Dating coach Sharon Vickery

Your ideal partner is out there, right now waiting for you, but the best way to find them is to identify what’s not been working for you so far and then to make adjustments until you get the results you want.

Online dating is a great way to meet other like-minded single people, there’s no doubt about it, but too often we start to upload a profile and send those winks and emails when we’re feeling lonely on a Sunday afternoon, in the hope that our love life might miraculously change by 8pm!

So, if you’re finding the dating process a struggle or if you’ve been feeling frustrated, confused or lonely, don’t worry. The good news is that I’m here to help, and the answers to where you’ve been going wrong are just around the corner.  Here’s how you can avoid the 3 biggest mistakes people make with online dating.

No.1:  Not Committing The Time And Effort To Dating Online

How great would it be if we could go to the gym once every 6 months for 2 hours and have the body of our dreams! That would be on my wish list for sure but realistically I know I have to go 3 or 4 times a week to stay in shape.

There’s no quick fix for finding love online in the same way that there’s no quick fix for having a healthy body. You have to be proactive and put the work in to see the results – and if you do, the results will be priceless.

No. 2:   Putting The Wrong Or No Photo’s On Your Profile

I’m going to cut straight to the chase here and ask you to be realistic. Your photos do matter!!

This can be the second scariest part after writing your profile but like it or not, looks do matter, so here are some guidelines when adding your photos.

• Always post at least 3 photos:

The simple truth is that if you decide not to put your photo up you’ll dramatically reduce your chances of success. You’ll be about 10 times more likely to get a response by having a photo up there than nothing at all.  The maths aren’t that hard here; do you want to lose 90% of your online chances?

• Use a head and shoulder shot as the main photo:

Your main photo should ideally be a great one showing just your head (no hats or sunglasses) and with you smiling. This is going to be your main selling point so it’s worth investing in getting it right.

• Use recent pictures:

All the photos should be no more than 12 months old, but ideally within the last 6 months.

• Avoid group photos:

Don’t add any photos where you’ve got your arm around someone of the opposite sex, where you’ve cut someone out of the picture or where it’s not obvious who you are in the crowd.

No.3: Don’t Take Rejection Personally

I’m going to start by giving you a figure to really get the realism flowing.  Statistically you’re going to be rejected by 8 out of 10 people online. Yes, this means that most of the people you write to won’t write back. It’s nothing personal and it’s important that you don’t see it as a rejection of you.

Maybe they are communicating with quite a few people and just don’t have the time to include any more?  Maybe they just met someone and want to see how it goes?  Maybe they’ve got personal or work commitments that are taking up their time or perhaps you just don’t appeal to them?

There could be so many reasons, but the bottom line is that you will never know what they are so there is very little point in spending valuable time trying to figure it out.  Remember never take rejection personally when you’re dating online.  Instead, spend your energy searching through new members and sending messages to everyone who catches your eye.

By Sharon Vickery, Online Dating Coach and Author of The Secrets To Finding & Keeping An Amazing Man

If you want to learn the insider tips and strategies to really make online dating work for you, Sharon has a special offer on her Mastering Online Dating 3 Week Program, which is open to both men and women, and valid for a limited time only.  On the 3 week program you will learn how to:

• Create a profile that will get you noticed
• Know what qualities really are important in your ideal partner
• Save time and money by knowing which website(s) to choose
• Avoid the 7 biggest mistakes people make with online dating
• Spot your ideal partner in a sea of profiles
• Write emails that get a response
• Go from email to that first date, plus much, much more!

You can find out more about the 3 week Master Class here:  http://www.havefunfindingtheone.co.uk/lookingforlove.php.

You can also get a free 7 part guide: How To Solve The Mystery Of What’s Keeping You Single, at Sharon’s website – www.havefunfindingtheone.co.uk

If you're looking for companionship, romance and relationships, login to DatingAgency.com

Age isn’t a barrier to dating – it’s an advantage!  Dating in your 50s is just as exciting as it was in your 20s or 30s, and it’s far more satisfying too.

You’re never too old to date or look for romance, companionship and someone to share both the exciting and mundane moments of life – and that’s why so many of us over 50s are flocking to online dating.   Read on to discover why age is an advantage when you’re dating.

