8 Jan

The Best Way to Meet Someone

As people use the internet to accomplish more and more things in their lives – from paying the phone bill and grocery shopping to booking holidays and keeping in touch with friends and family – it seems natural that more individuals are turning to the internet for romance.  The stigma attached to meeting a partner through an online dating site no longer exists and, in fact, it is rapidly becoming the most popular way to look for someone with whom one might foster a long-term relationship.

Single people are more likely than ever before to meet a suitable mate online using the services of a dating site such as Parship UK.  Of the 15 million or so single adults in the UK and Ireland, it is estimated that one-third have organised a first date via an online dating or social networking site.  With more and more people logging on to UK and Irish dating sites on a daily basis, and sites like Parship utilizing the most advanced compatibility testing software on the market to match their members with the best potential long-term partners, the best way to meet that someone special may very well be online.

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25 Dec

Pacing Yourself With Online Dating

It is always a good idea to go local with your choice of online dating services.  If you are scanning through a list of Irish dating sites, evaluate them on the basis of their popularity among the masses.   Online reviews are a good measure to go by, or you could even go with references from friends that may have used such services.

Of the many sites that you might select, the Parship dating site could be one.  One of the basic things you need to do once you register on the site is to create an accurate profile.  In your profile, try and be as natural as possible.  You are trying to attract people who have similar interests as yourself.  Pretending that you are something you are not is taboo – do not do it.

Once your profile has had time to elicit some positive responses, the first step is to allow the other person to get to know you.  Let the sharing be mutual and never ask too many probing questions on your first few interactions.  There is a time and place to ask for a photograph and you will know when the moment is right.  Seeming over-enthusiastic can work against you.  There are times when your potential partner may seem a bit shy about expressing himself or herself and that is where you need to be able to put them at their ease, and put yourself forward.

As you get to know a person you will see that there is a kind of pace that sets into your communications.  Try and stick to that pace so as not to overwhelm the person you are in touch with, or get ahead of yourself.  When you think the time is right move on to meeting each other. The dynamics can change at this point and you will be able to better determine whether things will work out or not.

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17 Dec

Online Dating – The New Way to Date

Online dating is now an integral part of the dating scene; UK and Irish dating sites now have hundreds of thousands of members, and their membership is growing all the time.  There is no longer any stigma attached to using an online dating agency, or to meeting a new partner this way.  With increased access to the internet and more and more aspects of people’s lives taking place online, looking for a long-term partner online is not only convenient, but also seems logical.

The internet is playing a huge role in how many people start a serious relationship, and some recent studies indicate that 69 per cent of all first dates are now organised via an online dating or social networking site.  Other surveys have found that many people – and men in particular – find it easier to form relationships online initially, perhaps because they can express their emotions more freely and find it easier to say how they feel than they would in a face to face situation.

Dating in Ireland and the UK using online dating sites is growing rapidly, and one of the most successful sites is EHarmony Dating.  EHarmony Dating uses scientifically proven personality-matching software – as well as advice from a team of experienced relationship experts – to match individuals based on the answers members provide to a personality inventory questionnaire.  This questionnaire, which is quite straightforward and doesn’t take long to complete, helps the dating site find out facts about their members’ personality, attitudes, likes and dislikes, values, beliefs, and behaviours and they then use this information to match them with other like-minded singles.

As well as matching members with other members using a percentage compatibility score, EHarmony offers extras such as articles filled with dating advice, and members are provided with a phone number and email address of a personal dating counsellor who will answer any dating questions they might have.

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11 Dec

Long Distance Love

Long distance relationships are common in the world of online dating.  The internet gives people the option of finding someone to love virtually anywhere, and opens up a world of possibilities that have never before been available.

Europeans have an amazing amount of freedom when it comes to living and working in other EU countries.  As you start your search for true love,  think realistically about whether or not you might be willing to relocate.  UK-based daters can widen their horizons simply looking at dating Ireland residents, as well as dating the residents of other EU nations. 

Long distance love can have a number of advantages for certain people.  The travel that will be necessary to physically be with the other person can help to add romance, excitement, and adventure to the relationship.  If you lead a busy day to day life, travelling for love may actually prove to be more relaxing than trying to squeeze in the demands of a relationship with someone who is easily accessible into your daily life.  You will need to plan ahead as the romance progresses, but this can actually improve the quality of the time you spend with your partner.  Some people actually prefer living apart from their long term partner,  communicating mostly by phone or the internet, and only seeing them a few times a year.

If the romance starts to grow, there are certain things that you can do to foster intimacy even when you are physically located far away from each other.  The easiest way to do this is to make sure that you involve your partner in the other relationships that you have.  While you may be tempted to keep them to yourself during their visits, it will be important for them to get to know your family and friends on a meaningful level if the relationship is going to endure, and you should also make a point of getting to know their family and friends when you visit them.

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6 Dec

Alerts to Watch for on Online Dating Sites

Online dating, just like dating in real life, has its advantages and pitfalls.  One of its biggest dangers is that people tend to be more open and trusting with people they don’t actually see. This is because without the strain and awkwardness of physical proximity and eye contact, people relax and let their guard down.  From the other person’s side, it is easier to lie to someone you cannot see and lead them along with some tall tale.  Here are some signs that should tell you to end an online dating relationship.

It is good to be on your guard against someone who gives away very little about themselves but presses you for information about your work, income, lifestyle etc. Also be wary of people who may try to sell you things, direct you to other paid sites or try to get free advice from you on medical or legal conditions and the like. Another red flag goes to those who bemoan a recent and catastrophic change in their financial situation and make you feel like reaching for your wallet.

Visit and read a reputable dating blog to get more information about the common pitfalls of online dating.

