Have you been on a date where you felt incredible chemistry and got excited about the relationship’s potential, and then after a few more dates, for some reason it just fizzled out? Maybe you were left disillusioned. You wondered what happened to that initial spark that fueled the first date? Does it just go away? Was it really there in the first place?

The problem with relying on chemistry to tell us whether or not we should pursue a relationship is that it leaves us feeling confused, heartbroken and often disappointed. Chemistry is a heady feeling, but it’s not indicative of anything but that particular moment. Chemistry can be fleeting, and it can be misguided. We’re often drawn to people who aren’t really right for us, but we pursue them because of chemistry, most of the time falling for them before we even get to know them.

But why can’t we trust chemistry? While you might want to feel that confirmation of attraction for someone else, the truth is – chemistry is dodgy. You don’t really know who the person is after one date, or even a few. You are really taking that feeling of chemistry and applying a fantasy to it – and to your date. This is a recipe for disaster if you don’t take your time and really get to know him.

But why wait? You didn’t imagine that the chemistry was there – you actually felt it. And he seemed to as well. Shouldn’t you just go along for the ride?

Chemistry is very attractive, and if you want to go for it, you can. But dive in with your eyes wide open. Chemistry doesn’t mean lasting relationship – and I think this is where women get their hearts broken, because they are already imagining a future.

How many times has a relationship that started with such chemistry fizzled? Probably more often than you want to consider. I’m not knocking chemistry. The truth is, the chemistry might have been there, but for any number of reasons, he’s just not interested in pursuing a relationship. It might have to do with his own issues, or a former girlfriend coming into the picture, or he might not feel the same connection that you do.

The main point is – look for the signs that he’s interested before you invest heart, mind, body and soul into this man. If you are having sex, he might keep calling you from time to time until he meets someone else, and if your feelings continue to grow, it can be devastating. Know your own emotional limits, and what you are willing to endure.

If you see that he only calls you from time to time, that maybe you date once a week or a few times a month, then know he’s not interested in taking the relationship to the next level. Instead of reading into his inconsistent romantic gestures, it’s better to look at your relationship and take it at face value. It isn’t going anywhere.

If you are okay with that, then go for it and have fun, but continue to date other people. If you are not fine with his non-committal and flaky behavior, then it’s time to get real about his intentions and walk away before you get too invested. Someone better for you is out there.

Practically every business is expected to have a social media presence in 2015. When your business is a digital one, that pressure doubles. When your target audience is millennials, it triples. Dating services are all about helping people make social connections, but how socially savvy are they on their own profiles?

Digiday used proprietary data from two social media analytics firms, Unmetric and Socialbakers, to pit seven dating apps against each other in the battle for most effective social media strategy. Tinder, OkCupid, Hinge, Match.com, Zoosk, Coffee Meets Bagel and Bumble were put to the test in several different categories.

Number Of Fans

With over 13 million million Facebook likes, Zoosk has the largest social media fan base. Match and Tinder follow with over 827,000 and 369,000 fans, respectively. Twitter shows similar stats. Zoosk has the most followers by far at over 350,000. Match comes in second, with 65,000, and Tinder in third, with over 56,000.

Although Tinder currently has the smallest fan base, it's also the most rapidly growing. The game-changing dating app saw its fan base grow 228 percent between January and October 2015.

Geographical Popularity

Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, Match and Zoosk all have an international crop of users, but Tinder and Zoosk are the most diverse on social. In fact, the majority of Zoosk's Facebook fans are international.

Other services proved to be particularly popular in specific countries. Hinge is big in India, while Match is favored by Canadians and Tinder has won over Brazilian singles.

Engagement Level

Zoosk is the most prolific poster on social media. The company published 226 posts between January and October, and received the most likes and comments. Despite Zoosk's high volume, Tinder took the top spot for highest average engagement and most posts shared by fans.

Bumble is a relative newcomer to the dating world, but already it's showing promise on social. The app saw over 3,000 interactions with fans on Facebook between July and October. The numbers are expected to grow.

Number Of Fan Posts And Mentions

Match.com's users are the most likely to talk about it on Facebook. More than 9,000 messages were posted to Match's wall between January and October. Hinge and Coffee Meets Bagel come next. Neither Tinder nor OkCupid had user posts on their Facebook walls. Their page settings most likely do not allow it.

