OurTime was specifically created for older singles, so in theory it seems like the perfect choice.
But does this dating site actually work in practice?
These OurTime reviews have the info you need to decide if this is the best dating site for over 50 singles, or if you should spend your time and money on a site like Match.com instead.
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The Good, The Bad, And The Annoying
Like any online dating site, OurTime has it pluses and minuses.
On the plus side, it is an easy-to-navigate dating site that is owned by the same company as Match.com. They’re completely legit and know what they are doing.
On the minus side, there’s a fairly large overlap in users between Match.com and OurTime.
If you already happen to be paying for a Match subscription, OurTime might not always be the best investment. Especially if you’re strapped for cash.
Between the two sites, Match.com actually has the higher volume of users in the 40+ age bracket, and their fastest growing demographic is users who are 50+. So it might be best to start searching there instead.
But if you can afford to be on them both, OurTime does have its fair share of attractive, eligible singles.
Here are some more pros and cons to ponder first:
PROS:
- You can easily filter your search results by zip code, making it easy to find singles if you’re a “winter in AZ, summer in NY” type.
- Setting up an account takes just a few minutes, and the site itself is easy to navigate.
- The live chat, voicemail, and private call features help weed out any scammers and fake profiles.
CONS:
- The user pool isn’t as large as a mainstream site like Match.com, so if you’re in a smaller city or rural area your matches might be limited.
- Posting a profile is free, but you will have to upgrade to unlock most of the site’s features, including sending and reading messages.
- If you’re a 50+ guy looking to date a much younger woman (i.e. in her 20s), you’re better off trying a “seeking arrangement” type site.
Should You Try OurTime?
If only one dating site will fit into your budget, go with Match.com. But if you’re able to swing a few more paid sites, OurTime is a great option for meeting 50+ year-old singles.
Is OurTime A Free Dating Site?
No, although it is free to join. It doesn’t cost anything to write a profile, post pictures, and use all the search features, but you’ll need a premium subscription to read and reply to your messages.
There’s obviously zero point in using a dating site if you can’t communicate with other members, so plan on investing in one.
OurTime costs around $30 for a single month, less if you purchase a longer membership.
Prices may vary according to your location and any promotions the site may be running at the time.
For an additional fee, upgraded members can use the “ConnectMe” feature to talk and text with other users via a computer generated phone number.
That means you can keep your personal phone number private.
You can leave voicemails on the site as well, or send messages in real time via a pop up window. ConnectMe is only available to singles in the US.
Other OurTime premium perks include:
- Send, read and reply to your messages
- See who viewed your profile or marked you as a favorite
- See who sent you a “flirt”
- Check out who “liked” your photos
| PRO TIP: Always send messages to interesting members who viewed, liked, or favorited your profile. She’s much more likely to respond to your icebreaker if she’s already checked you out. |
OurTime Tokens
Members can also purchase Tokens that can then be used to access four additional features:
- Notify Me – You’ll be notified whenever a specific member logs into OurTime over the next 7 days, and lets that member know you’re interested in them.
- Promote Me – Your profile will be placed at the top of local singles’ search results for 60 minutes.
- Match Me – This puts your profile into a specific member’s daily matches, so you can see if the interest is mutual.
- Virtual Gift – These are images you can send a match you’re particularly interested in. You can choose from a selection of 8, ranging from a single red rose for 10 tokens to a diamond necklace for 75 tokens.
The first three features all cost 20 tokens per use. Tokens are purchased in bundles of 25 for 99 cents, 110 for $3.99, or 280 for $9.99.
Getting Started On OurTime
If you decide to give OurTime a try, setting up an account couldn’t be easier.
When you first join, you’ll be prompted to give your country, zip code, and first name, then create a password.
Next put in your birth date and email address, and then it’s time to write your profile and upload your photos.
As part of your profile, you can choose to answer simple questions like “Do you enjoy cooking” from a pull-down menu of answers.
But the real meat and potatoes of your profile consists of three 140-character sections: In A Nutshell, About The One I’m Looking For, and I’d Just Like To Add.
| PRO TIP: Apply the “show, don’t tell” philosophy to your profile. Instead of writing a boring list of adjectives like I’m well-traveled, cultured, and adventurous, tell her a story that illustrates those qualities – like the time you went to Paris and toured a vineyard via horseback. Researchers have found this approach is much more attractive to potential partners. |
Writing an irresistible dating profile is a one-time effort, and when you’re investing in a monthly subscription, you also want to invest the proper amount of time in setting up the most attractive profile possible. It will pay off when you attract the attention of more high-quality women.
Click here for everything you need to know about writing an online dating profile that gets results.
Choosing Your OurTime Dating Photos
Of course, you could have a profile penned by Hemingway or Dickens, but if your photos don’t pass muster you’re sunk.
You want to choose photos were you look like you’re enjoy life to the fullest – you’re happy, energetic, and having a great time.
Research shows that for the 50+ crowd, these qualities are more appealing than just choosing photos where you look good.
Part of the allure is that the older you get, the more important building a relationship based initially on friendship (rather than sexuality) becomes. Not only that, but 81% of singles would rather see photos of your everyday activities.
So basically, you want to choose photos that will make her want to spend time getting to know you, because you seem like a interesting man to be around.
For even more tips on how to choose the best online dating photos, click here.
The rest of your profile is easy to set up, simply go to the “Settings” button at the top right of the screen, and select “My Profile” from the pull down menu.
From that screen, you can fill out your particulars like education level, religious and political beliefs, eye color, etc.
You can also describe what you’re looking for in an ideal partner, add any additional information you’d like your matches to know about you, and answer the personality questions.
There’s also a “My Interests” section that allows you to choose 3 interests from a selection of many.
It’s important to fill this out, as you never know what might spark a connection with a match. This will also increase your odds of showing up in any “Keyword” searches your matches might do.
Time-Saving OurTime Search Tip
OurTime will suggest daily matches, but you’ll also have full run of the member database.
The search process is pretty straightforward. You can search all the members using various criteria to filter them by your preference, or you can narrow the field by “who’s viewed me,” “online now,” and via a keyword search.
The keyword search is your best friend when it comes to messaging, because you can use it to save yourself a bundle of time.
Let’s say you want your ideal partner to share your passion for skiing. Do a keyword search for singles who have “skiing” in their profiles, and boom – you can send this skiing-related copy and paste message to any of the matches who intrigue you:
And here’s the really great thing – all of them will assume your read their profile, because you’re mentioning a specific interest they wrote about!
Once you’ve got a handful of template messages you can send around your main interests, starting an online dating conversation will be a breeze. Get plenty of ideas for icebreaker messages here.
You Don’t Have To Go It Alone
Of course, starting the convo is only the first step. You’ve got to keep it going long enough to build up trust and attraction, then recognize when it’s time to ask her out.
But don’t worry, no matter which online dating site you choose to use, you don’t have to try and figure everything out on your own. Writing your profile, choosing your best photos, knowing what to say in a message… this certainly isn’t something you learned in school.
Modern dating can be overwhelming and even frustrating when the technology and responses aren’t getting you where you want to be. If you want to get results fast, you need to do everything right the first time.
You probably have a mechanic, a plumber, or a yard guy, right? So why not have an dating expert at your disposal to help you navigate this new world and get dates with the people you really want to meet?
Here at VIDA, our team of professionals can handle everything for you, from start to finish. We do the hard work, all you have to do is show up!
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