Online Dating Advice for over Forty

Ronnie Ann Ryan, a dating coach for ten years says she woke up on her fortieth birthday and found herself single and alone, wondering how she had ended up that way. After her realization, she sought to remedy the situation. Ronnie dated thirty men in fifteen months and ended up happily married to her husband of the past thirteen years. Her experience led to her decision to share her hard-earned knowledge with other women who found themselves in similar circumstances.  Her advice is down to earth and common sense, but sometimes we overlook the obvious. Here is some of Ronnie's advice. 

You have to go where the men are, and that is what makes online dating a must.  While women will attend gatherings designed for singles, many men will not, especially after the age of fifty.  They will, however, go to online dating sites. Make sure to sign up for a dating site that is specifically for your age group.

Your online profile is meant to attract a man's attention, not give him your life story. You can get to that when you meet. Make sure you keep your profile interesting to men and avoid sharing your girly pursuits; they want someone who they have something in common with and with whom they can relate. Keep it positive and talk about what you do like and do want in a future partner; focusing on what you don't like sounds negative and could be a turn-off for potential dates.  Also, you need four or five good, clear, recent photos of yourself including one or two full body shots. You want to keep the focus on you, so no group photos, just you looking fabulous.

If a man sends a flurry of emails but never suggests you meet or gives you excuses if you suggest a meeting, move on.  This is about dating, not having an online relationship. There is no reason to spend your time online when you could be out meeting someone new.

Expand your thinking and allow your idea of a perfect partner to include men you may have never before considered.  When you do this, it expands your pool of potential mates and you end up meeting a lot of nice men you may never have given a chance. Ronnie always imagined herself with an MBA, like herself, yet her husband of thirteen happy years is not.

Unless you are totally turned off by someone who replies to you, or his approach sends up a red flag, make a date with him.  It is just a date, not a proposal, and the more you date, the easier it will become.  Not only that, but statistically speaking, the more you date, the better chance you have of finding someone you can see yourself falling in love with.  So, if you feel a bit rusty at first, keep it simple and just meet for coffee.  Remember, dating is about relaxing and having fun, so even if your date is not Mr. Right you can enjoy his company and the activity you are engaging in together, so breathe deeply and don't forget to smile.