Tinder leads the number of mentions on Twitter, perhaps because Twitter's audience skews younger than Facebook and Tinder attracts a similarly youthful user base. The app is followed by Zoosk and Match.com, which come in second and third with around 8,000 and 2,000 mentions apiece.

From the founder of Wyldfire, the ladies-led dating app, comes a new Snapchat-style app for online dating called Heartbeat. This may be the first time video has been so deeply integrated into the dating app format, but it won't come as much of a surprise to the tech savvy.

Snapchat is killing it in the mobile apps game. Though it skews heavily younger, it's becoming as commonplace to those of a certain generation as Facebook is to the generation before. It was only a matter of time before the competitive online dating industry attempted to steal some of Snapchat's style.

“Young people haven’t had a dating product that lets them communicate in their language,” said Brian Freeman, founder of Wyldfire and Heartbeat, in a press release. “The current dating app format feels far too hook-up-focused. Instead, Heartbeat is about establishing genuine human connection, in an instant, without allowing creeps to take the reins. This is the future of online dating.”

Safety is of the utmost importance on Heartbeat. All men interested in using the app must be pre-approved by a team of women before they can sign up. Communication can only be initiated by female users, though on Heartbeat it's live video chat (think something like FaceTime) rather than emails or text messages.

When you download the app, you will see a Heartbeat timeline – essentially a combination of Snapchat stories and an Instagram feed. Each uploaded story or "Heartbeat" will be automatically erased in 36 hours so your timeline is never overcrowded.

Female users receive one daily match suggestion selected through an algorithm called "BAE Watch." Men seeking additional search ability and compatibility suggestions from the BAE Watch algorithm can boost their membership to VIP status for an additional cost.

As an alternative matching option, women can scroll through their timelines, “like” Heartbeat videos, review profiles (a mix of a person's most recent Heartbeats and biographical information), and initiate conversations with prospective dates.

Freeman hopes that the video format will alleviate fears that users aren't talking to real people and will make users more accountable for what they say. He also hopes it will allow them to create deeper connections, by offering the opportunity to read body language and interpret tone in a way that text cannot achieve.

Heartbeat's target demographic is people in their twenties. Users in that age range are the 'digital natives' who grew up with smartphones in their hands, making them the most likely to be naturally drawn to the app.

Heartbeat officially began development only a few months ago, but the app is set to launch on November 20, 2015. To be among the first to use Heartbeat, sign up now at GetHeartBeat.co.

Having something in common is key to any successful relationship. Intimacy requires shared interests and values, which often come from religious beliefs. Enter Christian dating sites, which bring faith to the forefront in the search for love.

Niche, religion-based dating sites are a simple way to weed out those who don’t share the same fundamental values as you do, ultimately giving you a greater chance of compatibility and long-term relationship success (or, at the very least, something in common to discuss on your first date).

Christian Crush is an up-and-coming Christian dating site. Though relatively new, having only been around since 2011, Christian Crush is making a name for itself. The service offers a balance of personality-based and faith-based matching in order to create the most well-rounded experience for members.

What makes Christian Crush stand out against competition like ChristianMingle? These are a few of the reasons:

• New CC users receive their first two weeks free
• CC is the only Christian dating service that's Christian owned and operated
• CC is the only Christian dating service developed by a Christian psychologist
• CC is the only Biblical dating site using video profiles
• CC is the only Christian personals site using a derivative of the Big Five personality assessment
• Ten percent of all CC proceeds are tithed to local ministries

Christian Crush says its mission is to “provide the highest quality ministry on the web for Christians to connect and develop Godly, covenant based relationships.” In service of that goal, the company operates based on six core values that define its vision and inform its operations.

That's not to say that Christian Crush relies entirely on faith. The profile is composed of an interesting combination of religion and psychology. You'll find all the usual questions about appearance, education, politics and lifestyle, but also more specific questions about the role of religion in your life.

A detailed personality quiz offers further insight into Christian Crush members. Although it's 120 questions long, it only takes around 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire. The results are scored in accordance with a modified version of the Big Five personality assessment, which evaluates personality traits across the five categories of extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience.

Christian Crush is an innovative player in the religious dating game. It doesn't seem to follow a particular mold – it isn't secular, but it doesn't feel entirely Biblical either. Instead Christian Crush takes a new school approach to finding love based on faith, which could be exactly what it needs to claim the top spot in the Christian dating industry.