You Know Yourself

It is a cliché, but by the time we’re in our 50s, we’re older, wiser and know ourselves much better than we did when we were in our 20s and 30s. We know what we want, what will complement our life and what our boundaries are far more than we did when we were younger – and because of this, we’re more successful daters.

You’re Settled

You’ve done the marriage, mortgages and kids things already – and yes you still have financial and parental responsibilities but now they’re teenagers or older, your new relationship is really all about the two of you, rather than fulfilling dreams of a family and a four-bedroom house. You and your date can go see a film at a drop of hat without worrying about a baby sitter, you can jump in the car and have a day by the seaside, or spend a long weekend in Scotland on a whim because your life is your own once more.

You Know What Your Dreams & Goals Are

The unknowns of youth have calmed down, you have identified what your dreams and goals are, and if you haven’t fulfilled them, you’re well on your way there. This means you are in a better place to incorporate someone else into your life because you know where you are heading.

You Know What You’re Looking For

The biological clock isn’t ticking any longer so there are no outside pressures on finding a mate. You know what you like and dislike in relationships, so you can make a better judgement on who is worth spending time with.

There Aren’t Any Rules

There are no rules when you’re dating, especially when you are in your 50s. Plenty of people over 50 have solid relationships yet live in their own houses, others would like someone to to share a round of golf and have dinner with, and some are looking for a partner they can potentially grow old with. There are no rules, and no right and wrongs – other than what you and the other person decide upon, so get out there and start having some fun!

Here's how to write a profile that will get you noticed for all the right reasons.

It can be daunting writing your dating profile; what should you say, how long should it be and how do you make it interesting?  Here’s how to get noticed for all the right reasons.

First Impressions Count

Think of your profile and photo as your calling card; this is your first impression so make sure it counts! Anyone who visits your page will decide whether or not they want to hear from you, contact you, or meet up with you on the basis of your profile.

When you first join, take a look around DatingAgency.com to see what other members do, so you can see what looks great and what sounds dreadful. We’re sure you’ll agree that there’s nothing worse than a one line profile that says; ‘I don’t know what to write here. If you want to know anything, just ask.’ This just makes the person sound dull, uninteresting and lazy, and if you do this whilst paying to be a full member, you’re just wasting your money!

Always Add A Photo

A photo is essential if you want plenty of interest from other members, so make sure you add a recent photo to your profile. It should be a head and shoulders shot, with you looking relaxed, happy and gazing into the camera so there’s eye contact.

What Should I Write?

A good profile doesn’t need to be lengthy, but it should contain a couple of paragraphs so that other members can get a feel for you as a person, how you like to spend your time, what’s important to you and what you are looking for in someone else.

So start with you, your personality and what you value. Next write a couple of sentences about what you enjoy doing and how you like to spend your weekends. Then write a few lines about what you are looking for in someone else, and the sort of relationship you are after.

Be Interesting

You want to stand out from the crowd and sound interesting, so whatever your passion is, mention it because this will make you stand out amongst thousands of other profiles. So if you love classic cars or stock car racing say so; if you’re a workaholic, a foodie or love your allotment, mention it because it’s these nuggets of information that will resonate with others.

Shout About Your Good Points!

Are you fun, are you a good listener, are you a good friend, or are you the life and soul of the party? If you don’t know what to write, ask your friends or family what they think your best qualities are and work from there.

Be Honest

Don’t lie about your age, don’t lie about your income and don’t lie about what you are looking for. If you aren’t honest from the word go, you won’t attract honesty in others and you’ll waste your time with people who won’t be what you’re looking for. Equally, someone you like may not want to see you again if you’ve lied about your age or your height on your profile.

Always Do A Spell Check!

There’s nothing worse than a profile littered with typos so always spell-check it before adding it!

Don’t Procrastinate!

The more you worry about writing a ‘good’ profile, the harder it is and the more self-critical you become. So just put pen to paper and see what comes out – and if you have any doubts, ask a close friend or one of your children to give you a hand.

Keep it open and casual on the first date and see where it leads!

You’ve chatted online, spoken on the phone and now you’ve arranged to meet for that all important first date! It’s nerve-racking, it’s exciting and it’s an awful lot of fun – but what should you do and where should you go? Read on for our first date advice.

