Emma's Posts

Great as it may be to flirt with local singles from the comfort of your sofa, ultimately every online dater wants to secure a date. Otherwise, how are you meant to find out if you really click with that man or woman that you’ve been chatting to online? But moving things on from a flirty conversation online to sitting opposite one another in a restaurant is a step that many of us find hard. So we’re here with some online dating advice, to help you jump that final hurdle…

 

Engage With Local Singles

You won’t have much luck if you simply message someone out of the blue asking to go on a date. First, you need to strike up conversation. Make sure your online dating profile is up to scratch, then approach one or two singletons that you’d like to get to know better. Spend some time flirting and finding out about each other to see if you click – after all, you don’t want to spend an evening with someone who isn’t worth the time and effort!

 

Maintain the Momentum

 

Keeping the interest levels high is essential if you’re going to secure a date from your online dating conversation. It takes two to tango, so make sure you’re doing your bit to maintain the momentum. Flirting is a fun way to keep the conversation fresh and dynamic, but be keen to ask questions and share stories too. The more you build up excitement about one another, the more likely you’ll be to move things on to a first date.

 

Get the Timing Right

The conversation has been flowing to and fro for half an hour, and it’s clear that you get on well – seize the opportunity to ask him or her out on a date if the timing seems right. Leave it too long, and they might cool off. On the other hand, don’t pounce too early when the other person may still be unsure about how they feel. Timing is key when asking someone out on a date, as you want to be sure that you get the right answer – you only get one chance, so use it wisely!

 

Be Specific

Although you might want to play it cool, don’t be so relaxed that your encounter never happens. If they have agreed to meet you, have a think of a fun date idea and a few possible times and dates that you can suggest. Give at least two options – not everyone will have the same schedule or routine as you – and be willing to compromise a little if you really want to make it happen.

 

Know what you want and take the initiative to get it, to make online dating conversations lead to first dates with local singles – and perhaps even a few second, third or fourth dates! Be bold and get the timing right and you’ll soon be dressing up for that exciting first encounter with someone special.

No matter how well you prepare for a first date, it doesn’t always go to plan. From arriving on time looking half-decent, to keeping the conversation flowing until the bill comes at the end, it’s no small challenge to make a first date successful. To improve your chances of getting a second date, here are 5 common disasters, and how to rescue the situation if they occur!

 

  1. Arriving Late

 

First impressions count, so a late arrival is a bad start to any encounter. Embarrassing for the late person and frustrating for their companion, it’s not a good omen for a romantic evening.

 

What to do: If you’re the culprit, make a joke about how you considered standing them up before changing your mind. Then share the real story. It will make light of the situation, whilst helping you gauge their sense of humour. If he/she has arrived late, give them another chance – we’ve all been late before!

 

  1. Conversation Killer

    Things were going so well until you stuck your foot in it with that ridiculous comment. Now they’re looking at you like you’ve pulled down your trousers.

 

What to do: Don’t let that blunder become a deal-breaker – shrug it off and change topic with a question that will get them talking again. Or, if it’s really bad, apologise immediately and ask if you can start afresh.

 

  1. Awkward Silences

    If your problem is not rescuing a conversation, but starting one in the first place, it can become increasingly awkward. You’re searching desperately around the room for something, anything to talk about….


What to do: Talk about your day. However random it may be, tell them something that happened today – it will give you both a chance to think about the next conversation topic, and it may just make them laugh.

4. Embarrassing Eating

Whether you foolishly ordered the garlic mushrooms or you’re trying to tackle spaghetti with a shred of elegance, food can be a big cause of embarrassment on a first date restaurant scenario.

 

What to do: Don’t draw attention to it unless you have to. But if it’s really obvious, make light of the situation and laugh it off. Food around your face could be endearing, right?

 

  1. Downright Disaster

    There’s no avoiding the fact that this date is a DISASTER. But how on earth can you escape another few hours pretending that it’s going well and that you’re having a great time? This truly is an emergency…

 

What to do: Think up a plausible excuse, and fast. Don’t worry, FreeAndSingle has already come up with a few great excuses to leave a date early, https://freeandsingle.com/blog/4-amazing-and-believable-excuses-to-leave-a-date-early/, although some are more obvious than others!

 

Prepare for any eventuality and skilfully steer your date on the path to a second encounter, by following these tips on how to rescue date disasters when they strike. They might not be fool proof, but it’s better than floundering if things don’t quite go to plan!

This month, we’re taking a more philosophical approach to our celebrity dating blog feature. Because we don’t just look to the hottest stars in Hollywood for the sake of it – celebrity couples lead the way in defining modern relationships, often with controversial results. Read on for the headline-stealing stories of the past few weeks, as we ponder new relationships, Twitter debates and how singletons should approach their love lives.