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3 Dec

Safety Tips for Great Online Dating

Online dating is rapidly becoming a popular way to meet someone and to start a relationship.  It is convenient and requires very little time to get started.  However, unless you are very careful with what and how much information you divulge, sometimes online dating can turn unpleasant.  Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your online dating experience is pleasant.

Guard all aspects of your identity until you are a 100% sure that the person you are corresponding with can be trusted with that information.  This includes protecting your name, your age, address, phone number, email ID(s), work or education details, photographs and any places that you frequent.  It is a good idea to create an anonymous email ID and use that on all the dating sites you visit.  Check your profile information very carefully and provide only the minimum details.  When creating an email ID or login name, do not select something very explicitly sexy or provocative.  While your intentions may be harmless, this can attract the attention of the wrong kind of person.

If you are trying this out for the first time, it is a good idea to get dating advice from someone mature and trustworthy before you get started.

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29 Nov

Online Dating: Finding Your Partner

Finding romance and developing lasting relationships through internet dating sites has evolved to such and extent that it is estimated that one in five relationships are initiated online.  Long gone is the social stigma that was once attributed to having met in a chatroom or through a lonely-hearts site.

It is now commonplace to use the internet to choose holidays and cars, book hotels and restaurants and engage in hobbies and pastimes, all from the comfort of your own home.  So why not take that one step further and look for that special person to share these events with you.  There is now an online dating site that caters for practically every type of interest, so whether you are a music lover or film buff, sports fanatic or soap addict, animal lover or poker player, there will be a site that will introduce you to like minded people who are also looking for that perfect partner.

The beauty of online dating lies in the control you have over selecting the right person for you.  Browsing profiles is comfortable and usually anonymous, allowing you to explore people who share your values, desires and interests and avoid those who do not meet your criteria without embarrassment or causing offence.  When you find someone whom you think might have potential, the pace at which you want the friendship to develop is totally up to you, allowing you to forge a good understanding of the person and ensure, if you get to the stage you wish to meet this candidate, that you are comfortable so doing.

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27 Nov

Online Dating Tips

Starting out on your online dating adventure can seem quite daunting initially.  Consider the following tips before you embark on your journey.

Know What You Are Looking For

Be true to yourself about what you want or need from your online dating experience.  What sort of relationship you would like, casual, friendship, a serious long term partnership or someone to email.  This will save you, and others, time and energy and assist in finding what you truly want.

Write a Strong Profile

This is crucial to how you present to potential dates.  Avoid negative comments and issues that represent unresolved baggage.  Keep your profile friendly, presenting yourself in a positive way, highlighting your likes and interests, ambitions and dreams.  Make sure you don’t write anything that identifies you such as your street, place of work or email address.

Be Truthful

Whilst it is important not to divulge too much information it is just as crucial that you do not overstate your case.  You are, of course, advertising yourself alongside many others and it is tempting to add something that will make you stand out, just make sure you can live up to the picture you paint of yourself.  You would be disappointed if a bungee jumping adventure junkie turned out to have vertigo on your first date, so it is important you play straight.

Post a Good Photo

Take a picture that is current, shows you positively with a smile or happy pose.  It is proven that a warm and attractive picture attracts twelve times as many responses as those with no picture on their profile or with one that is dour and expressionless.

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25 Nov

Relationship Status

The first date, second date and third date have taken place, but when does dating turn in to a relationship?  Lesbian dating, not unlike gay or straight dating, is full of uncertainty. One’s own feelings of attachment and fondness towards another don’t necessarily constitute a relationship. As the old saying goes, it takes two to tango. The feeling has to be mutual.  Here are some sure signs that a love interest considers the relationship to be more than ‘just dating’.

•    Meeting the important people in your partner’s life. When a relationship becomes serious, the two people involved become a part of each other’s lives. The relationship grows from one between two people to a relationship with many people. This means important friends and family are introduced. Let the drama begin…
•    Future plans are made. This does not necessarily mean as far in the future as several years down the road, but maybe planning a holiday or a special event that may be several months away. This means that the two people plan on being together in the future. The week-to-week uncertainty of ‘just dating’ is gone.
•    Regular contact. When phone calls go from weekly to daily, or a significant other is texting to say that they are in a boring meeting or to share a funny joke, this means that they are on each other’s mind when they are not together. The seeds of love are being sown.

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23 Nov

Online Dating – Your Profile Photo

The photograph you post on your online dating profile page can be nearly as important as your profile itself.  Many online daters will only look at profiles that include a photo, and, just as it is true when meeting someone in person, that first impression can make all the difference.

To put your best face forward in your profile photo follow some general tips that some research has shown to be effective in increasing the amount of possible matches that respond to your profile post. Eye contact with the camera is good, but not if you are not smiling. Pictures of you smiling, whether you are looking at the camera or not, are also deemed attractive, especially if its combined with a rather flirty look.

Include photos on your profile page of you doing something interesting, perhaps while on holiday. Having your picture taken with your pet is another way to attract fellow animal-lovers to your profile.

Don’t post a grainy, low quality photo. Your photo should be well lit and with no special effects added.

Most importantly, do not post a profile picture that is not current. Too many singles have made the mistake of posting a 10-year old picture of themselves looking much younger, thinner, and with a full head of hair (or perhaps a different hair colour). Present yourself as honestly as possible with a photo no older than two years at the most. This will help you to avoid that embarrassing first encounter in which you have to explain how you have suddenly aged 10 years.

Headshots are best. Photos that are taken too far away or with a group of people are difficult for the viewer to get a good idea of what you look like.

Lastly, consider what you look for in a profile photo and supply the same for your prospective matches.

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