What do you consider “traditional” methods of dating?

Are you using a matchmaker? Are you allowing your family to pick your dates for you?

Are you going to dance clubs to meet women?

Are you putting ads in magazines?

Or are you hitting on women you meet at work or in the street?

Basically, if you are hitting on strange women, you are going to have a staggeringly high rejection rate. And the women you do meet that way will almost all be incompatible with you. After all, they are the sort of women who think it’s a good idea to date total strangers they met in the street.

The great advantage of dating sites is that everyone there is interested in dating. Okay, they might not be interested in dating YOU. but they are there because they are single and want to meet someone.

The other great advantage is that you can filter for what you want. I always filter for kinky, left leaning, atheist, intelligent, non-smoker. Otherwise you can spent a lot of time with someone before you realise they are actually a Trump voting, vaccine denying evangelical.

Yes, if you are very specific about your filters, you’ll have a smaller choice. But you’re more likely to find it a useful one.

Good luck with that…lol. I am 65 and the dating apps were a huge waste of time and money and a big disappointment. There was only one man that I really liked and he died 3 months after I met him. I would be more likely to meet a man at The Home Depot or in the grocery store. My advice to you is that if you think you found someone you’d like to meet in person, don’t waste a lot of time with a lot of back and forth texts. Meet them for coffee……..that way if they sent you a younger picture or don’t appeal to you, you can split. Most of the ones I met didnt appeal to me at all in person and would always call right after the date and that is when I told them I just wanted to keep it at friends when the truth was I didnt even want them for a friend….lol. There are a lot of liars out there. I would ask them what they are looking for, how long they’ve been divorced or widowed, what if any hobbies they have, do they have grandchildren, are they retired or semi-retired and what do they do for a living. I would take it slow if you do find someone you connect with. There are a lot of old horn dogs out there looking for a nurse or a purse. Ask them if they have any health issues too. Good luck.

Do’s

Embrace specificity. If you’re looking for someone who wants to travel the world with you, say so. If you want to sit on the couch watching ESPN all day, say so. There are both kinds of people out there. Don’t say vague stuff like “I’m funny and I want someone to laugh with.” I’ve rarely read a funny bio.

Don’ts

No physical requirements whatsoever. Zero. Zilch. Nada. You’re already going to be exchanging photos, so don’t risk turning the other person off by stating you’ll only date people ten years younger and below (women do this too), slim, etc. (or tall, muscular). This screams superficial.

Online dating presents a number of amazing opportunities to connect with like-minded people and potential romantic partners. but some seniors may be intimidated by the idea of online dating, the truth is , it’s very easy to get started.😄😄😄

1. If you’re dating, you will need smart, freshly washed clothes, a good haircut, and fresh breath: this assumes you want to succeed.
2. We all have stories, so just don’t let your past story take over.
3. Learning to value yourself even when she/he turns you down. And try to enjoy the dates, even when they lead to nowhere.
4. You may be looking for another settled relationship. Part of being a senior single is staying open to what’s possible, here and now, learning to embrace surprises, and don’t forget to be gracefully flexible.

Based on my personal experience and research, I would recommend a few of the top dating sites for people over 50:

Doulike - While not strictly for 50+ dating, DoULike works very well for singles returning to dating later in life thanks to its personality-based matching system. They use one of the most extensive compatibility assessments of any major dating site to identify your traits and preferences for the highest quality matches with long-term potential.

OurTime - This site is owned by Match Group, so it has the same extensive user base and matching algorithms that have made Match Start Something Great successful. However, OurTime is focused exclusively on users aged 50+ looking for dates in their age range. It's user-friendly, simple to set up a profile, and has lots of helpful search filters by age, location, interests, etc. They also host local singles events specifically for the 50+ crowd.

SilverSingles - SilverSingles has a reputation for attracting high-quality users who are educated professionals looking for meaningful connections. There is an extensive sign-up questionnaire that ensures matches have similar core values/lifestyles for better compatibility. The site verifies all users manually too, so you know profiles are legitimate. They have smartphone apps, user blog/magazine, and experienced matchmakers on staff.

EliteSingles - This site draws a more serious, career-oriented demographic of mature singles looking for lasting love. User profiles tend to include a high level of detail to find truly compatible matches. EliteSingles also restricts its membership base to those 30+ only with an emphasis on members with higher education and income levels. Great for discerning singles.

I hope these give you a good starting point to find over 50 dating sites that work for you! Let me know if you have any other questions.

I see only one HUGE DISADVANTAGE. Social media, especially dating sites and apps have an overwhelming number of scammers seeking victims.

Many, many persons using these sites have no idea what is happening online regarding scammers and romance scammers.

NOTE: A few years ago I spent 6 months researching this for myself. I tried free dating sites and some requiring paid subscriptions. I also had experience helping scam victims and I knew how to research prospective matches. I paid approximately $50 per month for subscriptions to sites where I could do research about a person.

Bottom line, it wasn't worth the time and effort because there are so many fake profiles being used by scammers.

Seek a traditional method for meeting people in person.