 

Women on Top

The news that Danny Dyer’s girlfriend popped the question on Valentine’s Day sparked a Twitter storm this week, as Katie Hopkins took it upon herself to say that ‘no woman should ever propose to a man.’ As you can imagine, the outspoken CBB contestant started a huge debate, with some agreeing that it was a man’s role whilst others applauded girlfriend Joanne’s bold move. Like it or hate it, Danny Dyer seems pretty happy with his new engagement. What do you think FreeAndSingle about female proposals folks?

 

J-Lo Gets Down to Earth

Jennifer Lopez lovers, listen up! In a recent interview on Lorraine, the star showed she had no qualms about dating non-celebs. ‘You have to be open to whatever possibilities life presents to you’ she said. And if this smoking A-lister is open to stumbling across new romances, we ought to take a leaf out of her book.

 

Are you giving Cupid a chance? Take control of your love life by giving free online dating a try. We can’t promise Jennifer Lopez will be online, but you’ll find lots of other singletons with a star personality.

 

True or False?

Rihanna and Leonardo diCaprio are yet to confirm whether they are dating, but as neither of them have taken the initiative the quell the rumours that have been spirally for weeks it seems fair to assume that they are more than ‘just friends’.

 

You can’t help but feel a little sorry for celebrities when it comes to their love lives – it’s a lot harder to be discreet about your relationships with family, friends and the entire world when you are two of the biggest stars on the planet. After being snapped in public together on several occasions, watch this space to see if an announcement is on the cards soon.

 

However we’ve already been bitterly disappointed this month, with the confirmation that the Prince Harry and Emma Watson dating rumours were in fact false. Hands up who was hoping for a royal Hogwarts wedding? We can only dream…

As a new season blossoms we have no doubt that there will be lots of new celebrity couples cropping up over the next few months. Share your opinion on the latest celebrity gossip by commenting below, or get in touch if you have your own star story to share from your online dating experiences with FreeAndSingle – we’d love to feature you!

Planning a first date – or even a second or third – is exciting but tough work. You want to be sure that everything goes to plan, from the restaurant you choose to the time and date you book it for. But when he or she finally says ‘yes’ to a date, when should you suggest to meet up? You’d be surprised at what a difference a day makes in the dating world!

 

Steer Clear of: Monday and Tuesday

Sure, you’re far more likely to be free on a Monday or Tuesday night than any other night of the week, but there’s a reason for that. Responsibility-laden and a long way from Friday, they’re not the best option for a fun first date with someone special. Besides, suggest a date for a Monday night and they might think you’re not interested enough to prioritise them later in the week.

 

Midweek Mingling: Wednesday and Thursday

By Wednesday you’re halfway through the week, which makes a few midweek drinks and a late night far more acceptable. If you’re going on a first date, Wednesday or Thursday is the perfect choice: you’ve got something to look forward to during the week, but you can keep your weekend free to relax and catch up with friends.

 

Frisky Friday: Proceed With Caution!

 

Let’s face it, most of us live for the weekend. So after a full-on week of work, you want to let your hair down on a Friday night. This can be a dangerous setting for a first date in particular – if you’re hoping for a romantic night of getting to know one another, it could quickly descend into a drunken bar crawl. Or worse, you could be stuck on a disastrous first date and wishing you were somewhere else on one of the best nights of the week!

 

Daytime Dates: Saturday and Sunday

If you’re looking to escape the ‘table for two’ set-up, plan your date for the weekend. Saturdays and Sundays offer a world of opportunity if you’re looking for more unique date ideas, and on a weekend both you and your date will be more chilled out. Why not go for a walk and take a picnic, or surprise your date by booking a fun activity that you talked about on your online dating account? Particularly on the second or third date, weekends are the perfect time to get to know one another better.

 

Of course, if you or your partner has a busy schedule, sometimes you can’t be overly picky about when you arrange your date. But if you’re struggling to decide when the best time to meet might be, this should help you pick the right day to have a first, second or third date. Stay away from Mondays and Tuesdays but beware of Fridays, and you’ll have a night (or day!) to remember with that special someone.

Single parents face countless challenges on a day-to-day basis, and although there are few pleasures greater than raising a child, often family commitments can get in the way of romantic ones. But having a love life isn’t impossible if you’re a single parent. And when the kids have gone to bed and you finally get some time to yourself, online dating is the perfect way to refocus your relationships and find someone who is worthy of an introduction to the children.

 

Online Dating for Parent

 

Time is a precious commodity when you have children, so the prospect of wasting an evening on a blind date that may or may not go well is neither appealing nor feasible for most single parents. After all, you don’t want to use up your babysitting options on an evening of awkward conversation with a stranger. However when you sign up to online dating, you can start talking to local singles who match your interests and situation – such as fellow parents who are looking for love.

