5 ways to get more dates

June 25, 4:26 PMDallas Dating ExaminerLeah Shafer

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If there's one question a dating columnist gets more than any other, it's "How do I meet someone new?" So I've put together this list of five easy ways to get more dates immediately.

1. Spend 20 minutes a day on an online dating site
Make the commitment for just one month to spend at least 20 minutes a day combing through your matches and letting others on the site know that you are interested. And accept offers for casual meet-ups even if you're not 100 percent sure that the person is Mr. or Ms. Right. You'll be amazed how much fun you will have just meeting new people.

2. Ask more people for a casual coffee
Dating is a numbers game. Say this to yourself any time you get discouraged. Every bad date is one closer to meeting someone fantastic, and that practice will serve you well. So ask lots of different kinds of people to join you for a latte. It's a 30-minute time commitment that can be stretched into something more if you truly dig the person.

3. Lower your standards
I mean this in a good way--sometimes our ideas of finding someone perfect get in the way of the reality of other people being human. If someone seems remotely interesting, invite him or her for a casual coffee. Don't let what you think you know about a person stop you from a 30-minute chat that could reveal a lot more in common than you think.

4. Compose an e-mail to friends and family asking them to set you up with someone single they know.
You'd be amazed how often the response you get back is "Oh, yeah. There is that really nice guy who lives down the street" or "I know a woman at the office who is gorgeous!" You don't have anything to lose.

5. Get a mini makeover
Confidence is a major part of the dating game, so spend a little cash for a new haircut and hit the mall for a new outfit. Go to a nicer department and talk to the sales people about what kind of styles would look best on your body and listen. Ask a friend for ideas about your look. When you feel sexy and confident, you are more likely to attract like-minded people.