Dating At Any Age...

Let’s say you have just turned 50 or 60 or 70. (Only the brave admit to their true age after 50.) You’ve decided you want love in your life but the idea of online dating is daunting. Nevertheless, your desire for a partner outweighs the fear of the unknown.

The good news is that there are more than 54 million singles in the U.S. and over 40 million have tried some form of online dating. There’s a pretty good chance that in the vast sea of humanity you might just get lucky.

I have floated in and out of the online dating world for several years and I’ve had great success. In fact, I advise clients—and teach classes—about online dating. Learning how to navigate this digital world took time, dedication and a positive mindset.

We’ve all heard the horror stories, but you have to know that there are a lot of success stories out there. Yours could soon be one of them.

My clients are successful in most areas of their lives, but they often are clueless about online dating. Here are a few things I tell clients seeking advice about dating online.

A rocking profile is essential. Just like a resume, the purpose of a good profile is to get you in the door. However, I cannot emphasize enough the power of good pictures that are recent. Nothing 20 years old or 20 pounds thinner. You WILL be discovered!Do research before writing your content. You want your verbiage to “pop” while offering insight into who you are.

Have someone proof your profile and make certain to use spellcheck before posting. Some sites are conducive to short profiles while others encourage more in-depth descriptions. A short profile might have a single sentence designed to grab your attention, then a category or two (bullet points are great) offering more specifics about you. (TIP: Make the last line in your profile an invitation to the reader to respond.) Here’s an example of a good profile:

I am a lawyer by day and a blues musician at night…

I can navigate between:

Stability and spontaneity

Hole in the wall and candlelight dinner

Street culture and high culture

Being adventurous or relaxing at home

A few facts that make me stand out in a crowd:

I believe in chivalry (I will always open the car door for you)

I am an avid Salsa dancer

I hold one of the highest scores ever recorded for Pac-Man.

If you would like to challenge me to a match… I’m ready.

Choose a dating site that caters to your particular needs. A few websites for the over 50 crowd I recommend are match.com, silversingles.com and ourtime.com. After a bit of investigation, it will become evident which one, or ones, are most appropriate for you.Most importantly, keep an open mind and your sense of humor. Both will serve you enormously.

Look at online dating as a fabulous opportunity to learn about yourself while meeting interesting people. Remember, it only takes one.

Next year on Valentine’s Day, who knows?

Karyn