"So you're dating, and dating online. There's something out there for everyone, but for those of you that use dating site(s) like OKCupid or Tinder (or any dating site/app), here are a few dating tips to take into consideration: First tip: Don't play games. No one wins. "If you don't like someone, be mature enough to tell them you aren't interested. If you're interested, don't try to be unavailable or hard to get," Jakovljevic says. "If you're honest and straight up and it doesn't work, that's okay -- you're filtering out people who don't fit what you're looking for." Second tip: Be realistic. "I know dating is fun and exciting, but don't build up unrealistic expectations," Jakovljevic says. "Not everyone you meet online will be as good as your ex or as attractive as you previously thought." Third tip: Have a dating plan. "Figure out what you want in the short term (in terms of dating) and long term (in terms of dating/romantic relationship)," Jakovljevic says. "Then make sure the person you are dating fits with those needs." Fourth tip: Think about what it is that makes you unique -- confidence is key! "Be confident enough to take charge of the situation, be clear about who you are, what you're looking for, what you are offering and be honest about it," Jakovljevic says. "You don't have to make yourself sound like the best dating candidate or anything, but if they can see that you're confident enough in your dating skills to take charge of the situation then that's a good sign." Make dating an adventure"It's not all about dating apps. Meet people outside of dating apps -- at work, school, parties -- any opportunity where you're surrounded by other singles is worth your time... Go out there and meet new people who you might find interesting!" Jakovljevic adds: "Remember dating isn't just one person -- dating is an experience with many different people along the way. Some will be better dating candidates than others, but there are dating opportunities everywhere. You just have to look for them!" And if dating online or meeting people in real life isn't your thing, meet new friends you never knew you had with dating apps like Hinge , Skout and Tinder." Title: Online dating tips : Don't play games. No one wins., Be realistic., Have a dating plan., Think about what it is that makes you unique -- confidence is key! Keywords to include: - dating tips online dating tips dating apps honest true confident informative intriguing entertaining interesting exciting thought-provoking heartwarming touching witty hilarious clever heartfelt overwhelming moving uplifting mysterious magical mysterious phenomenal remarkable impressive stunning unexpected inspiring bravo bravo thrilling exhilerating wonder "So you're dating, and dating online. There's something out there for everyone, but for those of you that use dating site(s) like OKCupid or Tinder (or any dating site/app), here are a few dating tips to take into consideration: First tip: Don't play games. No one wins."If you don't like someone, be mature enough to tell them you aren't interested. If you're interested, don't try to be unavailable or hard to get," Jakovljevic says. "If you're honest and straight up and it doesn't work, that's okay -- you're filtering out people who don't fit what you're looking for."***Playing games can be fun in dating; however, dating experts agree there's a time and place for such antics. "You want to make dating as easy as possible," suggests dating coach David Wygant. "To me it makes sense to be up front and direct about your intentions with the person you're dating." Honesty is usually the best policy when dating, he says, because it cuts down on stress and confusion and saves both parties from undue angst. But if you find yourself playing games, here are some tips: 3 signs you might be playing games in dating: - Avoiding the question of exclusivity: If you've been dating someone for several months but aren't sure where things stand -- or even worse, you've been dating someone else while seeing the person you're dating behind his back -- "you should know that's a pretty flimsy way to try and get what you want," says dating expert Rachel DeAlto. "Be honest about your intentions or lack thereof," she advises, adding: "And if someone isn't sure where things stand with their dating relationship, there is no reason why they should string along two people." - Nervousness: If you can't make eye contact or say anything without stammering and scratching your head, chances are your mind is racing and you're nervous about something. "[This] might be a sign that an inner alarm is going off in your mind to warn [you] that dating is not what you want at that time or with that person," says dating coach Evan Marc Katza. "[You] might be giving off an energy of discomfort, and it's scaring away the other party." - Using dating to make someone jealous: It can be fun to flirt with another during a date in order to get your current dating partner in the mood later on -- but don't go overboard or your game could backfire. If you compare yourself to the previous dates they've had (I saw Dan was really into X girl; I bet he'll like me better), Wygant cautions you're playing games. "[It's] kind of like when someone posts something on Facebook just to get a rise out of their ex," he says. "It's immature and it shows a lack of dating maturity." If you're dating someone who likes to create drama or get other people involved in your dating life, be careful, suggests dating expert David Bennett. Whether from jealously or manipulation, this type of behavior could spell trouble somewhere down the road. "Without a doubt do not communicate with an ex while dating someone new," advises Bennett. "[Your flirtatious activities] might seem harmless while dating [the person you're dating], but this could come back to bite [you]." How to stop playing games: - First realize what kind of game you are playing -- whether it's one-upmanship or jealousy/controlling