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Post-Pandemic Dating

If you're single and a little nervous about the dating world opening back up again, don’t worry. Local dating expert McKenzie Malone joined us to share some helpful insights.

Favorite COVID dating apps we recommend right now:
1. Hinge: Hinge got a redesign about two years ago and is marketed as ‘the dating app designed to be deleted.’ It’s become increasingly popular since its relaunch. The platform is easy to use and intuitive. It’s not a swipe app (which we LOVE), but rather a hybrid between older sites like OKCupid and newer swipe-life apps like Tinder.   Read More

6 Ways to Take Your Dating Game to the Next Level

There are a few things you can do yourself to increase your chances of getting noticed and getting better dates online, which of course leads to true love and happily ever after.Follow these steps to become your own dating guru.

1. Find the right dating platform for your dating style.
Do you want to spend more time finding the perfect date or more time actually going on dates? For some people, they want to know as much as they can about potential matches before they ever meet IRL.   Read More

Cover Feature: A Portland Entrepreneur Curates Dating Profiles for the Romantically Frustrated... But Does It Work?

Soon after meeting Ladan Radafshar for what was a very brief interaction, she began appearing everywhere in my life. It first happened when I mentioned her to my best friend, who remembered meeting her years ago at a party. Within days, her face popped up on the Instagram feed of one of my college classmates. Weeks later, during a haircut, I quickly discovered the two of us see the same stylist and frequent the same bars.   Read More

Dating 3.0: Apps + Consultants Grow Next-Generation Romance Economy

Too tender for Tinder? Fern helps singles of all ages put their best digital face forward. But don’t call Ladan Radafshar a matchmaker. “That’s such an old-fashioned term,” she bristles. As founder of the startup, Radafshar won’t necessarily find your lifelong mate, but she will make navigating and succeeding in the online dating world easier. “Our mission is ‘No bad dates.’”   Read More

Optimize Your Dating Profile With These Tips.

What are the most common mistakes you see people making on dating apps?

• Bad visual presentation...This is the most important feature in a profile, so if you're going to focus on something, focus on getting better photos. Candid photos where you’re doing something you love are the best.

• Not putting energy into the process. If you're going to create a profile -- put a bit of effort. Quality over quantity. Second, get excited about the people that you do match with. Be proactive. If not, what is the point?   Read More

A Service That Improves Your Dating Profile

Ladan Radafshar and Anne McDonald are speaking in tongues. They talk about super likes, swiping left, swiping right, Tinder traveling and other cultural codes.

“There are a lot of bad profiles out there right now,” said Radafshar, founder of the Portland-based startup Fern, a personal branding service for dating profiles. “Like the classic bathroom selfie without a shirt. There are a lot of photos of snakes around the neck these days. Men with baby tigers, too. Men with kittens.”   Read More

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