More UK singles than ever before are using apps to find love

How are UK singles finding love online?

Singles Chaos on the internet. The choices are overwhelming!

These are the best sites for Singles

Our recommendations for Singles

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  How to find your potential partner online in the UK

  
  

  Once you've selected the best online dating site, and have registered for free and filled in all the required personality tests and profile details, you can start browsing the profiles selected for your preferences. If you want to enhance your chances of success, make sure your profile is as fully completed as possible, and make sure you've chosen a memorable profile photo which makes you look interesting and approachable. As with all dating sites, your profile is your advertisement, so do take the time to make it a good one.

  Once all that is done, you're free to start sending messages to those individual singles who catch your eye. Many platforms for singles do require you to make a monthly payment in order to send and receive messages, so make sure you're comfortable with this side of proceedings before you begin.

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  How UK singles use great opening messages to break the ice

  
  

  So, you've found some singles who catch your eye - great! You've already made the first step towards finding a relationship online. However, you shouldn't hesitate from getting in touch and sending a message - this is the all important part of the process! Remember, your first message is your first impression on a potential partner, so make sure you make it  good one. Keep in mind that the recipient will see a picture of you, and receive your message, and will have to make a decision whether or not to write back, or move onto the next suitor. As such, those first words do need to make a big impression to get the results you're after.

  Whatever you do, avoid the predictable "hi!" or "hey!" single word first messages. Nobody wants to bother with these, and they show a real lack of effort. Take the time to have a look through the other person's profile, and ask them a question about one of their hobbies or photos. Take an interest in the person behind the profile, and you'll be onto a winner.

  However, make sure your message is relatively short, snappy and dynamic - nobody wants to read your life story or an essay as an introduction! After a few messages have been exchanged, suggest taking things to the next level - a phone call, or a face-to-face encounter.

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  The first meeting of singles in real life

  
  

  If you're exchanging messages with someone you like, and you feel there might be some chemistry there, make the first move and organise a meeting. After all, you aren't on a singles website in order to find a pen pal! Don't be pushy, be polite, and also be respectful and patient if your partner would prefer waiting a little longer before meeting... it may well pay off in the long run.

  When you do have your first meeting, make sure it's happening on 'neutral ground'. Suggesting a meeting in your home can come across as a little pushy, and might make the wrong impression. Your best bet is to suggest an old fashioned date, at a stylish restaurant somewhere, or a cool bar where you can show off your knowledge of cocktails and fine wines! A lot of people find love via the great outdoors - if you like outdoor activities and want to try having that sort of date, then go for it. Adrenaline can be a great catalyst for love, and many singles love the idea of doing something a little different and memorable on a first date.

  If you find on the first date that you are both interested, go right ahead and start talking about a second date while you're together. However, if you really aren't feeling it, be equally open in order to avoid disappointment or false hope.

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  Top tips for singles on how to continue after a first date

  
  

  In an ideal world, both singles would be perfectly direct, open and decisive on the subject of seeing each other again after a first date. Of course, things are rarely so cut and dried, and it can be hard to be sure whether or not to continue something. If you are feeling this way, sleep on it and make a decision in the morning - don't let time slip away while you're pondering, as there is nothing worse than waiting by the phone when your partner has already decided that there will be no second date for you.

  Respect, kindness and diplomacy go a long way on the singles scene. If you have decided not to take things further, be sure not to hurt the other person - nobody benefits from cruelty or callousness, and unkind words can have a huge effect on somebody's self image.

  Of course, if the spark is there, don't hang around! Get on the phone, and set another date while things are still hot... and find out for yourself whether or not a serious relationship is on the cards. Good luck!

The recommended portals for Singles