For men 50 and over that find themselves single at this point in their lives, returning to the dating scene can be an exciting time, if not slightly daunting. But online dating in 2019 isn’t the same as dating in 1979 or 1989. The vast majority run dating apps from their phones or computers and connect with social media, so you may need to be more tech-savvy than in the past. Relationships can start and develop online first, then go to restaurants, coffee shops, and movie theaters. It can get overwhelming for anyone who didn’t grow up in the digital age, and it might have you wondering if you can get back out there.
If you’re curious about starting or returning to the online dating lifestyle, we can help you through what it looks and feels like before you commit to it. In this blog, we’ll look at the big four dating sites that you can use to your advantage and gain confidence that this style of dating might lead you to a happy and long-lasting relationship.
Online Dating: Real-Life Statistics
Do you ever think the following?
“Well, it sounds interesting, but does anything come of it?”
“I hear some strange stories about dating someone they met off of the Internet.”
“Why can’t people still date in ‘real-life’…it seems weird for me to go online.”
Well, here are some statistics that may change your mind:
- Roughly 28 percent of women and 25 percent of men consider online dating to be the best way to meet a partner
- Around 1 in 5 people who got engaged in 2018 did so because they met their partner through an online dating site or app
- 67 percent of online dating users went as far to go on a date with someone who they met through their searches
- 50.3 million US citizens use a dating service at least once in their life
- 41 percent of online dating users are women and 59 percent are men
- In 1996, around 0.3 percent used online dating whereas roughly 33 percent use it today
There’s no denying it. Online dating is here to stay, and while it may take some time to get comfortable with, it’s a great way to meet someone and test the waters. If you don’t have a regular way to get out and about, there is nothing wrong with trying online dating.
The Big 4 of Online Dating
Okay, so maybe you will give online dating a try, but where do you begin? We’ve taken the big four dating sites that you may be interested and dissected them so you can get a feel for which one (or which few) may be right for you. Each of these sites tout the same basic features for free, but just with very limited functionality. You can sign up, create a profile, upload pictures and see other members in a restricted sense.
To use the sites functionalities, you need to subscribe to their services which can run anywhere from 3 to 24 months, most offering varying plans and all providing sign-up bonuses. Expect to pay roughly $20 – $25 dollars a month, paid in one full amount according to the program you choose. This will in most cases give you everything you need to see and communicate with other members. Each site also offers extended features, for additional costs, which claim to boost your profile and enhance your chances of being noticed.
#1: Match.com
Match.com launched in 1995 right as online dating was first hitting the dating scene. They have one of the largest online dating pools of any site out there with over 21 million members. However, they have a paid subscription method, so they aren’t the largest out there by any means.
A question you may run into with Match.com is whether you want to pay for an online dating service. Luckily, you can test it out first with a trial before opting for the subscription. What makes a subscription service valuable though is the fact that other individuals on the site are invested in finding a match themselves because they are paying for the service. This means you may be more likely to find someone who fits your unique criteria. If you don’t find someone at the end of your first six-month subscription, Match.com usually provides a complimentary free six-month period of service so you can continue in the dating scene.
With Match.com you can connect online, or you can connect in person. They offer games you can play with a potential match or you can attend “Stir Events” in cities around the world where you can attempt to match in a group setting.
#2: eHarmony
eHarmony is another dating service that you likely know about just from name recognition. Like Match.com they operate on a subscription basis and keep their dating pool more exclusive at around 15.5 million.
What makes eHarmony stand out is they offer an (optional) extensive and in-depth relationship questionnaire that explains top personality traits. If answered honestly and thoroughly, it provides a comprehensive assessment of the individual on many fronts that will better compare other members. It’s worth the time to complete and shows the seriousness of the member in searching for a relationship. They provide you with a free report on the results that may even offer insight into your own personality.
The downside to eHarmony is they don’t allow any use of the free service except for signing up and establishing a profile. They blur member’s pictures unless you buy a subscription so you can’t we couldn’t find much use in their free service.
#3: OurTime
Since we’re talking men 50 and over, you may want to limit your search to that age range. OurTime is specific for the mature audience, albeit a part of the same company as Match. It’s relatively new, released in 2011 and a smaller membership with about 9 million participants and aims to connect 50-something friends, pen-pals, dating relationships, and even potential marriage partners.
Sign up is simple enough, you fill out a registration form with up to 30 photos. The process takes only around 2-3 minutes and it’s easy to do. Once connected, OurTime has a free search option (some sites like eHarmony lack this ability) and you can filter your searches in a variety of ways. Like the other sites, there are both free and paid options available, as little as a single month.
#4: Zoosk
You can find a fun date or a serious relationship with Zoosk. It has over 35 million users, so it is the largest of any covered in this blog. It takes only a second to sign up for Zoosk because you can link it to any other social accounts that you already have (Google, Facebook, etc.). Just like all the others, you can have a paid membership, or you can just test it out with a free trial. It also verifies your profile picture so that it can authentic user identity if that’s a concern for you.
A feature worth mentioning about Zoosk is that it was a pioneer in behavioral matchmaking meaning that it will recommend future matches based on how you interacted with past matches. For example, flirting, liking, message, disliking or just general interactions will help this SmartPick technology find your next date.
Next steps
So, if you’re ready, gather some photos and write up a profile to submit. Just remember a few basic rules:
Photos
Pictures need to be current, within a year, two at the most and try to keep the amount to roughly five. Too few can seem like you’re not trying and too many can come across as pretentious. Vary the mix with an office or work shot, one for outdoors or physical activity, a social event, one that shows you at a favorite spot, etc.
Profile
Like your pictures, keep it honest and straightforward. You don’t need a dissertation, keep it to a couple paragraphs and outline who you are. What you’re looking for in a relationship, what you do for fun, what you like in someone, types of food you like, etc. If you have trouble here, most sites will help you create a profile for a fee. The key is to be genuine and don’t go to far in-depth…you want to save something for the date!
Final Thoughts
We hope that you find the information here on dating sites to be useful. The list we have is not exclusive, there are other sites out there and can be very specific, from religious beliefs to sexual expectations and preferences. We just wanted to summarize the top-rated site by experts in the field. But if these don’t sound like an option for you, half the fun is in the search. You can find more of our articles on dating here. As always, if don’t you see something here you want, reach out to us directly on our Contact page or leave us a comment below, we read each one. All the best ~ Glen.
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