Date Match Review February 2019

Creating an account and completing your profile in Date Match doesn't take much of your time. You only need a minute or two to finish the process, assuming that you have a unique username and a valid email address. The site only asks as well of your gender, the gender of the person you are looking for, birthday, and location.

When you're done with that, a confirmation email is sent to the email address you've provided. Click the activation link and remember the password that the site has generated for you. Note that you cannot access the site completely if you don't comply with the confirmation and verification process.

Once verified, you can continue supplementing your profile with the information you want to share. These include three quote boxes: an introduction title (headline), an introductory text, and a description of the person you are looking for.

Filling out the quote boxes is not mandatory. You can always do this later when you have the time or when you're in the mood. Remember, however, that a completely answered profile always gets the attention of most people.

There are many ways to communicate with the other members on Date Match. You can send a message via email, instant messenger, or chat room. You can also add a user as your buddy or flirt with him/her through winks. As a free member, however, your resources are limited.

Here's a more detailed preview of what you can do to start talking with other users:

Send Emails

You can send emails through your Inbox or by clicking the "Send Mail" button on any member's profile. In your Inbox section, you can also see your offers, sent items, deleted messages, and outbox or unsent messages. If you visit your settings, you can find there the option to turn your email notifications on and off.

Comment on Photos

This feature allows you to say something to someone by commenting on their pictures. If you want to see what other users think about you, you can check your own photo comments by going to the "Comments" tab in your Gallery.

Build Your Buddy Network

You can add up to 500 buddies only. When sending someone a buddy request, the site recommends putting a note to let the other person notice you. It's not every day you get the chance to make a good impression.

Use the Instant Messenger

For you to use this communication feature, you need to adhere to some of the platform's specific software requirements:

1. Have the most up-to-date internet browser, system updates, and Flash Player.
2. Check your ActiveX Security Settings status. If it's too high, modify and keep it neutral.
3. Clear your browser cache and disable your pop-up blocker.

Wait until a dialogue box drops down that says you have an IM request. Click accept, deny, or block.

Create a Chatroom

Creating a chatroom gives you full control of whatever is happening inside. If someone is starting to annoy everyone, you can simply click the "Ignore" button to stop receiving messages from that particular user. You can even add him/her to your block list by clicking the "Block User" button located on his/her profile.

Video Chat

The Video Chat feature is incorporated in the Chat Room and Instant Messenger systems. It allows you to broadcast yourself while chatting with someone. You only need a working webcam to be able to use it.

Flirt and Send Winks

You can "wink" to other members by clicking the "Wink" button located on their respective profiles as a way of flirting and introducing yourself.

Among all the communication features stated above, only receiving buddy requests is free. For all the others to work, you need to subscribe yourself to Date Match's paid membership.

There are two types of profiles in this dating platform: Basic and Advanced. All profiles start as basic ones, and it's up to you whether you'd like to make yours advanced or not. For the basic profile, you only need your profile name, gender, age, location, and a brief description of you and the ideal person you are looking for. On the other hand, the advanced profile gives you an opportunity to identify unique characteristics about yourself. This lets you share the things that might catch other members' interests.

When creating your profile, you need to be mindful as well of the dos and don'ts. Since the administrators review your profile before approving it, you must abide by the website's rules and regulations. For instance, you shouldn't include hotlinks to other sites (whether personal or commercial). You are also not allowed to share personal contact information such as email addresses, phone numbers, and URLs. Members who advertise products, companies, or services are automatically banned from using the site as well.

Profiles can also indicate whether the owner is a basic or a featured member. A featured member is the one whose profile appears at the top of the search results. This is a paid service, however. It costs $8.95 per month, on top of your premium membership fee.

Date Match offers you two options when availing a premium membership. You can either go for the 1-month or 3-month subscription, depending on your choice. A recurring bill is automatically set up once you start availing any of the two types of membership. Relatively, the amount and frequency of such recurring bill depend on which package you purchased.

What's interesting about the full membership plan is what the site calls a "3-month guarantee." If for some reason you can't find a date within three months upon availing the 3-month subscription, Date Match will give you extra 3-months to enjoy the benefits of being a premium member for free!

You need to remember, however, that to be eligible for the 3-month guarantee, you need to pass certain standards. These include the number of messages you've sent, how often you log in to the site, and generally how active you are in interacting with other members (while you were on the 3-month subscription).

This 3-month guarantee sounds like a reassurance to the platform's members. It actually gives you the chance to determine first if the site will work for you or not. Although you are mandated to avail of the 3-month premium membership before being able to enjoy the guarantee, it is somehow logical as you don't normally find 'the one' in a short period of time. It's a one in a million chance if you think about it.

Additionally, the site offers an individual feature which can be purchased separately. This is called the "featured member," which has been discussed above.