Looking for Love Online? What Every Dater Should Know According to Dateline Platinum's Recent Findings
Online, March 4, 2010 (Newswire.com) - A sense of humour may be a traditionally popular priority for singles, but physical attraction tops the list of 'must have' attributes for the majority of daters surveyed by Dateline Platinum. 55% of people claimed that this was the most important quality in a potential partner, with 'financial or professional success' coming first for just 23% of respondents, and 'shared views' for 22%.
Any romantics feeling the crunch needn't worry about looking for love on a budget, as 72% of singles would find an 'informal and relaxed' venue for a date more impressive than somewhere 'expensive or exclusive' - this only topped the list for 13% of individuals.
Only 8% of respondents would consider spending more than £50 on a first date, with almost 40% believing that between £20 and £50 is generous enough to make a good impression. And even if more daters are keeping an eye on cost, the most popular location when meeting a new partner is still a romantic restaurant - where only 15% of daters would not expect to split the bill.
A pre-date wardrobe check is more essential than an obvious gym membership, with 56% rating the effort a date has put into their outfit as more important than how fit they appear (just 22%).
Of course, there are plenty of dating don'ts to bear in mind too. Lacking reliability and smoking come a close joint first in ways to turn off a potential partner (rated by 38% and 31% of respondents respectively), and children from a previous relationship are a deal breaker for 10% of single people.
Eddy Ankrett, chairman of Dateline Platinum, commented: "Every individual, and every relationship, is different. However, it is interesting to see some clear trends when it comes to the things that people find attractive or unattractive in a new partner. Looking your best, and not letting a new partner down are priorities for a high percentage of single people - important considerations for anyone looking for love!
"Equality is important in relationships, and I am not surprised to see that the majority of people would expect to share the cost of a first date. The current economic situation is affecting many people's social lives, which of course includes dating. However, this doesn't mean that dates can't be romantic without breaking the bank - our survey shows that finding a relaxing venue which puts both daters at ease is more impressive than an expensive alternative"