While there's no guaranteed way to find a meaningful relationship on dating apps, some tips include being honest, creating a good profile, and knowing your non-negotiables:

• ProfileChoose a high-quality photo that shows your personality, and avoid using too many group shots. Some say you should also include what makes you interesting.
• HonestyBe upfront about your intentions, whether you're "here to date," "ready for a relationship," or "open to chat".
• Non-negotiablesBefore starting online dating, decide what you're not willing to compromise on and what you're more flexible about.
• AppsSome say that apps like Hinge, Bumble, and Match are better for those seeking serious relationships. Others say that Coffee Meets Bagel is good for slow dating, while Happn uses location services to show you people you've crossed paths with.
• Self-careIt's easy to link your self-esteem to the number of matches you get, so try to have a self-care routine and distance yourself from the app.
• Open-mindednessTry to be open-minded

The safest way would be to hire out a bar for the night and hire a dozen actors to play the role of patrons. Make sure they have air-tight back stories in case the target questions them. I would go for something like a drunk guy, a off duty police officer, a retired pilot and at least one of them should be dressed as a priest so he can carry the gun without the target suspecting.

You could also hire a private detective to shadow the target afterwards. If they walk down an alleyway and jump into the back of an unmarked van which screeches off for example, it would suggest no further dates should be undertaken with this individual. Of course that is a highly unlikely thing to ever happen, it's just an extreme example of what might be found.

I'll go out on a limb here because I've probably since the late 90’sbhsf upwards of IDK, 70, 80 dates, both men & women if my noodel is firing on all 12 cylinders. But pretty early on I learned. That first impressions are very very important! Looks, grammer, neatness, morals ( fake it till you make it”. But watch the pics you are using, back ground,s, nose hair, burgers, and the most important one is, and especially nudes,! If it's not a selfie, then who took it

I always paid normally. But on today's time, go Dutch. I always held back from my normal alcoholic drinking. I reframed from bitching about passed dates, exs and really anyone. You know, negative Nellie.

That's about it, I've got was a date off of POF on about 30 minutes.

The first way to tell if someone is worth meeting after chatting for a while on an online dating site is to see if that person actually wants to meet you. I’m an affiliate marketing owner of 4 dating sites, and I always advise people to use their dating site membership with the intention of finding someone who is like-minded. The whole purpose of a dating site is to use it as a tool to conveniently find someone to build a real relationship with in person. If someone makes up too many excuses about meeting you, then they are not ready to date you. Or, they are not interested in building a relationship with you. Suggest having two or three live phone dialog conversations as well as an online video meeting first before meeting in person. That way, you’ll know if he or she is being genuine with you. You’ll also be able to pick up on whether or not you feel any romantic chemistry between you two. If you don’t like the way the conversations via phone/video are going, then you’ll know not to waste your time with that individual and you can go ahead and block their phone number, email, and dating member profile.

When it comes to dating, my college friend's experience with Emerald Chat stands out. She found the spontaneity of video conversations refreshing and engaging. Through this platform, she broadened her horizons and met diverse individuals, eventually finding someone special. The advantage of dating sites like Emerald Chat lies in their accessibility and the ability to connect beyond your usual social circles. They offer a chance to explore diverse personalities and interests upfront, making it easier to find compatible partners based on shared values. However, these platforms might lack the immediate, in-person chemistry that traditional dating provides. Some might also find the initial judgment based on online profiles a drawback compared to the organic nature of face-to-face interactions. Ultimately, it's about finding what suits your preferences and dating style. For my friend, Emerald Chat's video chats were a gateway to meaningful connections beyond the conventional dating scene.

1. Find the right site(s) that work for you. Trying to meet someone on Tinder probably won’t work. Try Ourtime, Plenty of Fish, Silver Singles and or Match.
2. Have nice photos. At least one that shows your face and one that shows your full body. Think about having a pro take photos.
3. Don’t limit yourself any more than you have to. Profiles that have long lists of people who should not respond. I am sort of turned off by profiles that go:, no one over 20 miles, college graduates only, no one shorter than 6 feet, no smokers, no one who voted for Trump, etc, etc, They strike me as someone who would be a PITA.
4. Be active in contacting people you might be interested in.
5. Spell check your profile info. Typo’s can make you seem stupid. A well written profile can help a lot.

A couple of years ago I saw a headline on MSN that read something like “12 tips for great success on dating sites. I thought oh, great I may get some good ideas. It was the stupidest thing I ever saw and would do more harm that good, They went something like 1. Lie about your age, 2, Photoshop your photos or use old photos. 3 Lie about your income. 4. Lie about your education. I think that is terrible advice. It may get you some first dates you would not get otherwise but the real you will prevail and you will just end up wasting time and disappointing yourself and the person you meet. Being hones pays.

I believe that if you are arrange to meet the person at a public place and let 1 or 2 of your close friends know where you are and who you are out with are a good start. Coffee shops are great for that, and they allow you to limit your time to a coffee or 2 in case no sparks appear.

Online dating means that you will meet strange people not once in a while, but more often that usual. My best suggestion is always to go slow, and don't rush in on a date with someone you hardly know about.

But my biggest hint is : If possible, try to interact a lot with the person you are going to meet before you consider doing so. Often scammers and other types might lose interest if you are a "difficult bait". Also, you can spot liars and strange types before moving further by simply interacting with them online a bit more than usual. Believe me, it helps.

And finally, you will definitely meet great people as well, make friends or even find romance. A first date means an ice breaker when you are online. If things go well, you will definitely be able to feel that.