Ultimate Guide To Dating In Your 40s+

Catching yourself thinking, “Why is dating over 40 so hard?” You’re far from alone.

Whether you’re navigating the waters of dating while separated, fresh into the game after a divorce, or just looking for some expert online dating tips that actually work for singles your age, you’ll find everything you need in this handy guide.

Just want a quick answer? Check out the short FAQ at the end, where you’ll find expert answers to some common questions!

Dating Over 40?

You may be wondering...

How do I know which dating sites to use?

Where you live will have a big impact on which dating sites and apps are the best choice. If you’re dating in a large city like Los Angeles, New York, or San Francisco, even the more “niche” dating sites and apps will have a decent amount of users. 

But if you’re in a less populated area, you’ll likely want to start with the most popular platforms, like Match, OkCupid and Plenty of Fish, that aren’t location based.

Then, since it’s free to create a profile on popular dating apps like Tinder and Hinge, it wouldn’t hurt to hop on and see how many potential matches are near you, or at least within what you’d consider “dating distance.”

Another big factor is free versus paid. Free dating sites and apps, where you can create a profile and exchange messages without spending any money, generally have a lot of users. 

The problem is, that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily people you’d consider dating. Because anyone can post a profile, you’ll find a much higher percentage of fake profiles, scammers, bots, escorts and singles who just aren’t serious about checking their messages or moving things offline. You’ll be sifting through a lot of profiles to find the few who may actually interest you.

Dating sites and apps like Match, eHarmony, ChristianMingle, MillionaireMatch and Elite Singles attract high-quality matches who are generally more serious about investing time and energy in online dating, to the extent they’re willing to pay to use the platform.

What should you have in your dating profile to create the best chance of meeting someone in real life?

Dating profiles are all about marketing yourself in an effective way. You want to include the qualities, personality traits and interests you have that the kind of person you want to date would likely find interesting and compelling. 

Throughout the online dating process, you need to build up enough attraction and trust so that your match says “yes” to meeting you in person - and feels comfortable enough to show up. The first brick in that foundation is your profile.

To give yourself the best chance of meeting your matches in real life, include these 3 things in your profile:

• A peek at your lifestyle. Include a few lines about what you do for a living, your hobbies and passions, and interesting tidbits that make you seem genuine and fun to spend time with.
• A short description of the kind of person you want to meet. Steer clear of physical descriptions, and focus more on core compatibility like personality traits your ideal partner would have.
• Photos that are recent & decent. Poor quality photos are a turn-off, and it also sends the message you’re not very concerned with how you present yourself online or the first impression you make. That will torpedo your odds of your matches returning your messages, much less showing up for a first date. Consider having a few photos professionally taken by a photographer who specializes in “lifestyle” photos. Lifestyle photographers generally shoot on location (meaning not in a studio), and will help you choose interesting, vibrant locations that will look great online. 

The Best Way To Meet Compatible Matches

Finding love after 40 can be challenging, especially while navigating online dating. Even with the right dating apps at your fingertips - it’s not simple. 

First, you’ll need photos that highlight who you are and a profile that stands out. Once those pieces are in place you’ve got to search for matches and send messages that capture someone’s attention and keep the conversation flowing. 

Getting great results in online dating isn't just about showing up. You’ve got to invest serious time and effort into it. On average, people spend about 12 hours a week on dating apps. 

If you’ve got a busy life - whether it's with a demanding career or you just need more time to do the things you enjoy, who wants to spend their flexible time swiping & messaging? 

Don’t let dating turn into a time-consuming, frustrating task when you could hand off everything to modern dating experts that know how to find you the most compatible matches faster than you could on your own! 

VIDA Select’s team of matchmakers has helped thousands of people find their ideal partner! VIDa takes care of everything for you - from choosing the most flattering photos to crafting an alluring profile. We’ll even send the messages and schedule dates. All you need to do is show up! 

There’s simply no faster or easier way to meet higher-quality matches online. Let VIDA Select handle the hard part so you can focus on what truly matters—finding someone amazing and enjoying life.

To learn more, go here!