Online dating can be a real minefield.

For that matter, so can “traditional” dating and many other ways of meeting the love of your life. We have so much to review when it comes to finding and sustaining rich and happy love life. For now, let’s concentrate on online dating.

Online dating includes the need to spend hours scrolling and swiping through apps to find a potential romantic match. Then  when someone looks promising the best practice is to spend a good amount of time chatting with them online before meeting in real life.   It can be an incredibly time-consuming process and full of red flags to avoid.

But there is hope.

More than 70% of people who have met someone on a dating app claim it has led to a romantic relationship. As long as you remain patient and put the work in, you will find the person of your dreams.

Below are some are ways you can increase your chances of finding love when online dating. 

Get Clear on What is Important to YOU

What is it you want from a relationship? Do you just want fun with for a short time? Are you seeking someone with similar interests who you can spend the rest of your life with?  Maybe you want to get married and have kids in the future. Whatever it is what you want, be sure to only consider a match with similar goals. Knowing your preferences will help you to narrow down your options and avoid wasting time on people with whom you aren’t compatible.

Use the right online dating app

Back in the day, Tinder was the predominant dating app of choice, bringing the “swipe right” methodology to the forefront. But now there are dozens of apps out there all designed to help couples find love. And many of these are targeted to specific demographics. For example, there’s Bumble, which is a female-friendly app. There’s Inner Circle, which is targeted to career-driven individuals. There are apps designed for people of certain genders, sexualities, and religions. If you’re a sugar baby or a sugar daddy, there’s an app for you. With all this choice, it’s important you pick the right app that meets your specific needs. This will increase your chances of success and make sure that every date you go on has the potential to be what is right for YOU.

Be open-minded

If you’re too picky right from the outset, you risk discarding a perfectly suitable match. Don’t focus too hard on immediate physical attraction, as this can often develop over time as you get to know someone. Give people a chance. Chat with them and find out if there is a spark or similar interests. The more options you give yourself, the more likely you are to find the right person.

Stay safe

Although many people date perfectly safely, there are some risks. If you’re meeting up with a stranger, there’s always a chance they are not who they claim to be. Whenever going on a first date, make sure you meet in a public place and tell a loved one of your plans. The chances are, it will be perfectly fine, but you should always take precautions. There is also a beautiful little option on your iPhone to share your location. Do this with someone you trust. 

Three final pieces of advice (for today):

1- If it is too good to be true it is likely not true.

2- If it does not feel right it probably is not right.

3- Listen to your intuition.

Have fun. Be safe. Good luck.