5 Online Dating Tips Just in Time for Cuffing Season

It’s winter again. That means all of your favorite things: turkey, presents, New Year’s kisses, and, of course, cuffing season. Yep, that’s right. Singles right now are checking out prospective dates to shack up with for the rest of the cold season. Don’t fret if you’re still at home swiping—it’s not too late to find your cuffing partner. Here are some online dating tips you can use to spice up your game just in time for a long winter.

1. Shoot some winter photos.
It’s a new season and you want your dating profile to reflect that. This is an opportunity to give your photos a much needed, timely refresh. Winter can be one of the most beautiful seasons of the year, especially if you’re in an area that snows, so let’s take advantage of it.

Want to show that you’re having the time of your life? Take a photo of you making a snow angel. Want to show off your comedic side? Snap a shot of your friends sealing you inside a snowman. If you’re looking for a partner for the rest of winter, start showing off that seasonal spirit.

2. Advertise what you’re looking for.
If you’re looking for a partner for the cuffing season, say so. Well, maybe not so obviously, but you can say you’re looking for something longer term. People tend to respond better to dating profiles that set clear expectations about what they’re looking for, and it will help you attract the right type of singles.

3. Include some holiday season keywords in your bio.
Next let’s update your approach. We looked at certain keywords that daters used on the popular online dating site Zoosk that increased their incoming messages. Daters that mentioned holidays and Hannukah had their incoming messages increase by 10%, those that mentioned being warm received a 9% bump, Christmas increased messages by 7%, and hot chocolate and cuddles increased messages by 6%.

4. Take advantage of winter-only date ideas.
Yes, winter is the cold season, but there’s lots of awesomeness that you can only take advantage this time of year. Ice skating, a snowmobile ride, or an ice sculpture tour are all fun, novel ways to spend time getting to know somebody in a wintry fashion. Going that extra distance to come up with something creative to do on your date shows resourcefulness and thoughtfulness. Show them you’re really in the holiday spirit.              

5. Be willing to work a little harder for dates.
When it’s cold or snowing out, not only does the number of people to go on a date with go down but the effort the remaining people are willing to put in goes up. If you’re looking for a partner for the long winter, then you may have to work a bit harder. Start by planning date locations closer to the person you’re meeting. Yes, you’ll have to drive a bit farther, but it makes it that much easier for them to get there. If they’re comfortable, it can also be nice to pick them up from their place and drop them off after the date. It may sound like a work, but these small gestures will win you brownie points.

No matter how you slice it, dating in the winter time is hard. Finding singles, then convincing them to meet you when it’s below freezing is an art most of us aren’t trained in. If you’re having a bit of trouble finding that special someone to spend time with, don’t shame yourself—it’s very common. Keep trying and the yeses will come.