How to Hack Online Dating Without Getting Catfished

Last month CNN reported that six out of 10 Americans now believe dating sites are a good way to meet people. That's up from 44% from the data given in 2005.

In my day job, I have two colleagues that have successful marriage, thanks to online dating websites.  And there’s one action that made a big improvement in their success rate. The BIGGEST secret to doing online dating well is to take the dating to real life dating within five days.  That’s right; you have to take your communication off the computer or smartphone into reality.  There will be no chance of being Catfished if you do this.

The people that are liars, attached, controlling, or the extremely shy will push back try to dissuade you from meeting them too soon. But you need to not back down. I don’t care what type of traveling they’re doing or how sick their mother is. They can take the time to meet you for coffee for fifteen minutes. If they can’t, they should have an active dating profile so -- MOVE ON!

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Your time is as valuable as theirs, you aren’t getting any younger. You need to see a real person, not someone’s façade.

You can Google online dating rules to read great posts like this one at Women’s Day but single people need to remember, you can be as picky as you want. It’s your life and NO one else’s. So stay selective and make offline dating part of your dating arsenal.

Below enjoy a great TED talk by Amy Webb. Amy was having no luck with online dating. The dates she liked didn't write her back, and her own profile attracted crickets (and worse). So, as any fan of data would do: she started making a spreadsheet. Hear the story of how she went on to hack her online dating life -- with frustrating, funny and life-changing results.

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