Hollywood makes it look so easy. If life were like the movies, you’d be wondering if you’d ever meet the right one, when you’d get a call from your best friend. They just found out that an eligible guy in their social circle is single and looking. Even better, it turns out you have heaps in common and it convinces your friend you’d be a brilliant match. Do you want an introduction?

Trouble is, that’s the dream, but rarely the reality. At best, your friend might let you know about a guy she vaguely knows from work. At worst, you spend your free evenings (and you have a lot of them) swiping through Tinder's rogue’s gallery.

Or is that the reality? Does it need to be? Let’s face it. The internet gives you access to more potential matches than ever before. Why wouldn’t it also be your ticket to innovative matchmaking services? Imagine filling in an extensive profile, and letting an actual human play matchmaker, rather than a computer algorithm!

So is matchmaking the future of dating? Let’s check out the pros and cons of the dating methods available to you, before looking at matchmaking...

Speed Dating

Speed dating can feel like a strange concept. You gather in a bar and talk to 10-20 different people every four minutes. At most events, the ladies stay in one place and the guys move around. They’re often separated into age groups, with a break in the middle to socialise. You make a note of the guys you want to see again—and the ones you don’t. If you both say ‘yes’ to a meeting, you’re put in touch.

Pros: You meet many people very quickly. It’s hard to beat speed dating for efficiency! It can also be a lot of fun, and you’re not stuck talking to anyone for long. Even if no one excites you, you’ll still meet some genuine characters during the event. You don’t need to give your contact details to anyone so you can maintain some privacy.

Cons: If you like the person you’re talking to, the bell often rings before you can build a real rapport. You just have to hope they also want to see you again so you can continue the conversation. Getting the results later can disappoint you if the people you want to see again didn’t feel the same way. It’s also very disheartening if you don’t like any of the men you meet! Odds are not in your favour—less than 1% of couples meet this way.

your ideal partner offline first!

Meeting through Friends

This used to be a popular way of meeting people. Your friend would have another single friend, and they’d introduce you. Or, you might all end up at the same social event. You’d hit it off with their friend, and hopefully, you’d get a happy ending. Before the pandemic, 18% of couples met their partners through friends. Is it still a good option for dating?

Pros: The mutual friend is ‘pre-screened’ by your friend. It widens your social circle—you don’t need to put a ton of effort into building a new group of friends. Instead, you borrow someone else’s. It also removes the need for awkward introductions between strangers. Your friends do the introductions for you.

Cons: Your friends may not know anyone who would be compatible with you. This method of meeting people gets a lot harder as your friends pair off and settle down. They often spend less time with single people themselves, so they’re not sure who to introduce you to.

Meeting through Social Events

Shared hobbies and social events are a great way to meet new people. That said, only 5% of couples met a partner through a shared hobby. You might meet someone at a bar, an art class, or even at the gym. Is it really that easy?

Pros: You’re more likely to find someone compatible when you’re doing a shared activity or hobby. It’s a great way to meet someone who will want to do the same things as you. Having a reason to be somewhere also takes the pressure off finding someone. You get to enjoy a class or event without needing to meet someone.

Cons: It’s still difficult to start a conversation with a stranger. You don’t know if the other person is single, or even looking for a relationship. Building rapport can take time, and you need to have the confidence to approach people. You might find your hobbies are too ‘girly’ to find a lot of suitable male partners, or people your age.

Free Dating Apps

During the pandemic, it’s been easier to turn to free dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble. 6% of UK couples meet on free apps. Sign up, create a profile, and start swiping. Many of the apps limit your messages, so you only hear from people you’re interested in.

Pros: Often, the only filters are age, location, and orientation. That means more potential matches. You can see profiles of people you might not get the chance to meet in real life. The apps are easy to use, and it’s quick to set up a profile. 

Cons: You’ll often see a lot of profiles of men you’re not interested in. Because there are so few filters, you must keep swiping to find the few gems. Many of the users aren’t looking for a serious relationship. Some of them are already married or in relationships. It can take a long time to get into a conversation. Ghosting and breadcrumbing are common, with conversations left dangling for no obvious reason.

Paid Websites

You don’t just have to use free dating apps. 7% of UK couples meet through paid online dating platforms. You usually create a more extensive profile and you’ll get a wider range of filtering options. Match and eHarmony are two of the most famous options.

Pros: Paid users have invested in their account so they’re more serious about finding someone. You can get a better sense of the other person since the profiles are longer and more in depth. Some paid platforms are more ‘niche’, giving you a better chance of finding someone to suit you.

Cons: The platforms limit the functions until you pay for a subscription. Many users set up free profiles “to see what’s out there”. You then waste time contacting users who can’t read your message. The quality of men isn’t always higher than the free apps and you risk scammers lurking on the sites.

Yikes.

Exactly. Comparing the options, you can see that some of them are easy to use but give poor results. Others give significant results, but they depend on friends or colleagues making introductions.

If you’re new to an area, it takes time to build up a social circle where you can meet potential partners. Or you may linger on dating apps and websites, bored with seeing the same faces every time you log in.

But it’s not the end of the world. You’re not doomed to eternal Singledom. In fact, we think we have the solution.

Is Matchmaking the Future of Dating?

We already know meeting through friends is the second best way to meet a partner after meeting them at work. There’s something about the extra human influence that makes all the difference. It’s the value of a third party seeing the potential between you and someone else they know. They do the emotional arithmetic and get excited by what might happen.

Compare that to a computer algorithm on a dating website. It boils you and your potential partner down into cold, hard data. Then it compares you based on factors like your age, preferences, and location. Online dating follows a series of equations. But they’re nowhere near as powerful as the equations a human can do when they start matchmaking.

So consider this possibility. Take the warmth, empathy, and desire to see you happy from your friend. Add cutting edge behavioural profiling knowledge that sees deeply into a person and their needs. Finally, add in-depth psychological expertise. What do you get?

Matchmaking With Intelligence.

Our new service takes all the guesswork out of dating. We're now taking enrolments for our next round. You’ll need to apply by completing an in-depth questionnaire. After all, we’re only taking the most serious participants.

If you're selected, we'll profile you and the other daters who also qualify. We'll match you with our ideal partner, and you’ll be able to get to know each other through our coaching.

Think about it. You’ll know that your match wants a long-lasting, loving relationship. You’ll have the confidence that you’re a suitable match thanks to our in-depth profiling. And you’ll already know you’re a match before you start talking. It gives any potential relationship a solid foundation—something you won’t find on Tinder.

Why not apply today and see if you can meet your match?