10 Tips for Dating in Australia
Dating in Australia can be similar to dating everywhere else and cause a lot of emotions like aggravation, sadness, or anger. People are looking for different qualities and it can be hard to find someone that you’re compatible with. To help make the dating process a little easier, we’ve written up a handy guide. Not only will we give some tips about dating but we’ll also talk about some of the top dating websites. Hopefully you’ll have an easier time once you read all of this information.
The dating process is something that many people don’t necessarily enjoy or completely understand. It’s a complex process and it’s important to have some tips under your belt to get you through.
It all starts with a simple hello
We’ve listed 10 of these tips below to help get you started. If you want more tips, do a quick internet search and see what comes up.
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TIP #1 - Step Out of Comfort Zone
The first tip we’ll talk about has to do with going out of your comfort zone. Many people have certain things they are comfortable doing and they don’t necessarily like trying new things. Unfortunately, this can make it very hard to meet new people.
This is especially true if you’ve been going to the same places with the same people for years. This doesn’t mean you have to jump right in, though. It’s completely fine to start off slow.
If you need to, start off going to a place where you’re comfortable but not very well known. This will give you a higher chance of meeting someone new. As your confidence grows, you’ll be able to start going to places you’ve never actually been.
You could even decide to go to a place or event that’s specifically for dating. This includes things like banquets or speed dating. There aren’t any guidelines about where you need to go to meet someone, so just explore new places and enjoy meeting people.
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TIP #2 - Keep Asking Simple
Another thing that people have issues with is the actual act of asking someone on a date. This can be for many different reasons but one of the most common is that they make the asking part too complicated.
Some people choose to use all kinds of gifts, while others spend a lot of money. Most people going on a first date with someone will consider this too over the top and like things are moving too fast.
On the other hand, you don’t want it to be so simple that the person gets the idea that you’re lazy or don’t really care.
A good idea is to just make some conversation and ask them. By having the conversation first, you’ll get a better idea of what the person likes.
Once you know that, you’ll be able to ask them to an appropriate date, such as a coffee shop or a fancy dinner.
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TIP #3 - Use Online Apps
With so many people being online these days, a great way to find a date is to use a dating app. Most of the most common websites will have an app and you’ll be able to get notifications right on your phone.
These work differently from one another, so it’s important to understand how to use the website. You’ll also want to make sure you put a truthful and interesting bio to make people want to reach out to you.
In terms of photos, these will be the first things other people see when they are on the app. You’ll want to make sure you have nice pictures that give you a great angle. It might seem like it’s conceited, but most people are going to only reach out to people that they find attractive.
Don’t make your photos too provocative because people might think you’re not looking for an actual relationship and you just want a fling or quick hook-up.
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TIP #4 - Consider Date Ideas
Going on the perfect first date could make or break everything. Not only do you want to make sure it’s appropriate but you’ll also want to make sure it’s going to be something that keeps both party’s interest.
This is another reason why it’s so important to have conversations with your date. You’ll know their likes and dislikes. You really don’t want to ask someone to a coffee date if they don’t like or drink coffee.
You’ll also want to remember that different people like different things. One person might want to stick with a traditional date, while someone else might want to do something thrilling like bungee jumping.
The best thing to do is to make sure you’re both on the same page and in agreement about the date. It’s also important to understand how the bill will be split up. This gives you an idea of what to expect and take into consideration how much the date will cost.
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TIP #5 - Ask Questions
Asking questions is the best way to learn about the person you’re interested in. Not only will this make you closer but you’ll also be able to learn about their personalities and beliefs.
You’ll then be able to decide if it’s someone who you’re compatible with or not. The last thing you want is to have very little conversation then go on a date and learn you both are all wrong for each other.
It’s important to ask questions that will let you get to know them better without crossing a line and getting too personal. Some people don’t mind but many others will see it as moving too quickly.
You should feel out how things are progressing as your conversation goes on. You should be able to figure out pretty quickly if it’s someone you could see yourself with or someone that you know you wouldn’t work with.
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TIP #6 - Plenty of Communication
There are more and more stories of people talking to someone then getting ghosted. Let’s face it, nobody wants to put their time into something only to get completely dropped and ignored.
To help stop this from happening, it’s extremely important to have plenty of communication. This is a great way to make sure both parties are on the same page and know what’s going to happen.
With that said, though, it doesn’t mean you have to be in constant contact at all times. You’d be surprised how much it means for some people to have the person they are dating check in once or twice a day.
If you feel like it isn’t working, it’s important to explain that to the other person. Don’t just drop them or stop all contact because being ghosted is extremely hurtful and makes the person feel negative.
They’ll appreciate that you were honest and upfront about your feelings and the relationship.
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TIP #7 - Give Dates Another Chance
There’s always the chance that any of us might have a bad date. This doesn’t reflect who the person really is, so it’s a good idea to give dates a second chance.
