries to think of how to meet a partner these days, and it’s easy to understand why these platforms have transformed the dating landscape.

A Simple Way to Meet People

In the past, meeting a potential partner was either a game of chance — meeting someone at a coffee shop, a bar, an interest group, or in some other public setting — or being set up by friends or family. Lots of relationships still start like this, but the convenience and 24/7 accessibility of a dating site are hard to beat when it comes to increasing your chances of finding someone you are compatible with. The best part of this benefit is the fact that dating profiles tell a lot about someone before you even initiate a conversation.

A Wide Selection of Potential Partners

Closely overlapping this first benefit is the fact that there is such a broad base of users to browse through. To consider talking with 100 people before online dating, you would need to go to a crowded area and approach people at random. How do you even decide who is worth approaching? With online dating, you can scroll through hundreds of singles in your area with the click of a button or swipe of a thumb, and before deciding to “approach” them you can review some basic facts about them and look for common interests or red flags. You don’t even need to leave the comfort of your home — you can actively look for a partner on your lunch break, on the train, or even while lying in bed at night.

Shifting Opinions About “Tradition”

Society has become far more accepting of non-traditional relationships, lifestyles, and ways of meeting partners. Online dating, as a result, has moved from a bit of a taboo into a space where people recognize the benefits and can appreciate alternatives to the old ways of dating. People have diverse preferences and prioritize individuality in our modern society, and online dating allows singles to filter results based on these specific needs or wants. Finding partners who share your interests and values is an important part of establishing a meaningful relationship, and online dating empowers users to seek this compatibility with a few taps.

Benefits Of Online Dating

We’ve already touched on some major benefits while trying to explain why online dating has become so popular, but it’s worth calling these benefits out again, along with some others. Online platforms like dating sites and social media have made connecting with people, products, and services easier than ever. Here are a few of the most notable benefits of online dating:

Bigger Pool of Potential Matches

As we have already pointed out, the pool of potential matches available to you at the click of a button is enormous when compared to traditional avenues of dating. Imagine walking into a room filled with 1,000 strangers, all looking for a partner. Intimidating, right? Now, imagine that you can sort through these people based on key criteria such as their interests, locations, age, and more. Quantity is good when you have a way of navigating the pool, and online dating does both exceptionally well.

Insights Into Personality

In the past, you would need to have a few conversations with someone to get even a general idea of their interests, values, and overall personality. With online dating, you can review information on someone’s bio that goes into their hobbies, goals, values, and more before you even decide to reach out to them.

Efficiency

In our hyper-efficient modern age, it’s easy to get impatient while trying to meet a match out there in the analog world. Online dating puts the power of granular filtering in your hands, helping you sort through hundreds or thousands of profiles based on specific criteria that are your non-negotiables in a partner. This saves time and effort while putting potential matches at your fingertips with ease.

Affordability

Going out with the hopes of meeting a potential partner can be a costly proposition: clothes, parking, gas, food, drinks, entry fees, and all of the other costs associated with a night out. Online dating platforms like Zoosk offer free and low-cost options that make online dating a cost-efficient way to meet new people. And don’t forget that time is money, so the efficiency of online dating is another way to consider online dating as an affordable alternative.

Dating With Intention

Online dating allows users to lead with their intentions when they start a conversation. Here for a hookup or something serious? It’s much easier to walk away from a digital conversation right at the start when the two people connecting realize that they are looking for different things out of their time on the platform, a frustrating issue for people who meet in the real world and have to “slow roll” their intentions as they feel each other out.

Importance Of Choosing The Right Platform

There are a lot of different dating platforms out there, so which one is right for you? There are a lot of things to consider when making this decision. Here are a few that you will want to think about when you are exploring your options:

User Goals

Is the platform in question known as a “hookup” app, or are people there to get serious about finding committed relationships? What are you looking for? This is an important first question to answer for yourself. If you are looking for casual hookups or some no-strings-attached fun, you will probably want to consider a different app than a platform offering a paid matchmaking service that focuses on connecting people for serious relationships.

User Experience

Do you find the platform to be designed in an intuitive and useful way? If you are struggling to navigate the platform simply based on the design, it’s likely that you are going to find other difficulties or issues once you move deeper into the system. A well-designed site or app that focuses on navigability and simplicity can be a good indication that the developers put a lot of thought into their users’ experiences, and that may translate to more meaningful connections and authentic matches.

