Every year, thousands of people find love right here on match.com. You can too. We offer a great environment that gives you control over your online dating experience, allowing you to progress at your own pace in order to establish a healthy relationship.
Keeping in mind that to grow any relationship, you have to give a little to get a little, we also want you to exercise caution when getting to know potential new dating partners whether you meet them in a bar, through a friend or on our site.
Be picture perfect
You'll receive as many as 10 times more responses to your dating profile if you post photographs. Choose a headshot that clearly shows your face smiling and in a flattering light, plus one full-length shot and another showing you doing something that interests you. Make sure you use a current picture. In the long run, honesty is the best start to a new relationship.
Don't wait for cupid and fate
With online dating you get in what you put out, the more active you are on the dating site the better your profile searches and the more likely people are to contact you. Logging on during your lunch hour is a great way to keep your profile active.
Get to know your matches at your own pace
Get to know potential dates before meeting them in person by exchanging messages through our anonymous email or instant messenger. Keep it that way until you feel ready to take it further with a dating partner. As long as you're using our internal messaging systems you can always choose to block someone from contacting you and report anyone you are not sure about to our care team at the click of a button.
Remember "Password" is not a password
Neither is "123456". As with any website, be it your bank, eBay or match.com, choosing a dating service password that isn't easy to guess is just good practice. Make sure you change your password on a regular basis, and remember, we will never ask you to write your password or credit card details down in an email. So if you receive such an email, it didn't come from us so please tell us about it.
Use your instincts
Apply the same common sense when meeting new people on a dating site as you would meeting someone new for the first time in a bar or through a friend. If someone you've recently or never met asks you for money, they probably don't have the best intentions. If you see a dating profile that's troubling, use the "Report to a moderator" button located on every dating profile to let us know, and we'll look into it right away.
Spark interest
Craft a good headline for your online dating profile. Something upbeat and positive, creating a challenge is a good strategy such as; "I'm looking for a man who can make me laugh." To generate interest in you and spark conversation list out five of your favourite things in your profile.
Be careful when using a sexy name
Keep in mind that, while using sexual connotations in your dating service email address or user name might get you noticed, it probably won't attract the sort of person you'd like to share a relationship with - or even a conversation, for that matter.
Trust your gut
Proceed with caution if someone pledges undying love after just a few conversations online. Lust at first sight is alive and well, but love generally happens over time.
Never give out financial information or send money
Our dating site is well moderated and we work hard to keep our community safe, which is why we encourage our members to use our internal email and IM services. Although scams are extremely rare, it's still a good idea to be aware of how to recognise the warning signals, especially if you have decided to communicate with somebody privately outside of the site.
Any online dating scam is likely to be long-distance and would involve a request at some point to send cash abroad using a wire transfer service such as Western Union. Of course you should never do this; just as you would never give money to someone you recently met in the pub or cafe. Report anyone who asks for:
A first meeting with any new love interest can be exciting, but you must always be 'date smart' whether you met your date through a friend, in a bar or on an online dating site.
Where to meet
Cafés are great places for first dates. A cup of coffee can be a short encounter or a longer meeting, depending on how well you hit it off! Wherever you meet it's much better somewhere busy that you already know and not a private home or hotel room.
Tell a friend
Tell at least one friend or family member you are meeting, where you are going and when you expect to return. Let your dating partner know that the meeting is not a secret.
Stay sober
When dating, try to avoid having one too many as this could impair your ability to make good decisions.
Take your mobile phone
If you have a mobile phone, take it with you on dates. Most mobiles can make emergency calls even when locked, or out of credit.
Don't ask the other person to pick you up
Get yourself to and from the date, even if you have to have a friend drive you or take a taxi.
Set up a second date - if you are ready and feel comfortable
Remember to follow all of these tips on subsequent meetings, until you feel confident with your date. If the other person is sincerely interested in you, he or she will want you to feel comfortable and will be happy to take things slowly.
Fifty years ago, the idea of "courting" someone who lived in the next town (much less across the globe) was pretty much unheard of. Today, technology has made it possible to make new friends all over the world, and we constantly hear of inspiring long-distance and international love stories. Exciting as it is, you should always take extra care and follow the tips below when travelling to meet a dating partner for the first time.
Stay in a hotel
If you can't afford to stay in a hotel, don't go. Never stay at the other person's home on your first visit.
Use taxis to get to and from the airport
If the other person wants to greet you at the airport - great! It shows interest and it's polite. But don't get into a personal vehicle with someone that you are meeting for the first time.
Keep your hotel location private
Until you are completely certain of the person's intentions, don't reveal exactly where you're staying.
Remember to keep family and friends posted on your plans, and share information about your date with them.
Always tell someone who you are meeting, where you are going and when you plan to return.