There are many reasons for a bad date, like having a bad day, being nervous, or just being out of your comfort zone. Many people are nervous when they meet or hang out with someone for the first time, so you want to consider that anything that happened on the date could be a result of those feelings.
Once you have a 2nd or 3rd date, you should be able to tell if the feelings are there or if you were right after the first date. You might be surprised by someone if you go on another date on them and you might end up being very thankful that you gave them that chance.
If you don’t feel like it’s working after giving that chance, let them know and move on.
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TIP #8 - Make a Good First Impression
Many people are going to know how they feel about you within a short time of meeting you. A lot of this had to do with first impressions, so it’s important you give a good one.
Not only do you want to dress the part, but you also want to make sure you are well-mannered and polite. You want to be polite to everyone, including the employees at the location of your date.
Even though you should make a good first impression, it’s important you stay true to who you are.
Being dishonest in the beginning is not a good idea and it’s something that can jeopardize the relationship later.
Be as honest as you can while taking care not to wreck the date. If you and your date decide that you both have different viewpoints and beliefs, then you both can move on and to about your lives.
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TIP #9 - Don’t Overdo Things
You might think it’s a good idea to pack as much as you can into a first date to try and make it as fun as possible. Often times, though, this ends up being way too much and things can get stressful.
This is even more true if your date wasn’t expecting any of the stuff you had planned. This is also another reason why you should consider first date activities that we talked about above.
Once you know some information about the other person and you know when your date is, you both can decide what to do. Try and keep it simple and not overly intimate.
Good ideas include things like lunch, a movie, mini-golf, or bowling. After that first date, you can gauge how the relationship is going and decide if you want to do something more intimate for the next date or do something simple again.
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TIP #10 - Relax & Have Fun
One final tip is to just relax and have fun. It’s easier said than done but try and enjoy the dates and meeting new people. Even if you don’t end up being compatible, you can have fun and possibly make a new friend.
You might find that this person becomes one of your best friends and someone you care deeply about.
To help achieve this, try and go into a date with the mindset of having fun and getting to know each other. Don’t look at it as trying to find love or trying to make everything perfect.
We’re all human and mistakes or embarrassing situations may happen. Just pick yourself up and continue on with the fun. Remember, there’s no guidelines or rules to dating, so just do what feels right to you.
Top 11 Dating Sites For Singles in Australia
There are so many different dating sites out there and it can get overwhelming quickly. It can also be aggravating to be on sites that just aren’t working for you. If you look below, you’ll see 11 of the top dating sites and some information about them. We’ll also include a list of pros and cons, so you’ll have a better idea of what to expect.
eHarmony
Pros
Cons
eHarmony is one of the most well-known dating websites and most people have probably heard of it. This website is mostly for people who are looking for serious relationships and has a free app that you can download. It has more than 30 million members from all over the world. The ratio is around 53% women and 47% male. For any given week, around 16 million people are active.
Most people can have their profiles live in about 10-15 minutes. Most people will choose the premium options because free profiles are quite limited. You could always try the free profile first, then pay for the upgrade if it’s something you’re satisfied with. You’ll be able to look at profiles of people who have put some of the same matches. You can read their profiles and reach out if it seems like things mesh well.
Elite Singles
Pros
Cons
EliteSingles is a dating site for those that are serious about a relationship and know all about the 9-to-5 lifestyle. Most of the singles on this website are educated and have a mature personality. They want their spouse to have specific educational backgrounds and good careers. As a result, many people think that this website comes off as snooty or stuck-up. The prices help with this outlook because they are on the more expensive side.
The sign-up process can be a little extensive, so you want to make sure you have at least a half-hour set back to fill it out completely. In addition to filling in information about you, you’ll also need to answer some questions. These are made to require you to dive deep and really think about what you’ll put. Remember, many people are going to base their decision on these answers, so make sure you’re putting something that’s truthful yet in-depth.
RSVP
Pros
Cons
With over 2 million users, RSVP is one of Australia’s biggest dating websites. Not only does it have websites that work on desktop and mobile browsers, but it also has apps that can be used on both iOS and Android. There are many people that are active every day and most people are aged 25 or older. The male to female ratio is about 50/50, so there should be plenty of people to try and match with.
It will only take a few minutes to fill out your profile and upload a photo. The photo is mandatory but those with them usually get more contact. You can send a free kiss to someone to see if you guys might be compatible, but you’ll need to buy stamps in order to actually send a message. Once you send the message, you’ll have 30 days of contact before you have to use another stamp. Once you send a message, you’ll get a credit if the person doesn’t read it after 30 days.
Tinder
Pros
Cons
Tinder is great for those that are more into hooking up instead of a long term relationship. The free version has many features, but upgrading will get you even more. One thing to keep in mind is that it has a sliding pay scale that’s based on age. For instance, those who are 31 or older will pay a higher fee than those that are younger.
