If you’re a singleton who has decided online dating isn’t for you, here’s an important question…
Have you considered that you might have been using the wrong website? There are hundreds of online dating sites and apps to choose from these days, and a lot of them aren’t suitable for certain people. Quite frankly, a lot of them are terrible. In most cases, you could quite easily find the right partner once you know how to find the best dating website for your needs.
These 7 simple steps will allow you to do just that based on your dating profile and what you’re interested in.
Step 1. Niche or Mainstream?
Most people know about the mainstream dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Badoo or OkCupid.
Sure, these online dating services have their own unique features and branding, but they’re essentially trying to appeal to everyone. That’s great, because these apps have managed to attract millions of users across the world, and a large dating pool should technically increase your chances of finding a match.
However, if you have a solid idea of the type of partner you’re hoping to attract, you might have more luck using a niche dating app.
These are the apps designed to appeal to specific demographics. There are niche dating sites that cater to musicians and music lovers, farmers, people in uniform (e.g. nurses, firemen, cops, etc.), people of the Jewish faith, and even Trum supporters! There are even more specific websites out there too. If you can imagine it, there’s probably a dating website about it. These websites might have smaller user bases, but the people you do match with are more likely to be to your taste.
2. Paid or Free?
There are obvious advantages to using free online dating websites. In most cases, they will have more potential partners to choose from – and of course you’ll save yourself some money too.
However, it’s worth mentioning that a lot of “free” dating websites are effectively useless until you invest in a premium membership or premium features. You’ll also have to deal with a lot of trolls, scammers, sporadic users and generally stupid people.
Signing up to a reputable paid online dating website can therefore often prove to be more fruitful. Here, you’ll avoid most of the time-wasters. Instead, you’ll mostly be matching with people who take online dating seriously.
You can even try online dating sites that charge just a little more for a premium experience. This is common among those who want to date within their socioeconomic range. These websites often have large membership fees, but these serve to price out less wealthy singles. All that’s left is the cream of the crop – and you’d imagine most of them are keen to make the most of their membership.
3. Which Websites Have the Best Reviews?
If you have no idea which online dating service might be best for you, check out a reputable online dating reviews website. There are a few great options out there for reviews depending on what you’re looking for. If you don’t want a long-term relationship, go with Beyond Ages who has put together the most well researched review of the best hookup apps and sites that we’ve found. If a real commitment is what you’re after you should search for specific reviews of sites you’re interested in.
A good review website will warn you away from scams and point you towards the most effective online dating services. On top of that, they’ll list the pros and cons of each website, so you can quickly decide which one is most suitable for your needs.
You’ll learn about the premium memberships available within free online dating websites – and whether you should invest in them. Most importantly, you’ll get the verdict on how easy it is to find a great partner. Reading these reviews will save you a lot of time in the long run.
4. Are You looking for Hookups or a Serious Relationship?
Some online dating services are marketed exclusively to people looking for serious, long-term relationships, including tried and tested websites like eHarmony or Match.com. The membership fees and clear “relationship only” messaging scares off people who are just looking to get laid.
At the other end of the scale, there are lot of websites aimed at singles looking for casual sex and no-strings relationships. Most of these are complete scams though, so tread very carefully. When searching for your ideal hookup site, opt for those that have a large user based and plenty of positive reviews from real users.
5. Mobile or Desktop?
Most of the major online dating websites have a dedicated mobile app, available on iOS and Android. Some of these are only available on mobile. These are perfect if you’re looking to engage in some cheeky flirting whenever you have a few minutes spare, wherever you are.
However, there are some dating websites that have no app and are incredibly clunky when accessed on mobile devices. Despite the usually sub-par design on mobile sites, these dating sites generally offer decent usability when used on a desktop.
6. To Match or not to Match?
A lot of online dating services will not allow you to message fellow members until you “like” them and they “like” you back. Typically, these websites will make you swipe on members one-by-one to decide whether or not you’re into them.
The main advantage of this system is that popular users aren’t overwhelmed with messages from people they don’t want to speak to. The main disadvantage is that you may not be given the opportunity to even notice your dream partner if the app’s algorithm deems them unworthy of your attention.
There are still online dating websites out there that will let you message whoever you like. All you need to do is use your search filters and you can contact whoever you want. So, it’s up to you to decide if that’s a system you’d prefer.
Whatever option you choose, this guide will help you send messages that stand out in a crowded online dating inbox.
7. Test out your Favourite Apps
Ultimately, an online dating website is only as good as its pool of eligible singletons in your local area. That means the best way to find the right online dating website is to test a bunch of them. Perhaps you’ll choose to divide your time between several websites, then focus on the one that serves you best.
To make the most out of your chosen websites, check out this guide on creating your most attractive online dating profile. This will help you start off with a great profile that will increase your odds of finding a date on any site you choose.