Online Dating Resources

October 20, 2017

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Image Credit: Reading Room By Samuel Zeller

Resources

In addition to reading Discovering Love Online: Love May Be Closer Than You Think, the following resources may prove helpful in your online search for the love of your life. However, please don’t consider this a blanket endorsement of all the information offered by every service, blog, guide or tool listed below. As you know, not everything you find online is trustworthy or helpful.

So, use to your own benefit or risk. These links will direct you to resources that contain valuable content and advice, but it's your responsibility to employ sound judgement concerning the materials they provide.

Online Dating Services

Listed in alphabetical order, the Internet dating sites included here are those covered in Discovering Love Online. Links that offer a discount are marked accordingly. For a look-in-brief of the online dating services below, please refer to Discovering Love Online: Love May Be Closer Than You Think summary of each to help you choose wisely.

Online Dating Advice

When the discussion turns to dating and relationships, sound advice can be hard to come by whether online or off. So, take what you find at the following sites with a grain of salt and when interpreting the results use a good dose of common sense. You'll find a blend of both quintessential and questionable advice in the mix.

Personality Tests

Options abound for discovering more about your personality type in addition to the tests available via online dating services. Five good alternatives are listed below. The 16 Personalities assessment is a free tool that takes less than 12 minutes to complete. Truity's Big Five Personality Test, a Five-Factor Model analysis, is a cost-free option, as well. They offer a short and more extensive version of the test, as well evaluations to specifically assess agreeableness, openness and conscientiousness. The Keirsey Temperament Sorter provides a free synopsis of your personality type with more extensive reports starting at $7.95. Finally, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a $49.95 paid assessment.

Studies for Dating Couples

If you're so inclined, reading a book with your intended is a great opportunity to learn more about each other. Some offerings, such as those below, will guide you into heart-felt talks on subjects that you may have neglected to discuss, ones that could negatively impact your relationship if not dealt with in advance. It's well worth the time invested to make sure you have a match that's destined for success.

Personal Safety Products

Unfortunately, in our society you need to take preventive measures when it comes to personal safety. Women should always carry a means of self defense, a pocketable defense spray at the very least. Mace offers a great pocketable a triple-action product. Get one for yourself and those you love. Just be aware that, like medication, these products have a shelf life and should be replaced once they reach the expiration date. Taking a course in self-defense wouldn’t be a bad idea either (whether you’re dating or not). Of course, more men and women are opting to conceal carry a handgun. If you decide to follow this route, get proper training on its use.

Photo Posing Guides

If you're inclined to take your own photos and have a family member or friend serve as photographer, helpful resources are just a click away. Online posing guides are available to assist as are mobile apps.

Text Expansion Apps

A great way to save time when responding to potential matches, as well as those with no potential, is to use a text expansion app. Simply create some boilerplate notes in advance, assign abbreviations to them and use the appropriate one when needed. For example, you could use the abbreviation “nomatch” to expand into the reply “Thanks, but I don’t think we’re a match.” I use a text expansion app every day for text replacement, to correct common typing errors and to speed up my overall writing of emails, online posts, books and articles.

Verification & Safety Tools

Google is your go-to tool for performing your own background check on potential matches. Facebook and LinkedIn profiles can also provide helpful information if they exist. Instagram is becoming more popular, as well. Beyond that, you can employ the following tools to aid in your “investigation” of your potential intended. Drag and drop their profile photos into Google's reverse image search tool or TinEye's equivalent to make sure those images are not of some celebrity or stock-image model. Use Intelius' people search and a reverse phone number search options. And, if you uncover a romance scam, report it to The U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Are any resources missing that you think would be helpful to others? Let me know and I'll review them for potential inclusion in the future. 

Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I'll receive a commission. Such potential remuneration has no influence on editorial content and no additional costs are passed on to you. Moreover, I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to my readers.

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