Keep It Casual
It’s always a good idea to keep the first date casual and open because there’s nothing worse than having to sit through a three-course meal at a plush restaurant if there isn’t any chemistry between the two of you. Pull out all the stops on the second date, when you’ve decided they really are worth pursuing.

Meet In The Afternoon
Arrange to meet in the afternoon so there isn’t quite as much pressure on the two of you. It also means you can meet in daylight and make-up an excuse to leave if it isn’t going well! And if there is chemistry between the two of you, you can carry it on into the evening and go for dinner too!

Where Should We Go?
A drink in a pub or a coffee shop will give you plenty of time to decide if you want to see each other again, and also lets you keep the date short if it isn’t going well.

What Should I Wear?
First impressions count but you don’t want to overdo it either and since it’s an afternoon date there’s no need to get your glad rags just yet! Wear whatever you feel comfortable in, and if in doubt, ask a friend or your children for some advice on what looks good on you.

Be Punctual!
Obviously being late for your first date won’t convey the right impression, so make sure you are a few minutes early and if you do get held up, call your date and let them know.

Forget the Flowers
Don’t over-do it on a first date and arrive with flowers and chocolates because it can be a little awkward. Save your gifts for date number two when you really want to impress them.

Conversation Starters
It’s always good to come prepared, so make sure you’ve got a few conversation starters up your sleeve just in case there’s an awkward silence.

Have Fun!
Try not to let your hang ups or your nerves get the better of you. Relax, have fun and enjoy getting to know each other – and remember, even if there isn’t any chemistry there, you might just have made a very good friend.

You'll make new friends dating online, one of whom might just turn out to be someone special

It will boost your confidence, increase your social circle and it’s great fun!  Here are five reasons to give online dating a try.

Dating in our 50s is naturally different from when we were in our twenties, but the thrill and excitement is just as exhilarating as it was the first time around.

If it has been twenty years or more since you were last single, then dating online is the ideal way to ease yourself back into the swing of things, increase your social circle and boost your confidence.  Here’s why you should give dating online a go.

Take It At Your Own Pace

When you’re dating online, you’re in control and you can take everything at your own pace. There’s no awkward pick up lines, you can flirt in your dressing gown safely tucked away behind your PC, and spend some time getting to know the others through private messages and online chat before you decide to meet for a date.

Plenty Of Choice

As soon as you join you’ll have access to hundreds of other singles – more than you would meet if you joined every social club and network within a twenty mile radius of your home town!

Pick & Choose

You pick and choose who you want to connect with, so there’s no awkward chat up lines or stilted conversations with people you aren’t interested in.  Of course it’s always nice to be polite, so even if someone you don’t really fancy sends you a private message, drop them a polite ‘thanks but no thanks’ message in return.

Anyone Can Make The First Move!

When you’re dating online, anyone can make the first move so use the search facility to find members near you, read their profile and if you like what you see, drop them a wink or a message and see where it leads.

Boost Your Confidence

It will boost your confidence, remind you just how much fun flirting is and you’ll make plenty of new friends – one of whom might turn out to be that special someone.

So start making new connections today!  Login to DatingAgency.com and see who’s online.

All photos taken from a webcam will be date stamped like Shaun's from London.

Strike a pose and add a date stamped photo to your profile straight from your webcam!

We’ve added an exciting new feature to DatingAgency.com called ‘photo snapper’ which lets you add a date stamped photo to your profile straight from your webcam.

All photos taken with a webcam will have a date stamp in the bottom left hand corner, so when you are looking at other member’s profiles, you’ll know their photo is recent and can rest assured they are genuine.

You’ll find the ‘take a photo with your webcam’ button when you go to add a photo to your profile.  If your webcam is connected a dialogue box will appear asking if you want to allow access to your webcam. Tick ‘allow’ and ‘close’ to see yourself on screen.

Strike a pose and when you’re happy, click on the camera icon to take your photo.  If you like what you see you can save it to your profile, or cancel it and have another go!

Our lovely support team will then approve your picture and add it to your profile – it’s as simple as that!

Why not add one of your own today?  Login to DatingAgency.com and strike a pose!