I-Match Recognition #29 - How to Make Time for Online Dating When You're Crazy Busy

Although finding the right companion or life partner can be one of life's greatest rewards, the quest for love can feel like a second job! In her new book Finding Love After 50, Cassie writes: "I use the metaphor of the Romance Highway to point out that dating is not like a tunnel, with only one way through and no detours. Highways offer multiple routes, different speeds, off ramps, frontage roads, and rest stops."

This week's Innovative Match (I-Match) Recognition award goes to Elizabeth Grace Saunders for her article "How to Make Time for Online Dating When You're Crazy Busy." In it, Saunders shares top tips for managing your "dating time," maintaining high energy and a positive attitude - all critical ingredients for finding a stellar match.

How to Make Time for Online Dating When You're Crazy Busy by Elizabeth Grace Saunders

I-Match Recognition #28 - 5 Rules for Online Dating Over 50

We hope our followers are enjoying their summer activities with family, friends and loved ones. It's critical to maintain your online dating presence throughout the warmer months and display your new adventures and interests. With this in mind, we have given the article “5 Rules for Online Dating Over 50” this week’s Innovative Match (I-Match) Recognition Award! This post from Match.com provides smart guidelines and mistakes to avoid as you navigate cyberdating. We hope you’ll enjoy this informative read as you continue your journey on the Romance Highway.

 

5 Rules for Online Dating Over 50 by Cherie Burbach

RELATIONSHIP STRATEGIST RELEASES INSIDER BOOK FOR DATING OVER 50

The Innovative-Match (I-Match) editorial team is thrilled to announce the release of Finding Love After 50: Modern Dating Strategies for Women from an Industry Insider, by I-Match Founder and CEO, and Ask Cass author, Cassie Zampa-Keim.

One of Amazon’s highest rated works in the dating over 50 category just weeks after release, the book will be available in select stores this summer. Finding Love After 50’s premiere launch event will take place on August 26th at Book Passage of Corte Madera, California, which regularly showcases the world's finest authors including presidents and prelates, network anchors and front-line journalists, and Nobel Prize winners. The evening will feature the author reading excerpts from her book.  

Below, the I-Match editorial team shares a sneak peak of the upcoming press release, which will be hitting the airwaves shortly. For further information, media professionals can contact Tina@Innovative-Match.com.

RELATIONSHIP STRATEGIST CASSIE ZAMPA-KEIM RELEASES AN INSPIRING AND EXCITING BOOK ON FINDING LOVE LATER IN LIFE

In 2014, 50.2% of American adults were single, many of whom were 45+. This demographic has experienced a renaissance in its quest for romance; since 2013, the number of 55 to 64-year-olds using online dating alone has more than doubled. Cassie’s book aims squarely at this growing demographic, offering compassionate, results-oriented advice that guides the reader through the process of finding love, from analyzing who they are today and what they are looking for in a relationship, through using online dating sites, to nurturing and building new and lasting partnerships. Although designed with women in mind, the book offers powerful advice for men as well.

Written by an industry veteran with almost thirty years of experience advising and engaging with over 10,000 singles, Finding Love After 50 puts singles in charge of their own dating journeys.  Cassie enables readers to bypass expensive matchmakers by providing them with a comprehensive toolkit for identifying compatible singles and by showing her audience the ropes for highly successful dating and building meaningful relationships. Since many 50+ singles have not dated for decades, Cassie shares a professional matchmaker’s perspectives on the 21st century landscape, how to become a “dating superstar,” and optimal ways to deal with common issues such as blending finances and families.

Throughout the book, Cassie offers encouragement, and provides highly actionable lessons that have helped hundreds of clients to rapidly find the relationships that are best for them. As she writes in the introduction, "I use the metaphor of the Romance Highway to point out that dating is not like a tunnel, with only one way through and no detours. Highways offer multiple routes, different speeds, off ramps, frontage roads, and rest stops. Your journey will be unique, based on your life today. I want to help you see who you are and what brings you joy, increasing your confidence and magnetism. This book will start you on a journey of discovery, an exciting evolutionary process that brings a new level of self-awareness, clarity, and ultimately, relationship success."

