1. What dating apps are the most reliable, and which do you tend to prefer for your clients, especially those dating after divorce?
With new apps coming out regularly, I lean towards my tried and true favourites -Bumble, Hinge, eHarmony and occasionally Tinder for the sheer volume. Bumble allows women to message their matches first, giving them an increased sense of control and screening, where Hinge is designed to create quality matches.
Most importantly, avoid very niche or very new dating apps unless you know they work for you -you need the critical mass of users to feel motivated. This is especially true for my clients who have recently ended long term relationships, small wins early on are important.
2. What are your tips for creating a winning dating profile?
Photos are king! While good banter and a great bio helps, you need to connect visually on these dating apps, so arm yourself with some headshots and a full body shot in the mix -avoid overly professional images or very blurry ones, both of which can be a red flag online.
Get to know what you’re truly looking for and be able to articulate this. Are you seeking a companion as a friend that might develop into something more, or are you looking for marriage again?
Authenticity is important, but don’t feel compelled to overshare -keep an air of mystery so that you’ve still got plenty to talk about on your first dates.
3. How can we stay safe while dating online?
Remember that you’re in control -you have no obligation to reply to a message, hand out personal details or accept an offer of a date if you don’t feel comfortable, or if something doesn’t seem right. Keep an eye out for profiles that appear “too good to be true” with perfect stock images and users that are pushing to exchange phone numbers and email addresses too soon.
Always meet in public places for your initial dates, and don’t be afraid to call out bad behaviour, whether this is unsolicited photos or messages, inappropriate conversations or aggression -you don’t “owe” anyone courtesy if they aren’t showing you the same.
4. How can we stay motivated to find new love?
Take breaks if the dating apps are getting too much, and remind yourself what the bigger picture is -dating apps are just a tool to get to the end result, and the dating should come OFF the app and into real life as soon as possible. Be open to meeting new people and honing your conversational skills -every date is one closer to your next great love.
Nailing the perfect dating profile photo (Holly’s top 5 tips!):
1.Embrace Golden Hour -late afternoon when the sun is extra flattering.
2.iPhone photos are fine -no need to use professional equipment.
