How to make the most of online dating with Charly Lester

Learn how to find the right site for you and make your profile sparkle, at this large-scale evening course

Once the love that dare not speak its URL, online dating has come in from the cold, with 40% of singles having now used dating sites. But just because it's gone mainstream doesn't mean we talk about it. As a result, many singles feel lost in the digital dating wilderness. Whatever you're looking for – whether it's casual dates or a full-time partner in crime – Guardian Soulmates blogger Charly Lester can help. Over the course of this entertaining evening event, Charly offers advice and anecdotes drawn from her own experiences while writing her wildly popular blog, 30 Dates. Charly will then advise you how to you buff up your own online profile for maximum impact, and ensure you select the pics which put your best face forward.

Suitable for singles of any age – whether you're new to online dating or beginning to wonder if it will ever pay off – Charly offers an honest look at the realities of dating sites, and how you can make them work for you. From finding the right site for you to making your profile stand out, Charly demystifies every step, even down to offering tips on etiquette for offline meet-ups. The evening ends with an informal Q&A and mingle session, so you can meet fellow singles and swap tips, horror stories and who knows – maybe even phone numbers.

This course is for you if...

• You're new to online dating and don't know how to get started – or are bewildered by the options
• You're making a serious effort to meet someone special, and want to maximise your chances of meeting the right person
• You've had your share of online dating mishaps, and would like to avoid any more, thanks

Course description

This informal but informative evening course features anecdotes, advice and real-life examples that will help attendees compile a list of suggested websites and create a new and improved dating profile. You will also receive tips on how to create better profile pics. At the event, attendees will have the opportunity to meet other singles in a relaxed environment. Topics covered include:

• How to work out which site is right for you
• What to write in your dating profile
• What photos to use in your dating photo
• Who to approach, and how
• The reality of online dating and how to deal with rejection
• Tips for reducing first date nerves
• First date etiquette
• Online scamming and dating safety
• London date ideas

Tutor profile

Charly Lester is a blogger for the Guardian Soulmates blog, and the creator of 30 Dates, London's most popular dating blog. As well as writing regularly for both Time Out and the Huffington Post, Charly's dating advice has appeared in several national newspapers, and on BBC Radio Four's Woman's Hour. Charly is also the founder and head judge of the UK Dating Awards.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website