Some of the things you can do with the free membership are upload up to 6 photos, write a bio that’s 500 words or less, like up to 100 profiles every 12 hours, and send, read and reply to the messages that come from your matches. If you are happy with these features, then upgrading your membership wouldn’t really be beneficial. On the other hand, it’s not super expensive, so you could try it out for a month or 2 and see how many matches you get.
Adult Match Maker
Pros
Cons
For those looking for a casual dating site, AdultMatchMaker is a great option. It has over 2.5 million members and has males, females, and couples looking for casual dating or sexual meetings. Signing up is quick and easy, so you can expect to have your profile live in just a few minutes. The great thing is that you can make your profile as discreet or open as you want.
A basic membership is free but you can upgrade to premium if you want to. You can send a free wink to see if you guys match and you can also reply to a message or chat request for free. They even have a chat room if you want to have the chance to talk to many people at once. Once in the chatroom, you can click on the person’s picture and look at their profile. You’ll be able to send a message or wink to them from there.
Plenty of Fish
Pros
Cons
Unlike the many of the other dating sites on this list, Plenty of Fish lets you message others without signing up for a subscription. It doesn’t have as many features or options as a site that requires you to pay, but it offers enough to help you easily use the website and find love. It also has an app for both iOS and Android, so you can look for love while you’re on the go.
When signing up, you’ll have a page that is full of questions. You’ll then have to answer a CAPTCHA that’s more in-depth than the ones most people see on other types of websites. After doing that, you’ll then go to another page that has you input your preferences and interests. You always have the option to upgrade, but it’s not something that’s required. If you find that you want more options, then upgrading can be done in just a few minutes.
Aussie Cupid
Pros
Cons
Aussie Cupid was created to help those in Australia find love. Unfortunately, this means that the user count is quite low and there are more males than females signed up. Signing up can be done quickly and easily without having to verify your email. You can also choose to sign up for a 3-month free trial. Once it’s over, you can decide if you want to continue paying or find another dating app to use.
When signing up, you’ll have a page that is full of questions. You’ll then have to answer a CAPTCHA that’s more in-depth than the ones most people see on other types of websites. After doing that, you’ll then go to another page that has you input your preferences and interests. You always have the option to upgrade, but it’s not something that’s required. If you find that you want more options, then upgrading can be done in just a few minutes.
Bumble
Pros
Cons
If you’re looking for a dating app that won’t cause you to get bombarded with messages from men, then Bumble is a great option. It’s set up very similar to Tinder with one exception-only women can send messages. This means the men have to wait and hope that a woman they match with will send them a message. This can be both good and bad, depending on your position.
The way the app works is very simple. You can swipe right or left on a person to let them know how interested you are. If you’re extremely interested, then you can use a premium option called SuperSwipe. If you both swipe right, then a match is made. From there, the woman will have 24 hours to send a message before the match disappears. After talking for a while, you have the option to move onto voice or video calling right inside the app.
OKCupid
Pros
Cons
OKCupid is another dating app that has gained popularity in the last few years. While most of the features can be used by free members, it’s only around $10 to upgrade to the lowest premium membership. The questions you’ll be asked during signup are extensive enough to find good matches without being so extensive that you get aggravated or annoyed and give up.
Once you access the platform on your Android or iOS app, you’ll be able to start matching immediately. Not only will you get match notification, but you can also search the different profiles. You can also choose what you’re looking for in terms of the relationship and some of the things you’re looking for. Unlike other apps, there are quite a few options for those that identify as something other than the normal gender and sexuality.
Match.com
Pros
Cons
Match.com is one of the most common and well-known dating apps. In fact, most people have probably seen an advertisement from them at one point or another. There are many options available with the free membership, including the basics about you, your appearance, your interests, and your lifestyle. If you want some additional features, the premium membership is a great option.
With the paid membership, some of the things you’ll be able to do are see when messages are read, games, highlighted profile that makes your profile a different color than the others, and Match Phone. Match Phone gives you the option to talk on the phone with another user without actually showing what your number is. There are many people, so you should be able to find a few good matches.
Zoosk
Pros
Cons
Zoosk is a great option for those that are looking for both long-term or short-term relationships. While actually sending a message is only available for those with premium memberships, you can send a smile or heart for free. You can also buy digital gifts and send them to other users.
One thing to remember is that all pictures can be seen by other users, so make sure they aren’t too revealing or inappropriate. Your actual profile can be done in around 5 minutes and you have the option to sync up your social media accounts. The app works well and doesn’t have too many issues in terms of functionality.
By using these tips, those dating around Australia should have a better understanding of things they can do to make the process easier. You never know when love might happen, so it’s important to not give up and get impatient. You also want to try and refrain from getting discouraged because you never know when you might find the one.