 

If money is tight or you’re looking to ease yourself into the dating scene, free online dating is a great way to start flirting without any membership fees. You can log on as often or as little as you like – or shall we say when you finally get a moment to yourself. And because you can select the people you speak to by age, location, status and whether they have kids, you can eliminate the time wasters and shape your internet dating journey, to ensure you have a positive experience.

 

Single Parents and Relationships

If you’ve been on dates before as a single parent, you’ll be familiar with the classic dilemma of slipping the children into the conversation. Do you lay your cards out on the table immediately, or wait until you’ve made a connection? How will he or she react when they find out that you’ve got ‘luggage’? The beauty of online dating is that you can make your situation clear from the start, eliminating the problem altogether. So when a potential suitor gets in touch, you’ll know that they are child-friendly and interested in the real you.

 

Online dating conversations allow you to determine whether he or she is worth scheduling a babysitter for. If you’ve both got children, you may want to wait until the second or third meeting to arrange a play date with the kids. After all, you don’t want to confuse the children with a new men or woman every week. Reserve an introduction until you’re sure that you’ve found ‘the one’.

 

Prioritise your love life without compromising on your commitment to the kids by joining FreeAndSingle or FreeAndSingleParents today. Meet single parents who are looking for someone just like you, in a relaxed, fun and most of all free environment that makes juggling your relationships simple and easy. And who knows, you could just find someone who slots perfectly into your little family unit.

We’re not all holding out for a hero. As nice as tales of romance and love stories may be, not all of us have the patience to wait around for the perfect match. Besides, you may just be looking for a fun fling from online dating. If you’re seeking a quick fix that will spice up your love life, here are a few online dating tips to help you get results from your membership.

 

Free Online Dating

If you haven’t signed up for online dating yet, you may be unsure about which site to choose. With countless sites available, you don’t want to narrow down your options by committing to expensive membership fees straight away. First, you want to make sure that you’ve found one with plenty of local singles looking for people like you.

 

Free online dating allows you to dip your toe in the water; it takes seconds to sign up, and after filling in a few details for your online dating profile, you can get to work on finding singletons in your area who are on the same page. That’s why FreeAndSingle offers 100% free dating – no strings attached!

 

Looking for…

Don’t dedicate time and energy towards getting to know someone who wants totally different things from their dating experience. At best, you’ll be wasting your time; at worst, one of you could end up getting hurt. Before you get in touch with a potential date, have a look at their status – are they looking for romance, sex or a long-term relationship? Make sure you’re both in it for the same reasons, so that if things go well, you’ll both be a winner.

 

Online Now

Feeling lonely tonight? Pick out singletons who are online now, so you’ve got a much higher chance of getting an instant response. And if possible, try to get online at different times of the day throughout the week, to maximise your chances of meeting someone who you really click with. After all, you’ve got nothing better to do on your lunch break, or morning commute on the bus.

 

Don’t Be Picky

They say you should never judge a book by it’s cover, and if you’re desperate for a date then don’t be so quick to rule people out by their profile picture or bio. Give someone a chance and you might just be pleasantly surprised. The more open you are to meeting singles online, the more likely you’ll be to meet someone who wants to get to know you better.

 

Speed dating isn’t reserved for bars and restaurants – you can soon step up the pace of your love life if you’re prepared to mingle with singles in your area. Free dating online is a great way to meet amazing people who are looking for someone just like you, with minimum hassle and no expense! So get online and start your online dating journey today, with FreeAndSingle.

When you sign up to online dating, you’ll need to fill out your profile before you can start searching for local singles. Selecting your status from the drop-down forms is easy enough, but the ‘about me’ section is where it gets difficult. This all-important online dating bio will be one of the key things that potential suitors judge you on, so it’s essential that you spend some time getting it right.

 

But what exactly should you write, and what sets a winning online dating profile out from a poor one? Here are 4 tips to help you write the perfect bio.

 

  1. Concise and Relevant

    In an effort to convince the world that you are the perfect match for any man or woman, you might get a little carried away with the word count. But few people have the patience to read an overly long ‘about me’ section. Designed to give people an introduction about who you are, what makes you tick, and interesting things about you, it’s important to keep your bio as concise and relevant as possible. If you’re struggling, pick 3 interesting things about yourself and focus on them.

 

  1. Write With Your Perfect Match in Mind

    When writing your online dating bio, think about what sort of people you are trying to attract. If you’re in it for no strings attached fun, a flirty and sexy bio is bound to attract fellow singletons who are looking for a good time. If you’re looking for a life partner, buzzwords and phrases such as ‘long walks on the beach’ are more likely to attract people looking for a relationship.