Cost

There are a lot of different price tiers on different dating apps, so finding one that is within your budget is important. Many sites, like Zoosk, offer free versions of the platform that will have limited features. This is a great way to get started, create a profile, and interact with the site a bit before deciding whether or not you think it will be a good value for the money if you were to upgrade to a paid subscription.

Communication Features

Take a look at the types of communication features each platform offers. Some premium features may include things like video chats, instant messaging, and a number of other ways that will facilitate great communication from within the platform before you decide to move things into the real world.

Benefits Of Zoosk

We’re biased, but we think that Zoosk is an excellent platform for people who are looking for serious relationships. Here are a few of the benefits that we think sets us apart:

Advanced Matchmaking Algorithms

We are continually fine-tuning our matchmaking algorithms to connect our users with great matches. Our algorithm learns about your preferences and likely matches based on things like the profiles you have clicked on or messaged, as well as the interactions you’ve reported to be positive. This is, of course, in addition to the important foundational qualities of a match such as compatible values, interests, and location criteria. As a paid member, you can get custom matches served to you through our SmartPick™  introduction based on the algorithm’s selections for you.

User-Friendly Experience

We have some of the best designers in the business, and they’ve worked to provide our customers with an exceptionally user-friendly experience. We want to make sure that Zoosk is intuitive for you so you can stay focused on meeting people instead of trying to fumble your way around our interface. When you log on you’ll have easy access to your dashboard, different options for browsing, and a bunch of different messaging choices that are all simple to navigate and easy to use.

Great Members

Zoosk’s membership is made up of a lot of great individuals who bring different qualities and interesting perspectives to the table. If you are looking for a platform that will give you access to a diverse group of singles, Zoosk is a great place to look.

Free Membership Options

If you aren’t ready to take the plunge into a paid membership, we offer a great free tier that allows you to create a complete profile, search and browse through other members’ profiles, see possible matches, and send reactions that will let another user know you are interested. These basic features will help you get your feet wet, familiarize yourself with the world of online dating, and decide whether or not you think Zoosk is a good platform for you.

Signing up for a paid dating site can be a barrier that a lot of people just aren’t ready to cross — especially if they are new to online dating and want to get their feet wet without the commitment. Zoosk has a free membership option where you can create your profile, browse through the different profiles, see your possible matches, and “react” to other users to let them know that you’re interested. These basic features will help you get familiar with the platform, wrap your head around online dating, and get a feel for whether or not a paid Zoosk subscription is a good fit for you.

Paid Subscription Benefits

A paid subscription opens the door to a lot of other capabilities on the platform. You can message anyone and even casually chat with other online members. Another major benefit is our SmartPick™ feature, which intelligently connects great matches based on all sorts of different criteria. You will also be able to see who viewed your profile — you might notice a repeat visitor who is too shy to say hello. You can take the first step!

Tips For Creating An Online Profile & Making A Successful Connection

Your online profile is your first impression — really, your only impression — when it comes to making connections on an online dating platform. You may be matched with your perfect partner, but if your profile doesn’t include some basic information about who you are, they may not feel very compelled to connect. Here are a few important steps for creating your profile:

Be Genuine

It’s important that you are honest about your values, interests, and what you are looking for in a relationship right off the bat. This will help weed out any major misalignments before you even begin a chat.

Use High-Quality Pictures

On Zoosk, you can upload six pictures to give other users an idea of who you are. Make sure that you use pictures that show your complete face, and use the 6 photos to portray your personality and interests. If you are going to use a group photo, make sure that it’s clear which person you are.

Write a Great Bio

Your bio needs to do a great job of communicating who you are so that potential matches have some information to go off of. Talk about your hobbies, things like your favorite music, books, or movies, and some of the values that you hold most important in your life. Are you a dog person or a car person? What’s your opinion about pineapple on pizza? Show some personality here!

Avoid Clichés

“I love to laugh.” Ok, who doesn’t? Speaking in generalities or clichés might make you come off as boring or uninteresting, so make sure that you share specific details about things that set you apart and make you who you are.

Be Positive

Negativity can be a big turn-off or red flag for potential partners. Don’t use your bio as an opportunity to focus on things you don’t like or strong negative opinions you hold. This sends a signal that there may be a lot more complaining and negativity on a first date, which most people like to avoid.

Sign Up for Zoosk Today

If you are ready to get out there and find a great match, sign up for your Zoosk account today. Use these tips and the information we’ve provided to build a great profile and approach this new endeavor with a positive outlook. We can’t wait to help you meet someone on Zoosk!