The internet is bringing just about everything straight to your door, from online shopping to college courses, but has it really made dating all that simpler?

These days, navigating the world of online dating can be as tricky as it was before the likes of Tinder and Match.com, and many people find that they are no better off after spending months committing themselves to finding true love on these platforms.

If you’re one of those people who find themselves screaming into the ether, wondering whether they went wrong then you have come to the right place – this handy list of simple questions and answers will help you to find important dating profile tips to score more dates.

Which App Should You Be Using?

There are so many different apps on the market at the minute that it can really be a tough job choosing from among them. After a while, it might seem like all the apps are the same, but they really are very different from each other.

While all apps might have the same purpose – to bring people together – some might be more known as a “hook-up” site, while others focus on religion or hobby. It can be really helpful to start narrowing down the dating pool right from the start – but keep in mind that you don’t want to be so specific that you potentially miss out on the love of your life just because you weren’t open to alternatives.

How Should I Portray Myself Online?

When it comes to setting up a profile, it might be tempting to make up a whole new identity in order to lure prospects to your door, but this doesn’t last. Remember, they will eventually need to meet you in order for a relationship to advance (in most cases, at least) and if you’re not who you presented yourself to me, it’s more than likely that the relationship will end right there.

When it comes to presenting yourself, make sure you do it honestly – after all, research shows that people tend to fall in love with those who have similar backgrounds and lifestyles to their own.

What Sort of Picture Should I Choose?

Posting the right picture can be a really tricky task because you’ll likely want something that makes you feel confident in yourself but you don’t want to post something that will look remarkably unlike you.

You need to find a balance between a picture that shows what you look like, while also being something you are comfortable showing off to the world. Keep in mind that your picture will likely be the first impression that someone gets of you, so try to ensure that it’s friendly and open. An authentic smile is a must for this sort of picture.

How Much Information Should I Include in my Dating Profile?

When it comes to writing your profile, it might be really tempting to spend a lot of time telling your life story, but in some instances, online dating is a numbers game and no one is going to spend hours looking through one profile just to see if that person appeals to them. For this reason, you’ll want to make sure that you are brief and to the point.

Make sure that you open with the most interesting things about you – what makes you stand out from the crowd? It is suggested that you not only include information about yourself, but that you also include what you’re looking for in a partner – a 70/30 balance is about right for this sort of task.

How Do I Narrow Down my Options?

When it comes to dating, you never know what type of person you’re going to fall in love with, so make sure that you keep your options open. Everyone has a set of deal breakers that they don’t want to have to put up with in a relationship and that is perfectly okay – but it’s important that you don’t fine tune your list of options down to the point where it becomes difficult to find anyone that matches those requirements.

How Do I Know If My Dating Profile is a Good One?

The answer to this is simple – you’ll be getting more messages and invites for dates than before. If this is not happening, you need to have a good look at your profile and see what you could be doing better.

It can help to have a friend or family member look at the profile for you and give you some honest feedback about what you could be doing better.

When Should I Meet Someone Face to Face?

When it comes to meeting someone in real life, it can be tempting to put this off so that you can be sure you’re not wasting your time. While this is sensible, you also need to make sure that you’re not waiting to fall in love online before the date moves into the real world. This is because there is only so much chemistry that can happen online.

Keep in mind that while you want to meet people face to face, rather than relying entirely on the power of the internet, you’ll want to make sure that you do so safely.

How Do I Stay Safe When Dating Online?

Just because you know someone online for a long time, that doesn’t mean that you know who they are in real life, so you need to take precautions when meeting people out in the real world for the first few times.

When you’re first meeting up, make sure that you meet in a public space. Don’t rely on the other person for a lift, and always make sure someone in your life knows where you are. Remember, safe dating is fun dating.