About the Author

Cassie Zampa-Keim is a renowned dating and relationship strategist,
author, speaker, workshop leader, and coach. She is the founder and CEO of Innovative Match (www.innovative-match.com), a national relationship-services firm, and author of the syndicated "Ask Cass" blog. 

One of the industry’s leading experts, she launched Innovative Match to incorporate her dating strategies with a personalized coaching approach, to help clients in the prime of their lives master the new dating world.

She has been recognized as one of the World's Top Dating Experts in 2016 by Older Dating UK. Cassie holds a BA in communications and psychology and is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Executive Entrepreneurship Program. She also studied at Cambridge University in England. She lives near San Francisco with her husband of 18 years, and three children.

I-MATCH RECOGNITION #27 – BEAT THE HEAT: SUMMER DATING TIPS

Happy summer to our followers! This is a beautiful season and the perfect time to enjoy dating. Social activities are plentiful and opportunities are waiting to be taken advantage of, if you have the right attitude. Summer romance can be tricky to navigate, but with proper guidance you can enjoy your freedom as well as make meaningful connections.

This week’s AskCass blog shares ten tips on summer dating for singles over 50. Our featured article this month from Match.com has unbeatable advice on activities and styling yourself. We hope you enjoy this read as you continue down the Romance Highway.

Beat-the-heat Summer Dating Tips by Dave Singleton

I-Match Recognition #26 - How to Avoid the Top 5 Mistakes Singles Make When Dating Over 50

The dating scene for singles 50+ is booming! The number of singles in this demographic is at an all time high. Among U.S. adults ages 55 to 64, online dating use has doubled since 2013 according to a 2016 Pew Research Center survey. Matching and social networking sites have exponentially increased access to eligible singles; the quality of the online cocktail party experience is considered to be very mature.

This week’s AskCass blog shares some of the industry’s best experts' advice on dating smart for singles over 50. Our featured article this month from eHarmony showcases the latest trends and guidance. We hope you enjoy this read as you continue down the Romance Highway.

 

Dating in Your 50s by the eHarmony Staff

I-Match Recognition #25 - 10 Tips for a Spring Romance

Happy Spring to our followers! “10 Tips for a Spring Romance” receives this week’s Innovative Match (I-Match) Recognition Award! This article from The Huffington Post provides excellent reminder tips for singles as we enter spring dating season. We hope you’ll enjoy this informative read as you continue your journey on the Romance Highway.

10 Tips for a Spring Romance by Debra Macleod

 

BREAKING NEWS: Study Reveals Spring Spike in Online Dating

Happy spring dating from the Innovative Match (I-Match) editorial team! The I-Match Recognition for this week features, “When Spring is in the Air, So is Dating App Engagement” by Trace Ronning of Liftoff. This report reveals that consistent engagement with dating applications occurs during the months of March through May. These findings are in line with activity peaks observed at I-Match. So how can you spring into online dating romance? Here are a few tips from our expert team:

1. Spring clean your dating profile: consider a full makeover of your profile, or a quick refresh, by updating your photos, interests and most recent adventures

2. Take a look at some other dating platforms (whether they are large communities or niche sites). This will help if you have not seen optimal results on your current account in the past six months

3. Utilize your site’s search engine optimization features, such as Match.com’s Hot Spot, to maximize your exposure to potential partners. These features can double or triple your results

4, Step up your outreach efforts. Spring is the time to feel confident and make the first move. Once you’ve spotted a potential match, take control of your romance journey

Spring has traditionally been linked to renewal and new adventures. There’s a sense of growth and that life is ultimately changing for the better. It’s the perfect time to open up to new experiences, broaden your horizons, and embrace the potential of falling in love!

IM Recognition #24 - Dating Over 50: The New Rules

“Dating Over 50: The New Rules” receives this week’s Innovative Match (IM) Recognition Award! Recommended by the IM Editorial Team, this article from Match.com provides excellent advice for singles in their prime who may feel a bit out of place on the dating scene. We hope you’ll enjoy this informative read as you continue your journey on the Romance Highway.

Dating Over 50: The New Rules by Beatty Cohan

The Single’s Guide to Success on Valentine’s Day

While the stores stock their windows and aisles with candy and trinkets for Valentine’s Day, many singles find it difficult to keep their heads up, enjoy the perks of single life and treat themselves with the self-love they deserve. As people enter the prime of their lives, dating success requires a balance of both realism and optimism. Be thankful for the lessons from the past – but use these techniques to leave them in the past. Take this time to reflect on what you are looking for in a companion, make yourself more available to potential partners and be your own matchmaker.

