As a love coach, I'm constantly trying to convince people to give online dating a chance. It's been estimated that over one third of U.S. marriages begins with an online introduction and that number is expected to grow. It's your best shot at finding love if you do it right.
Despite these encouraging statistics and my nagging, many singles over 40 shudder at the thought of seeking love online. They want to meet someone naturally and resist putting themselves out there in this way.
This is unfortunate because when mature people try online dating, they usually get better results than the younger generation does. A recent study done by older-dating.co.uk reveals that older daters are more committed to the process and may enjoy better outcomes.
If you've tried online dating and been disappointed with the results, or heard way too many horror stories from friends who have, consider that you tend to get out what you put in.
I wish that finding someone to share your life with was fast and effortless, but the fact is that really great things in life rarely are. You're trying to meet the love of your life here, so be willing to go all-in. If you post a quality profile, log in daily, and stick with it over time, you're much more likely to get the results you're hoping for.
The first thing you need to do is post a good profile. Be certain to upload several quality pictures, write a good description of yourself that's easy to read and will make someone want to meet you. Steer clear of lists and tell stories instead. You should sound like a human, not a resume.
Finally, take the time to complete your profile and add details. Don't leave things blank and expect your photos to do everything.
Once you've got a good profile posted, log in at least once a day, preferably more. This will improve your rank in searches and show that you're an active member of the site. It will also help you to find and interact with people. Set a reminder on your phone to do this so that you won't forget and then follow through. Make a commitment to yourself to find the love you want.
Finally, be persistent. Finding a great partner is a marathon, not a sprint, so be willing to show up for yourself every day and do what needs to be done. You wouldn't just go to the gym once or twice and expect to stay fit, toned and healthy. Don't do this when it comes to your love life either.
The older-dating.co.uk study found that people over 40 committed to online dating for an average of 290 days. This may seem like a long time, but I encourage you to do the same if you're serious about finding love.
But isn't online dating unromantic? Well, I happen to think that it's always romantic to meet someone you end up falling in love with, and isn't it also unromantic to spend years alone because you refuse to take advantage of the technology that's available to help you find love?
If you're single and ready to meet someone special, fill out an online profile today. You may very well be the next happy statistic!
If you enjoyed this post, click here to get my free audio class "Five Steps to Finding the Love of Your Life".