Most of us aren’t expert daters in real life… and it isn’t always easier on the internet! If you’re new to online dating services, here are the top 5 tips to keep in mind.

1. Don’t sell yourself short

Don’t be afraid to tell people what’s great about the ‘real you’ on a dating service website! Take your time thinking about this, and you can look at other profiles on the dating service for inspiration and wording tips.

2. Keep a sense of reality

Your contact through online dating services might not be face to face, but if you act as though it is (in some ways!), you’ll have a much better overall experience. So, always reply to people’s messages even if only to say ‘No thanks’, don’t get abusive or stalker-ish, and don’t clam up.

3. Be realistic

If you’re approaching retirement and looking for a companion, don’t say that you’re only interested in 18-25 year old athletes. There’s a lot of people on dating services on the net… but not that many.

4. Be comprehensive

Giving people as much information about you as possible in your dating service profile is a good idea. Don’t worry about turning people off by saying too much… you’ll only turn off people who were wrong for you anyway.

5. Put up several photos

Make sure the photos you use on your dating service profile are recent, and use a range of shots.