A positive attitude is key to finding a partner, especially around the holidays. It’s not too late to start your New Year’s dating resolutions; if you haven’t dated online, start now! If you’re on a site, join one or two more. Take advantage of the “numbers” game by widening your search and making your profile stand out. While having a first date on the actual holiday is not advised, statistics show that Valentine’s Day can cause singles to catch the romance bug and become more active on dating sites in the days and month after.

Author Lorraine Jackson’s article from SelfGrowth.com, the internet supersite for self improvement and personal growth (read in over 100 countries), presents top techniques for remaining positive and resilient during the dating process.

5 Ways to Stay Positive During the Dating Process by Lorraine Jackson

Finding Love After 50: Modern Dating Strategies for Women from an Industry Insider

Innovative Match (IM) is thrilled to announce that our founder and CEO, Cassie Zampa-Keim, is releasing her long anticipated book, "Finding Love After 50: Modern Dating Strategies for Women from an Industry Insider." Tailored towards 50+ women, the book will be available on the IM website as well as on Amazon in March. With over two decades of experience being an insider to the matchmaking industry, Cassie, with the support of writer Danielle Machotka, shows singles how to date smart and become their own matchmakers. Find an exclusive summary of the book below:

Dating can feel overwhelming at any age, but after fifty—and especially after divorce or widowhood—the new dating landscape can look totally unfamiliar. The rise of online dating has changed how people meet, and it has also significantly improved the opportunities for women over fifty to find partners. The key is learning to navigate this new world, adopting “dating smart” strategies and creating a new future for the prime of your life. 

Finding Love After 50 puts you squarely in charge of your dating journey, bypassing expensive matchmakers and giving you the tools you need for everything from finding interesting men to going out on dates to building relationships. Written by a professional matchmaker with nearly three decades of experience, this book will start you on a journey of discovery, an exciting evolutionary process that will bring a new level of self-knowledge, clarity, and ultimately, relationship success.

It’s Dating High Season: Best Advice for Finding Your Next Relationship!

Happy New Year from the Innovative Match team! We’ve entered dating high season, with the winter months (after New Year’s) being the busiest days of the year for online dating! There’s no better time for singles to refresh their dating strategies. Read the Washington Post’s just released collection of expert advice to have a great dating season, and find your next relationship!

IM Recognition #23 - Romance and Stress During the Peak Dating Season from December to February

Holidays can be one of the more challenging times of the year for singles. According to a recent Match.com survey, close to 40% of singles said that the holiday season is when they most want to be in a relationship. Rather than let stress snow on your holiday cheer, embrace a positive attitude and sound advice to guide you through a wonderful season. This week's Innovative Match (IM) Recognition Award features a stellar article from Seniorific by Justin Garcia, a scientific advisor for the international online dating site Match.com and faculty member at Indiana University's Kinsey Institute and Department of Gender studies.

As a reminder, months November through February are peak times on online sites and social events abound. Leverage these factors and the New Year to reset and take advantage of all the opportunities to form meaningful connections that 2016 brings. Our blog archive is chalk full of hard hitting advice and news you can use.  Happy Holidays from the IM Editorial Team, where we remain Dedicated to Your Relationship Success.

 

Romance and Stress During the Peak Dating Season from December to February

by Justin Garcia

Seniorific.com

 

Eyecandy Images / ThinkStock.com

 

Although the holiday season brings a lot of joy and excitement, it can also bring a lot of stress because "the holidays can be a really stressful time in terms of trying to start new relationships and also getting out of previous relationships," according to Justin Garcia, a scientific advisor for the international online dating site Match.com, and faculty member at Indiana University's Kinsey Institute and Department of Gender studies.

Match.com's annual Singles in America study is the largest study on U.S. singles. According to the Match.com survey of 1,000 of their clients, 80 percent of survey respondents said holidays make them feel more romantic than other times of the year. Also, 25 percent reported experiencing a break-up during the holiday season.

