Intro to Online Dating

If there’s one thing that hasn’t gotten any easier to figure out after over a decade of living in London, it’s dating. All of my adult years have been spent mostly in London both in and out of relationships so everything I write about is from my personal experiences. Next week I'll be exploring turning the whole idea of singledom upside down on its head so be sure to check back in for that. For now though, let's get stuck in.

In order to get a date, you usually have to meet someone you find attractive both physically and mentally who also finds you appealing (obvs). But let’s be honest here, once you wander online, physical is everything.

Large cities like London can be intensely lonely places, particularly when you first arrive (or forever if you're yet to get a proper sense of self). I found it extremely convenient to turn to the internet to help speed up the friend making/boyfriend hunting process when I first moved here after university. Ah university. We had it so good back then didn’t we…..but I digress.

Throughout the years (between relationships), I’ve dipped in and out of a multitude of dating sites/apps. The convenience of it all keeps pulling me back in – a catalog of the vast majority of London’s singletons are simply one click away. Doesn’t matter if you’re dressed or in your PJs, your pictures always show you at your best.

I have tried a few different sites throughout the years so it’s no surprise my last 2 relationships started online. At least one of these men was a normal, attractive, employed, well adjusted human male so I know for a fact that they do exist and that there are plenty more out there to be found.

It doesn’t matter what site or app you use though, the same principles always apply without fail.

Here are my top 3 tips for using online dating sites to meet straight men.

1 – Money does nothing. Just because there is a membership fee doesn’t mean you will get more good quality suitors. There are douchebags EVERYWHERE whether you pay or you don’t.

2 – Temper your expectations. Their worst profile picture is usually the most accurate so if you don’t like them in it, you probably won’t like them in real life. He’ll be 5 inches shorter than he said he'd be and she’ll show up without the puppy ears filter you weirdly thought she'd have. Temper your expectations and you’re MUCH less likely to be disappointed.

3 – Coffee is king. You know immediately if you’re attracted so don’t drag out your first meet. Why coffee? Because it’s finite! You’ll both have until the bottom of your coffee cup to either arrange your next PROPER date or use the natural break at the end of your hot drink to go your separate ways.

I wrote a series of reviews a while back on some of the online dating sites I’ve used during my adult years in London so far so take a look and share!