Are you ready to date again?
Losing a spouse, going through a divorce or break up can be a traumatic experience. For most people it takes time for the wounds to heal before even thinking about taking a dip in the dating pool again. Understandable really. Often jumping into a relationship too quickly can be a bad thing – you may meet someone who’s not right for you. As much as you may miss the companionship it’s worth having some you time to figure out exactly what it is that you want.
So how do you know when you’re ready to date again?
Are you “over” your past relationship?
This does not mean forget about your past relationship by any means – it just means that you have stopped comparing new interests to your previous partner.
Are you bitter?
Being bitter is a sign you’re not over your ex and can be sensed a mile off by prospective partners. It can send people running for the door. You should be free of bitterness before dating again- it only wears you down. It may take time but that healing time is hugely important.
Do you expect instant dating success?
Unfortunately dating is filled with ups and downs and not a dating site in the world could promise you instant success. Some meet the right one straight away, some don’t. It’s a numbers game. Don’t lose hope.
Are you feeling happy?
Happiness and positivity is an extremely attractive quality. It’s true what they say- you need to be happy with yourself before you can be happy with anyone else. Use your single time to do the things that make you feel happy. Your future partner should fit into your life.
Are you revealing too much too soon?
Your date should not be used as a counsellor. If you feel you’re going to spill details of your past relationship on your first date then it is pretty evident that you need some more time before dating. Mystery is all part of the excitement of dating.
It may take some time before you feel ready to start dating again but in my experience it’s MUCH better to give yourself this time and meet someone who ticks all the boxes rather than just a few.
Jen 
Member of the week
Meet Dave!
Our member of the week this week; Dave, 27.
David describes himself as being “mad on sport!” He enjoys playing hockey and plays for a team in London as well as coaching at his school. Just in case you haven’t already guessed…he’s a P.E teacher. David’s other hobbies include “listening to music and going to gigs, meeting up with mates for a drink and socialising with anybody.”
In his own words, he is “looking to start a new chapter and start travelling. Hit me up if you are keen!”
Are you keen? Send him a message today and who knows…he could be “mad on” you!
Well, what are you waiting for?
“The bad boys…are always catching my eye”
Ever wondered why you continue to fall for “bad boys” time and time again? Well you’re not alone…it seems to be a topic of discussion amongst many celebs; Alexandra Burke, Lady Ga Ga and Beyonce to name a few.
So what is it that leaves us falling for the “wrong type” of guy?
According to a team of boffins at the University of Columbia, us ladies are least attracted to smiling, happy men, instead preferring those who looked proud and powerful or just plain moody. Could explain our attraction to Edward Cullen then…?
However, I’m not so convinced. I can’t speak for all women but I find men MUCH more approachable/ attractive if their profile picture is of a nice friendly looking guy and I will never stop recommending smiling in your profile picture. I can’t really see how women could be attracted to miserable men…*
Is it just me? Am I the odd one? Help me out here!
Jen, PMF x
* OK, Edward Cullen is an exception
P.S. Here’s Alexandra Burke singing about her penchant for bad boys…
“Even though I know they’re no good for me it’s the risk I take for the chemistry.” ……. Alexandra, get yourself on Plenty More Fish. Plenty of happy, smiling guys. You don’t need to go taking these sorts of silly risks!!!
P.P.S. You can read the full article in The Telegraph by clicking here
What song will Kate and Wills have their first dance to?
What song do you reckon Kate and Wills will have for their first dance? Could it be “Dancing Queen” by Abba or perhaps “My Humps” by Black Eyed Peas. YOU DECIDE!
Follow this link and tell us the song you would like to see the couple dance to and we will pick our favourite three. The three winners will each win an iTunes voucher to the value of £20. Be quick though…this competition closes on Monday the 2nd of May 2011.
We are eagerly awaiting your answers
PlentyMoreFish
Picture perfect!
If you have read our recent email, you will be aware that by simply uploading a profile pic you will be MUCH more likely to receive greater winks and messages from potential dates. Put yourself in the position of others… would you message someone without knowing what they looked like?!
We thought we would take things a little further and give you a few more tips to help you upload the perfect profile picture and in turn, become a great catch on plentymorefish.com! So pay attention folks and let Jen, our marketing girlie take you through her profile pic do’s and don’t's…
The “Check out my ex” photo. I have come across several photos similar to the above and if I’m honest, all have been a bit of a turn-off. Just like the rule about not mentioning your ex-boyfriend/girlfriend on a first date, don’t upload a pic of you and your ex on your dating profile..even if it is just her/his arm. It may imply that you are not quite over them. It may also cause your potential date to feel slightly put out about the prospect of being cut out of a photo in the future. All in all it’s a bad move and should be avoided.
The “Check out my abs” photo. OK guys, this ones for you. No matter how “buff” you are I would strongly advise wearing a top in your profile picture. Amongst the ladies, it often gives the impression of arrogance can come across a little cheesy. If you want to receive more attention then your safe bet would be to put that top back on!
The perfect photo. This is a great example of a perfect profile picture. There’s an interesting background however the picture of the woman still remains very clear. Having an interesting background will definitely make you stand out from the crowd. It can also spark off great conversation from a potential date e.g. “Really nice picture, where about’s are you?” etc.
The smiley photo. Note the sarcasm here:| Does this guy look approachable to you? I think not! It may seem obvious but remember to smile in your photo– this applies to everyone. By showing a friendly face you will become instantly more approachable.
The fuzzy/ bad quality photo. Always make sure that your picture is of high quality. It may make people think you are trying to hide something. This applies to wearing sunglasses in a photo too. Members will be much more likely to bypass your profile in a search if they can’t see your face properly.