The stress about relationships is particularly increased for the singles because inevitably many singles are grilled over the holidays about their solitary status, said Garcia. The survey by Match.com found that 14 percent of men and 10 percent of women admitted to dating someone during the holidays just to have someone to spend the holidays with. The peak online dating season is during the holidays, between December and February, as there is a 25 to 30 percent increase in new members registering at Match.com.

An unprecedented number of single Americans is now turning to the internet to find love. More than 27 percent reported that they have dated someone they met online, including social media sites such as Facebook and other chat groups. Also, 20 percent met their most recent first date online vs. 7 percent who met at a bar.

Garcia said online dating makes it convenient for people to be aware of singles living near or within their area of interest. However, he suggested people spend some time beforehand to think about what they want in a relationship and how they can communicate with their dates, before jumping to join the online dating sites. Garcia also said looking for a spouse is more complicated than just dating. Dating is meant to be fun and love comes after that, with time.

To Date Or Not To Date - Separated, Not Divorced

This week Innovative Match (IM) focuses on Huffington Post article "Separated But Not Divorced: Should You Date Him?” Author Jackie Pilossoph raises critical points for 40+ singles to consider as they navigate today’s increasingly complex dating landscape.  She highlights the fact that many couples take months to finalize their divorces – even years – for financial reasons; ruling potential partners out who are not yet fully divorced may result in missed opportunities. IM's CEO and Founder Cassie Zampa-Keim’s dating “rules for the road” align with many opinions expressed in the article, however, she believes that singles should avoid dating those still living with their ex-partner. A shared home is not an ideal place to begin a romance and that person may not be ready to start a new chapter.

Above all, singles must listen to one another’s stories and engage in honest communication. Put yourself in the driver's seat and voice your concerns and questions early. This way you can pave a comfortable, smooth road rather than relying on assumptions and succumbing to insecurities.

We hope you enjoy this informative read as you continue your journey down The Romance Highway.

IM Recognition #22 - Dating After Divorce: Directions for Re-Entry

“Dating After Divorce: Directions for Re-Entry” receives this week’s Innovative Match (IM) Recognition Award! Recommended by the IM Editorial Team, this article from perfectmatch.com provides straightforward, realistic advice for those re-entering the dating scene after a divorce or a loss. We hope you’ll enjoy this informative read as you continue your journey on the Romance Highway.

Dating After Divorce: Directions for Re-Entry by Dr. Pepper Schwartz

The Right Time to Start Dating Again

Many singles come to Innovative Match (IM) asking how long it will be before they should start dating after losing a loved one, whether they experienced an unfortunate death or a divorce. While there is no perfect timeline, the questions and insights served up in this IM blog can help you to find and use your own “dating/relationship compass."

Lisa Field’s article on WebMD is an IM favorite. Field’s piece aggregates expert advice from leading authors, PhDs, counselors and psychologists focused on divorce and relationships and provides excellent insights to help you assess your “dating readiness.”

Being ready to get back on The Romance Highway depends on your emotional state and your motivation. Re-entering the dating arena could take a few months or years. However, if you are able to thoroughly address the following questions, you may be on the right path:

1. What have you learned from your past relationships?

Each ended partnership is a lesson. In order to avoid repeating things that caused you pain in the past, you should examine the pros and cons of each major previous relationship. We highlighted a proven exercise in a past blog that you can do with a confidante. If you can be honest about what worked and, more importantly, what didn’t work with your exes, you may be ready to look for a new partner.

2. How are you different today?

When we jump back into the dating scene, we often falsely believe that we are the same person whom we were when we engaged with our last partner. Perform a self-assessment – how have you changed since then? Have you cultivated new hobbies or have your priorities shifted? Maybe the exit of your last partner has lifted a burden off of your shoulders and now you want to pursue ideas you have kept bottled up inside. You are likely a changed person from when you entered your last relationship, whether changes happened because of choice or because of circumstance. Realize those changes and the changes you want to make before engaging with someone new.

3. How are you going to meet new people?

This is perhaps the hardest question to answer, even when you are emotionally ready to start dating again. Some people may choose to invest in matchmaking services. Cassie Zampa-Keim, IM’s CEO and Founder, is a firm believer that (whether you invest in professional search services or not) you should also be your own matchmaker.

