Singles Dating – Shopping for Love with Online Dating
By Philip Graves
Special guest author, UK’s leading Consumer Behavior Expert, Philip Graves, applies his consumer shopping expertise to Singles Dating and Shopping for Love with Online Dating.
I know it doesn’t feel quite like buying groceries, but the moment you decide to get proactive and join an Internet Dating Site, dating agency or club and money is going to change hands… which now makes you a consumer; the fact that you’re seeking to buy something that you can’t put a price doesn’t mean other people haven’t.
In the Western world we consume so much and so often we feel pretty comfortable doing it, but that familiarity doesn’t make the process any safer when it comes to a new ‘purchase’ like dating. You’re most likely to get ripped off when you are at your most emotionally vulnerable. Someone recently called me and told me I’d won a holiday because of a survey I’d completed; I’m not that big of a fan of holidays, so they failed to get me sufficiently excited to over-look the fact that I hadn’t completed any such survey. As the person on the phone reeled off a list of destinations I could choose between I had a little fun with him, “Oh, can’t I go to France (a destination not on his list of exotic options), I only want to go to France.” Whilst he was busy being confused by my apparent hyper-choosiness in holiday destinations I pointed out that there was nothing further to be gained from our conversation and ended the call.
When you’re looking for love there’s a very good chance you’ll be relatively emotionally vulnerable, so how can you protect yourself from unscrupulous matchmakers whilst you search for Mr or Miss (or Ms) Right?
Great Dating Advice and Tips for Singles for Shopping for Love with Online Dating
- Do Get independent recommendations
Testimonials (those quotes from delighted customers) are highly persuasive, but unless you know the person personally you should be wary of attaching any importance to them.
- Take your time
The companies you go to know they need you to buy NOW, so they will use every trick in the book to make you think you will miss out if you delay. Rest assured all those same tricks will be there in a week or a month or a year. Wait until you are confident about handing over your money.
- Do Look beyond the superficial
Our unconscious minds are highly influenced by what we see around something else (did you know that people who see a product next to a work of art think it’s more valuable?). If the website or company office feels like it’s expensively designed it’s natural to believe that what’s on offer is high quality too. However, don’t judge the book by its cover; look at the content not the style.
- Don’t take one person’s word for it
Research shows that one person repeatedly recommending something can make something feel so familiar we start to believe we’ve heard it from lots of sources. People like other people to do what they’ve done; it helps reassure them that they’ve chosen well. Don’t make the same mistake to make them feel better, ask or search around for advice.
- Do Check what’s included in the price and remember what you’ve paid
It’s easy to forget that you made a monthly subscription or an initial fee. Even though you are still aware the money is going out it doesn’t feel like the same level of expense as it did the first time you made it. Be sure you know what you’re getting at the start and check that there aren’t additional services you will be ‘offered’ later.
Dating Advice Tip: You definitely can’t put a price on a good relationship but you definitely can on the search for one.
Philip Graves
Consumer Behavior Expert
Whether for your LinkedIn or Online Dating Profile, you always want to lead with looking your best.
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