We all know that what you wear on a date gives off a certain impression of who you are. Flirty dresses are feminine and sexy, while pants and more tailored outfits convey some reserve.

But what about your lips, the starting point of any romantic triste? Apparently the color lipstick you wear says a lot about who you are and what you want.

Mashable decided to look into this phenomenon by asking Professor Karen Pine, a notable fashion psychologist and author of Mind What You Wear, The Psychology of Fashion, what her thoughts were about lipstick and dating. While all of the shades she examined were various shades of red and nude, they each provide a very distinct impression of the person wearing it. A small change in hue can make a huge difference in how your date perceives what you are really looking for.

Not surprisingly, classic red lips provide a lot of sex appeal with very little mystery. Professor Pine states: "You are sending out emotionally charged signals, wearing a color associated with passion, energy and action. You’re a bold, confident woman and one in her sexual prime."

As lipstick shades go lighter, the woman’s intentions come across as a little more mysterious. For instance, Pine notes: "Pink is the color of innocence, but you’ve added some heat too, signaling a mixed message of approach-avoidance. Your date may be confused as to what you want from a relationship..."

Purple hues indicate strength, but depending on whether you go bright or dark, you can give off different impressions. A bright fuchsia for instance indicates artistic sensibility and creativity – and you’ll likely expect your date to be interesting or at least a good conversationalist. Burgundy however is much more serious. It shows your strong, decisive character but there is an element of reserve. Your dates might feel that you take a while in getting to know someone, and they should expect to be patient.

Orange hues, much like pink, indicate a certain degree of playfulness, without any specific intention of where you want the date to go.

Neutrals and wearing no lipstick also give off a distinct impression to your date. Nude lipsticks let him know that you want to be taken seriously. Pine states: “There’s a vulnerability and sensitivity to your approach but with the right partner, you're willing to bare your soul and wear your heart on your sleeve.” Wearing no lipstick however, means business. Your no-nonsense approach to dating says “take me as I am, I have nothing to hide.”

Don’t take this article’s word for it. Why not try out a few different shades of lipstick on your next several dates, and see what kind of response you get? At least you get to have a little fun with color.

Lauren Urasek was surprised when a reporter from a major New York magazine contacted her to interview "the most popular girl on the dating site OkCupid."

The makeup artist and self-proclaimed technology nerd became an internet celebrity when the dating site declared her its most messaged female user in New York City. She made the most of her new-found notoriety, spinning it into an article for xoJane, a Tumblr blog and now a new book.

In Popular: The Ups and Downs of Online Dating from the Most Popular Girl in New York City, Urasek offers advice, personal stories and essays to help singletons navigate the crazy world of digital dating. Here are a few of her tips for making the most of your online dating experience:

1. Post photos that are flattering, varied and recent. Flatting goes without saying, but it doesn't count if your pictures are pixelated or highly filtered. Show off the real you. Group shots, sunglasses and outdated photos are also on the don'ts list. Be sure to choose a selection of snaps that feature face and body from different angles, as well as different facets of your personality.
2. Have realistic expectations. It's ok that you want to ride off into the sunset with Prince or Princess Charming. Just don't expect do it on the first date. Someone who seems awesome online may prove incompatible in person. Anticipating instant fireworks puts too much pressure on the date and is bound to lead to disappointment. Focus on more lowkey goals, like having fun and meeting new people.
3. Don't waste your time. Online dating can be a total time-suck. It's easy to fall into the trap of an endless message exchange, but writing back and forth for weeks before meeting can backfire. You don't want to go on a date only to discover that your fiery text chemistry translates to zero chemistry in person. Meet sooner rather than later so you can both move on if the spark isn't there.
4. Answer the compatibility questions. Not every dating service includes these, but if yours does, answer them. They may seem pointless or tedious, but they serve an actual purpose. Whether or not you believe in a dating algorithm's scientific accuracy, there's something to be said for knowing that you have common interests and values (or don't) with people you're interested in.
5. It's ok to be single. Despite being OkCupid's most popular female user, Urasek says she's happily single. If your swipes and messages and winks don't lead to love, that's ok too. Don't let societal pressure to couple up get to you. Being comfortable with your self is just as – if not more so – important.

Urasek's debut book Popular is available now on Amazon.