The “Can you spot me” photo. As beautiful as this photo is, it’s a definite “no, no” as a profile picture. There’s absolutely no problem with uploading it as an extra photo but it’s not a good move to have it as your main picture. The main reason for this; no one can see you! You are the one that people will want to date, not the mountains!
The Perfect photo. This is another example of a great profile picture. It’s extremely clear and the guy looks very approachable and good fun to be around! Having a photo like this will be sure to make you a very popular Plenty More Fish member!
The “Can you guess who I am?” photo. The straightforward answer is; “No.” Unless you clearly state in your status “the one on the left is me” then no one will know who you are and this could result in less interest. You could however add a photo like this as an extra photo with a comment saying who you are. However, you MUST always ask the other person for their approval before adding it.
The “date my pet” photo. OK, I’ll be the first to admit that this dog is extremely adorable but in all honesty you are COMPLETELY hindering your dating experience. It’s simply not a good idea to put your pooch as your profile picture…no matter how much you love him. Potential dates will be more likely to skip your profile in a search. Remember, it’s YOU they will be dating…not your pet!
Other profile picture “no, no’s” I can think of are:
- Putting a picture of your child/children as your profile picture
- Uploading a 20 year old photo as your profile picture. Just be honest- it will only hinder you in the long run.
If you have ever come across any other profile pic “no, no’s” and feel that I have missed some out then please comment below and let me know!
Right, that’s it from me. I hope you enjoyed my ranting and I expect to see some more fabulous profile pictures!
Oh and remember…
Having a great profile picture can seriously increase your likelihood of being winked at – which falls in very nicely with our current competition. We will be giving away 6 theatre vouchers to the 3 most winked at fella’s and 3 most winked at ladies. This competition is on till the end of April so get uploading!!!
Jen x
Break the ice
Are you new to online dating and find messaging a “stranger” a little daunting?
Here, at PlentyMoreFish we have a great way to overcome this. At the click of a button, you could be reaching thousands of lovely men/women matching your search preference through the use of our ice breaker feature!
Here, you could say something like;
“Hey, I’m an online dating newbie but if you like what you see then why not send me a message?”
It keeps it casual and friendly. Just what you want for an ice breaker. So, if you haven’t used up your ice breaker yet…get it sent. After all, everyone knows that online dating is a numbers game!
10 tonne polar bear ... well THAT broke the ice (teehee...)
Top reasons to give online dating a go
Evidence suggests that the stigma associated with dating online is continuously crumbling. It is no longer a place for the “cyber geeks” to hang out but a place for people like you to have fun, date and perhaps even meet the man/ woman of your dreams!
So here I propose to you our top reasons for jumping on the online dating bandwagon:
There’s a HUGE pool of potential dates
We have over 1.5 million members to search through and this is constantly growing.
You can find dates in your PJ’s
I think this has got to be one of my favourite reasons to give the online dating world a go. You can get into your Pyjamas, pour yourself a cheeky glass of wine and sift through all the people matching your search preferences.
You can filter out unsuitable dates through the search options
By doing this, you can view members that match your search preferences based on things like age, whether they have a profile picture or not and their location. So no awkward questions- Perfect! There are also always new faces to see and meet and you can find these easily by searching for our new members
There are Niche sites out there to suit your preferences
At PlentyMoreFish we currently have 3 ponds: The Single Pond, The Silver Pond and The Naughty Pond.
It’s exciting!
Logging on to find winks and messages from fellow members is a very exciting experience and can give you a great confidence boost.
Paid dating sites are usually moderated
If you are paying for membership on a site, there are usually people behind the scenes checking out each and every member. This is why paid dating sites like us are much safer than the free sites. We ensure all scammers are eradicated and that only genuine people can join our site.
Member of the week
Meet Harley!
Harley, 26
First off what a beautiful background in Harley’s picture!
We have chosen Harley, 26 as our member of the week as he is definitely seems like a very interesting guy. Harley has spent the last 3 years travelling the world however, he has recently settled in Edinburgh. He tells us that; “as much as I am happy travelling solo, it can get lonely.” Honesty is a key requirement to Harley and “everything else is a bonus.”
So do you fancy being whisked off your feet? Why not send Harley a message now!
Well, what are you waiting for?!
P.S. Can someone tell me where Harley is in this picture. I would very much like to go!!!
Member of the week
Meet Ali!
Ali, 47
Ali, 47 describes herself as a “Happy, loving, tactile, easy going artistic lady”, looking to “connect with a like minded soul.” We love Ali’s entire profile. She has a very positive approach to life and is able to “find humour in every situation” We think everyone needs an Ali in their life . Oh and don’t worry about those awkward silences, this lady admits that she “loves to talk about everything from the sublime to the ridiculous.” We reckon Ali’s perfect date would be a music gig as she already likes to see bands locally and admits to dancing around the kitchen “when I’m supposed to be doing the washing up.” She finds the prospect of meeting someone very exciting – so if you’re reading this right now, why not get in touch straight away?
Member of the week
Meet Neil!
Neil, 27
Neil, 27 is a very active guy and enjoys keeping fit. He enjoys playing football however he appears to be a real golfing pro and regularly takes part in competitions and matches.
This handsome fish admits that he is sometimes a little shy but he loves to “socialise with friends in cafes, bars and clubs” He would love to meet a lady who is “similar to myself who enjoys being active and outdoor pursuits.” However, Neil is also “interested in meeting someone who can introduce me to new interests.”
So, does Neil float your boat? Think you can help him out of his shell? Why not send him a message today?