 

  1. Reflect Your Personality

 

Imagine your online dating bio is the blurb of a book. With countless books to choose from, why would someone choose to read your book, rather than any of the others on the shelf? Inject personality and creativity into your online dating profile and it’s bound to stand out. So don’t just list your interests and key information, try to weave it into an inviting biography that makes the reader want to find out more…

 

  1. Proofread Your Online Dating Profile

    Poor spelling and grammar is an instant turn-off for some online daters. And although not everyone is quite so fussy, it pays to proofread your bio before you click ‘save’. If you’re not very confident with words, why not ask a friend or relative to check over your profile instead?

 

Spend some time perfecting your internet dating profile and it will pay dividends, by helping you attract as much interest as possible, from the right kind of people. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your bio, but avoid it turning into an essay or you might put online daters off. Follow these simple rules, and if possible ask for a second opinion, and you’ll soon have an online dating profile that you can be proud of.

Picking yourself back up and moving on from a broken heart isn’t easy. There’s no hiding the fact that heartbreak is a horrible sensation. And whilst you might not be able to forget about the past altogether, it’s important you remember that he or she isn’t one in a million. You are. Besides, there really are plenty more fish in the sea, and the sooner you get over the situation, the sooner you’ll be smiling again. So start your day with a bit of Chumbawamba, and follow these 5 fun ways to move on, fast.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTjC6rxHz8g

 

  1. Break Your Routine

 

Only when you leave a relationship do you realise just how much your day was governed by a routine with your partner. The first person you text to catch up during the day, and your go-to companion for weekend activities, it’s not just your heart that feels empty after a breakup. So shake up your routine to combat this feeling, whether it be trying a new hobby or doing things your way for once.

 

  1. Out on the Town

    Instead of drowning your sorrows at home, why not call a few friends and arrange a night out – girls or guys only. It may be the last thing you feel like doing, but you’d be amazed at what a lift a few drinks and a boogie with your mates can give you. And when you’ve dressed to impress, a little attention from the opposite sex will go a long way in boosting your confidence levels.

 

  1. Movie Night

    If you’re not quite ready to put on a brave face, invite them over for a movie night instead. Nothing cheers you up like a big bowl of popcorn, a duvet and your favourite people in the world. Just be careful with your movie selection – it could be a little too soon for a tearjerker!

 

  1. Spa Day

 

Yes guys, this includes you too! Pamper time and broken hearts go together hand in hand, and a day spent drifting from sauna to massage room to the pool can leave you feeling like the King or Queen that you are.

 

  1. Free Online Dating

    When the person you thought was ‘the one’ turns out the be no better than the rest of them, what better way to get over him or her than by flirting with singles who share your interests and make your heart flutter? Free online dating is a great way to dip your toe in the water, to ease yourself back onto the dating scene without being thrown in headfirst.

 

When you’ve been knocked down, get back up again 90s Chumbawamba style and show that no-good ex that you’re stronger than ever. These 5 ways to mend a broken heart are bound to leave you feeling better about yourself, relationships and dating once again. So what are you waiting for? Stop moping and start moving on today.

Dating has always had its do’s and don’ts. Everyone has their own opinion on matters such as how long you should wait before contacting your companion after a first date, and when to move on to the next ‘stage’ of the relationship. With the rise of internet dating, a whole new rule book has developed for online dating etiquette. And whilst it’s important not to be restricted too much by what other people think, some of the below tips will help you navigate the waters the online dating scene successfully.

 

Keep it Clean

Unless you’ve specifically signed up to an online dating site for no strings attached fun, don’t use your online dating account as a free pass to become a player with local singles. It’s fine to suggest that you find the opposite sex attractive, but crude comments will put most people off, and some could be offended.

 

A Personal Approach

Don’t copy and paste the same message to everyone that tickles your fancy. Trust us, it will be obvious. Even if your opening message is a brief hello, make it personal to the individual. What shared interests do you have, and what do you like about their profile? You’ll notice how many more responses you get when you take the time to be genuine.

 

Show an Interest

If they do reply to your opening message, remember to keep the conversation a two-way stream. Whilst it’s good to introduce yourself and share your stories, make sure you ask plenty of questions and show an interest in the other person too.

 

Replying to Messages

Inevitably, we get broken off from our internet dating activity from time to time. But don’t leave him or her hanging for days before you reply to their message. Besides, if you do, someone else might steal their attention and beat you to the first date! On the other hand, don’t bombard them with messages or you’ll appear a little too keen for comfort…

 

Give and Take

Bagged yourself a date? Congrats! But if you want to make sure that your first date actually happens, be willing to compromise on where and when you’re going to meet, and what you’re going to do. Friday nights might work best for you, but won’t be convenient for everyone. Let him or her have a say in how they want the first date to pan out, and you’ll show that you’re a team player from the start.

 

Treat others with the same respect that you’d like to receive yourself online and you’re sure to have a positive experience with free online dating. Take the time to get to know individuals who catch your attention, and you’ll soon find someone who appreciates the real you and wants to go out on a date.