Over the past few months, there's been a growing trend in the online dating industry of hiring outside agents to manage individual dating profiles.
Whether it involves hiring a dating coach or bringing on a virtual assistant, the face of the industry is starting to change.
Both positions exist to help singles best position themselves to meet other quality singles.
The means used to accomplish that goal could be debated for days, but bear in mind that these options are becoming more common place.
Let's start with the dating coach, which I see as a very valuable tool.
The coach schedules time with their client, usually two to three times per week, to make sure that they've got their profile positioned properly.
The coach walks them through the entire process of getting their profile established (including assisting in writing the best profile, choosing the best profile picture and headline, as well as making sure they've chosen the best site).
Once the profile is in place and set up properly, they move onto the second phase of working a dating site which is getting their client into a face to face meeting (date) with other singles.
They serve as a sounding board for their customer; the advice and support they give their clients goes a long way to helping them find their best match.
The second option is the use of a Virtual Assistant; this is where things start to get a little murky.
Virtual Assistants (VA's) have the primary focus of trying to take care of all the initial correspondence with members of the opposite sex while trying to set up a first date.
Their focus is on getting this date set up, which is what gets them their commission.
Your VA is very much like a modern day Cyrano De Bergerac.
They write and interact with their prospective targets and they are very good at what they do.
The benefit of both of these services is they help their clients address the major issues of working a dating site.
The first is the issue of time.
These services are a home run for singles who work a ton of hours and want to make the most of their limited time online.
The second benefit is for those who struggle with writing.
Navigating a dating site requires the ability to communicate well using the written word.
Almost everything on a dating site is done using the written word, from setting up a profile, to initiating contact via chat or email, to developing the initial stages of a relationship.
I have always advised that it is most important to be truthful and up front when being involved with online dating.
Present yourself as you are and make sure to make it a point to represent yourself as you really are.
Of the two options listed, I can easily endorse the use of hiring a Dating Coach to help someone accomplish their goals.
Dating Coach's assist their clients in positioning themselves, but their clients ultimately end up doing all of the work and take care of establishing their relationships on their own.
In my opinion, the use of the Virtual Assistant is something I just don't find to be ethical.
It is a false representation of who you are and I think it uses deceptive means to set up that first date.
I don't think it's fair to the other single who believes they are in the process of establishing a relationship with another single, not some ghost writer who could care less about who they are conversing with.