Finding a new date is a bit like networking; put behind your fears and attend events and engage in activities that interest you! Ask friends and family to introduce you to other singles. Online dating can seem like an ocean, but if you know what you’re looking for you can create a strong pool of candidates to choose from. Use the sites and search parameters that are best for your current situation. Most importantly, be honest about your status: separated, divorced, widowed, etc. Only when you can acknowledge your current state are you truly ready to move forward.

 

It may feel uncomfortable to let yourself be vulnerable in the dating arena, especially since it has been a while since you’ve tried to meet other singles. While you may experience “learning detours” and “emotional speed bumps” along the way, with the right attitude and resilience, you can present the best version of yourself to potential matches and enjoy an expansive, new relationship journey. Once you have established what you want and learned from your past relationships, you are likely to be successful on The Romance Highway.

 

IM Recognition #21 - Dating in Your 50s

"Every decade people seem to get younger and younger.  You can still be vibrant and youthful in your fifties and sixties and beyond. Take care of yourself, live life with purpose, and aim to be someone you’d want to date. Stay connected and involved. Meet people. Volunteer, take classes, attend events, and spend quality time with good friends. If you’re self-assured, prioritizing what matters and pursuing the things you love, you’re living a full life. And that, no matter what your age, is attractive."

Dating in Your 50s” receives this week’s Innovative Match (IM) Recognition Award! Recommended by the IM Editorial Team, this article from eHarmony provides unbeatable tips for those in their 50s entering the dating scene. We hope you’ll enjoy this informative read as you continue your journey on the Romance Highway.

 

Dating in Your 50s from eHarmony

Finding The Right Stuff: The Ivy League of Dating

Many of Innovative Match’s (IM) clients in the 50+ crowd are often overwhelmed by the seemingly endless variety of online dating sites available. Even though certain sites are targeted at mature singles and have gained stellar reputations, this random process leaves many people unfulfilled.

Working with websites like Match.com and OkCupid for many years, IM’s CEO and Founder, Cassie Zampa-Keim, has been able to humanize this random searching process as well as create accurate, stand out profiles for her clients. Nicknamed “the woman behind the computer” due to years of experience with both IM clients and popular onsite dating sites (and their dating “pools”), Cassie has led the IM team to produce record results. IM community members have met many compatible 50+ singles in major markets (New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, etc.). The IM matchmaking team has learned to sift through hundreds of profiles in record time to find those candidates with the highest potential.

While it is tempting to join major brand-name online dating sites, often clients benefit more from smaller, boutique websites. The IM team highly recommends The Right Stuff, a website that accepts users of any age who are graduates of select top universities in the world. This website provides an excellent combination of autonomy of choosing from a large database of users while also making sure the users are pre-screened and handpicked.

Cassie and the IM team continue to be excited about The Right Stuff’s growth. Both firms emphasize personalized databases. IM has curated offline networks in New York, San Francisco, and Boston. The Right Stuff has expanded to have an international, hand-picked online community. This service is led by a high profile team of professionals and recently the president, Dawne Touchings, spoke with Cassie about their services. The Right Stuff’s focus is on connecting prestigious alumni from all over the world in their pursuit of romance. The firm’s website has an easy interface and straightforward application process; it is a resource IM clients benefit from greatly.

Aside from being a platform for meeting elite singles, The Right Stuff serves the dual purpose of being a networking tool. Unlike other dating sites, clients will not have to face the possibility of fake profiles or singles not willing to meet. When The Right Stuff singles meet, even if romantic chemistry is not there, both parties network with a peer who can serve other areas of their lives. The Right Stuff sets up clients for a win-win situation.

Regardless of the site or service you are using, your journey on the Romance Highway should be filled with motivation, hope, and resilience. Your journey will only lead to success with the right tools and attitude. With the help of IM, we hope you find the outlets that suit you best.

 

IM Recognition #20 - The 3 Biggest Dating Dealbreakers For Those Over 50

“The 3 Biggest Dating Dealbreakers For Those Over 50” receives this week’s Innovative Match (IM) Recognition Award! Recommended by the IM Editorial Team, this article from Huffington Post by Ronnie Ann Ryan provides insightful tips for those in the dating scene. We hope you’ll enjoy this informative read as you continue your journey on the Romance Highway.

 

The 3 Biggest Dating Dealbreakers For Those Over 50 by Ronnie Ann Ryan