Are you new to modern dating and looking for online dating tips for beginners? I’ve got you! In this post, we dive into the best advice on how to date online and navigate sites like Tinder and Bumble successfully.
This post is all about online dating tips for beginners.
If you are newly single and haven’t been in the dating game for a while, the world of modern dating where ghosting, breadcrumbing, and gaslighting are standard, can be more than daunting. In this post, we explore online dating tips for beginners, to navigate the dating scene successfully, know who’s worth pursuing, and make the meaningful connection you are looking for.
Online Dating Tips for Beginners
1. Create an appealing Profile
Whether you like it or not, your online dating profile is your most important asset in modern dating. I’m sorry to be the one to break it to you but the first step in online dating is shallow, about appearances and how you present yourself. So either you can fight this fact and never get any matches or just play the game and hopefully meet someone who is willing to dig deeper after liking your profile. I have put an amazing post together about how to create a high-value dating profile. Check it out here or follow these main rules to attract a high-quality man:
Online dating tips for beginners: The Do’s and Don’s when creating your profile
- Choose recent and decent photos of you. More concrete tips on what kind of pictures to choose you find here.Â
- Write an appealing Bio that shows who you are and what you are looking for without coming across too seriously.
- Don’t be negative! Skip statements about how much you despise online dating, no one wants to interact with a negative Nancy!
- Be honest, don’t change your height or make up some hobbies that might sound interesting but aren’t actually true.
- Be yourself, and don’t try to be hyper-funny or hyper-cool, people can feel when you aren’t authentic and it can be a huge turnoff!
Remember that your Dating Profile is the first and, for many, the only impression they will ever get on you. So take enough time to create something appealing and positive that highlights the best version of you.T. This is the first and most important of all the online dating tips!
2. Swipe LEFT on Negative Nancies!
You will find tons of negative people on Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge who feel they are just too cool for the whole process and aren’t afraid to voice their hate for online dating all the time. So why are they there then? Well, that’s the thing, modern dating just doesn’t work anymore without dating apps, so rather than being negative about it just embrace it and see it as a great opportunity to meet a good match and create a meaningful connection with someone along the way. There is nothing more unattractive than negative people who can’t bother to be there. Then just don’t be there but don’t ruin the experience for others and waste their time. Also, be wary of people celebrating their “victimhood” online. If the first thing they do is complain about their ex or try to get your sympathy for their numerous horrible experiences. People playing the victim usually don’t take responsibility for their lives, a huge red flag and someone you probably can’t build a stable future with! SWIPE LEFT!
3. Take the Pressure off
One of the most valuable of the many online dating tips for beginners is to take the pressure off and enjoy the process. Will every person you talk to online be amazing? No! But will there be some decent people on there too? YES! Don’t put so much pressure on yourself and on your matches by having huge expectations for each and every one of them. Relax and see this experience as an opportunity to not only meet people but also for personal growth. With each person you meet, you will learn something about them, the world, and most importantly about yourself, even if they aren’t the one. After all, life is all about the people we meet, so be curious and enjoy being out there learning new things. I have learned so many valuable lessons from people I went on dates with, even if I just met them once, they usually had something to teach me. One guy I met online even gave me the final courage to finally change my life and move to a different country, I will be forever grateful to him, even if I have never seen him again! Thanks, Adam 🙂
4. Don’t swipe only based on “Your Type”
I get it we all have certain preferences when it comes to looks. But just swiping on men who are “your type” is not how to date online! After all, you are single for a reason, and maybe “your type” has proven to not work out for you. So again, be open-minded, and give people a chance even if they don’t tick all the boxes on your endless list of dating standards! Remember that behind every online dating profile, there is an actual human being, with many valuable qualities to discover! Be open to being surprised by people who aren’t “your type”, online dating is your chance to explore new people, and new attractions and step out of your usual dating routine.
5. Be yourself
The number one turnoff for me was always when I noticed that someone wasn’t being authentic. Don’t fool yourself, people spot someone who is trying to be someone they aren’t from miles away. Of course, we always show our best selves on dates, that’s normal but pretending to be someone you aren’t won’t end well for you ever. Being vulnerable and being able to laugh about your weaknesses and downfalls not only makes you more approachable but also highly attractive to people looking for a genuine connection online. Opening up and being real is necessary to create something deeper, that’s why you shouldn’t shy away from revealing who you really are. And if people like it, amazing and those who ghost you as soon as you open up, should stay ghosts forever and aren’t worth your time 🙂
6. Be wary of overly perfect Profiles!
Beware of Over-Perfect Profiles on Tinder and Bumble
If someone’s dating online profile makes them sound like a millionaire astronaut who rescues puppies in their spare time, proceed with caution. While it’s tempting to believe you’ve just matched with the real-life Prince Charming, sometimes these profiles are too good to be true. In online dating, especially on platforms like Tinder and Bumble, overly polished profiles can be a red flag for fake accounts or even catfishing attempts. A profile that screams “perfection” might be hiding behind stock photos, exaggerated claims, or vague descriptions meant to lure you in.
