My Life on Match

Q: What’s a person to do when they get stalked by a stranger online?
Luckily, I've never been stalked by someone online although I have been pursued strongly on some dating sites. If this is the case, alert the site and have this person blocked.  The best advice I can give it to set up a separate email address for your online dating life and to be smart. When you have a separate email, you're harder to google and it's harder to find your personal info online. 

Some tips I can give are:
- Always meet your online date somewhere in public the first time you go out. 
- Drive yourself.
- Don't drink too much! You need to be able to get home safely and make good decisions.
- Follow your gut.  If something feels wrong, it probably is.

Q: Number one profile faux pas every single guy or girl should avoid?
- I think there are two.  One, posting a pic of yourself naked/or partly naked (something should be left to the imagination). And two, taking a picture of yourself with your phone in your bathroom mirror.  This screams I have no friends or I am too embarrassed to be online.  Neither is a good sign. 

Q: There a plenty of technically challenged people on Internet dating sites. Do you have any tips for them?
- My number one tip for online daters is to use spell check.  There is nothing worse than someone who is online looking for love who can't spell there/their/they're correctly.  I also always tell people to be themselves.  Why waste your and their time trying to be someone you're not? And remember, almost all dating sites are the same in theory... wink, wink, nod, nod, email, email.  Put yourself out there and you'll be fine. 

Q: What information should people avoid disclosing in their dating profile?
- People should avoid talking about politics, religion and your past relationships.  This information doesn't need to be shared in the first five minutes.  State what you're looking for in a match and what you want and eventually these deeper topics will come up during the "getting to know you" phase.

Q: It’s clear from your blog that Match.com is your dating site of choice. Why did you select it over all the other niche sites available?
- I'm on a few sites right now and still see Match.com as the clear front runner.  I appreciate that for a minimal fee I can meet people in my area that are what I'm looking for.   Because of this fee, it weeds out the people who are on there just for fun or just looking to get laid.  I also love the fact that I can "browse" what is out there instead of matches just being sent to me.  Sometimes opposites attract and match gives you the chance to find out if that is true.

Q: Name three self-marketing tips for singles who want to get lucky in love online?
Be proactive.  Like everything in life you can't just sit back and wait for love to find you.  You need to try to find it as well.
Be honest.  No one wants to start a relationship off with lies.  So, if you are 30, say you're 30. If you're 5'9" (guys) don't post that you are 5'11."  We'll just be annoyed that you lied when we meet you (yes, this has happened to me).

Post pictures that display the real you.  No glamour shots - post pictures that show you as you are everyday and you'll have more luck finding someone who really is a good match.

Q: Based on your experiences, single men in their thirties___________(please fill in the blank).
Are finally ready to find love.  Once most men hit their 30s, a lot of their friends are married and have kids.  The single ones start to feel left out. 

Q: Best first date story with someone you met on online?
We met on Match.com and after three emails back and forth went to get drinks during happy hour.  Happy hour turned into dinner and dinner turned into coffee.  Coffee turned into a parking lot make-out session.  Then he texted me on the way home to say how much fun he had and checked to make sure I got home safely.  I was smitten and we dated for the next 5 months.

Q: Favorite local spot to scope out people in between clicks and virtual dates?
I'm from  Cali and I love Chaya Venice's happy hour. I am also a big sucker for Sunday brunch with my girlfriends to catch up on everyone else's dates throughout the week!