What to Look Out For:
- Their photos look like they came straight out of a magazine or stock photo library.
- They list a glamorous job but give no details about their daily life.
- Their bio is too generic or uses clichés like, “I live for adventure and seek my queen.”
- Their responses seem slow or overly rehearsed—like they’re juggling multiple “matches.”
Online Dating Advice for Ladies:
- Do a reverse image search on their photos if something feels off.
- Ask specific questions about their claims to see if they can back them up.
- Watch out for early signs of manipulation, like overly dramatic declarations of love or insistence on taking conversations off the app too soon.
Remember, real connections are based on authenticity, not perfection. Stay smart, trust your instincts, and swipe wisely!
7. Know your Boundaries
In the online dating space where everyone can be anonymous and no one gets held accountable, it’s tempting for some to push your boundaries. One of the best online dating tips for beginners I have ever received is to know my boundaries, know how to communicate them, and how to react when they are being overstepped. I get it, when we finally match the seemingly perfect guy, it can be hard to say no or communicate our boundaries, out of fear of scaring them away. But what most women don’t realize is that having strong boundaries and actually sticking to them is very attractive to high-quality men. It says a lot about you and your self-worth if you stay true to your values and it will earn you the respect you deserve and want from the men you are with. Learn more about setting boundaries as a high-value woman here.Â
8. Don’t Fall for the accidental “Ex Flex”
You’re scrolling through a profile, and there it is—a photo of them on an exotic vacation, looking adventurous and fun. But wait… is that an awkwardly cropped arm around their shoulder? Or is it a suspicious blur where someone clearly got edited out? Congratulations, you’ve stumbled upon the “Ex Flex.”This happens when someone tries to showcase their most “adventurous” or “exciting” moments, but they forget—or don’t care—to fully erase the traces of their past relationship. The result? A profile that’s unintentionally telling you, “I just wanted to look cool, but yes, that’s my ex’s arm still in the picture.” Let me tell you all the reasons why this is relevant:
- Being too lazy to take new pictures displaying their life AFTER their ex, probably means that they simply don’t have a life after their ex and are still hanging on to the past.
- They display the baggage they will bring into their new relationship, so unless you are looking for chaos and drama, swipe LEFT!
- They are probably emotionally unavailable and still hang on to their ex.
- Watch out for statements such as “not looking for anything serious” in profiles like that
Online dating tips for beginners: If their profile raises questions, just be upfront about your doubts, and always trust your gut about the way they react. Simply saying “Cool photo, who took it?” and watching their reaction will probably reveal all you need to know about them.
9. Date Ideas 101
I can give you tons of advice on how to date online but eventually, your online match has to progress into a real-world meeting. That can be scary, especially if both parties have big expectations for the date. Again, take the pressure off and make sure you arrange a date you actually enjoy. That way you make sure you are having a good time even if your date turns out not to be the one for you. No one wants to sit through a 3-course meal with someone they actually don’t get along with. So even though women online rant about “low-value dates” such as going for a walk or doing an activity, I actually believe this is a much better way to bond with someone than just sitting over dinner in awkward silence.
High value doesn’t always need to be “expensive”, to me high-value means of high quality with the goal of building an actual connection, not just to be taken out to the most trendy restaurant. I guess again it depends on what you are looking for: a real connection or a lifestyle. Find romantic date ideas here.Â
10. Be Curious and ask the Deep Questions
Tips for online dating conversations and chats in real life are simple: Be curious and don’t shy away from asking deep questions Again, even if your date isn’t the one be interested in the human being that’s in front of you, and always treat them with respect and try to learn something by asking about their values, visions and life experiences. Online dating opens up the opportunity to meet people form a variety of cultures and different backgrounds. Be open-minded and ask deep questions that will help you on your self-growth journey and make the best out of every date. Here are a few questions that can spark interesting conversations on any date:
- What’s one tradition or custom from your background or culture that’s really important to you?
- What’s a memory from your childhood that you feel shaped who you are today?
- What do you value most in your family or upbringing?
- How do you usually celebrate big milestones or holidays?
- What’s the most challenging experience you’ve faced, and how did it change you?
- What’s one aspect of your culture or background that you wish more people understood?
- What’s a dream or goal you’ve had for a long time but haven’t pursued yet?
- If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
- What kind of role do friendships or communities play in your life?
- What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from a past relationship or friendship?
Check out my 20 flirty conversation starters for online dating here.
With these online dating tips for beginners, you are well prepared to jump into modern dating with an open mind and heart. You should know now how to spot the people you rather avoid and the mindset to adopt to make the best out of every match and meeting you might have. Make sure to check out my related post to create an attractive online dating profile and bio and apply all the tips on how to date online to create a meaningful connection with someone. I hope this post will help you get off of Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge as soon as possible because you have fully embraced online dating and maximized this opportunity to find your perfect match. I wish you all the luck in the world and the courage to dive into this wonderful, scary, and exciting world of modern dating.
This post was all about online dating tips for beginners.
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