How To Write An Online Dating Profile – 10 Tips To Write A Great Profile For Online Dating

Once you have selected the online dating service that you want to use, it’s time to start writing your online profile. Writing your profile is very important. While your photos might draw in prospective dates, it’s your profile that will make them want to know more, so your profile needs to capture your personality while putting your best foot forward and showing off your attributes.

Here are 10 tips for writing a winning personal profile for online dating:

Hold some things back – If the first thing a potential match sees in your profile is that you are in the middle of a nasty divorce or you just lost your job they will probably not stop to check you out. It’s good to be honest, but you need to keep some things that might not show you in a positive light under wraps at first.

You shouldn’t reveal too much personal information. Your online profile also should be clear about what you are looking for to prevent any confusion and to help narrow down your choices. Writing an online personal profile for a dating site is a real art form.

Watch your tone – You should also always keep in mind the tone of your profile. Sometimes, dry humor or sarcasm doesn’t translate well to the Web. When you think that you have written something that might come across more harsh or bitter than you meant it to be, make sure you have a friend or loved one read it over to see what the tone is before you post it.

Make your introductory line unique – Creating a unique opening line that shows off your personality can take some thought but it’s worth it. Don’t use a traditional line that a million other people have used like “SWF seeking Husband” or “DWM seeking College Cutie.” Put some effort into making your opening line fun and personal.

If you like gardening, then try something like, “Green thumb seeks matching gardening glove” or “Dog lover seeks partner for romps at the dog park.” To keep your opening line fresh, try changing it every few weeks. This will also help you draw new potential dates.

Post current photos – Photo posting can get tricky. You should post photos that show the real you, so they should be current. You should post two photos. One should be a close up of your face and one should be a larger, full body shot if possible. Don’t feel intimidated if you don’t look like a super model. It’s important to be up front about your appearance.

When posting photos, you should also think about what the photos say about you. If you’re looking for a long term relationship you should probably not post photos of yourself drunk in a bar with your friends. If you’re looking for a serious relationship, avoid posting photos that are too provocative.

Your photos are representing you, so choose carefully. Your photos don’t have to be professionally done, but the photos should be clear and focused. Your photos should show your personality so consider posting a photo of yourself doing something you enjoy.

No checklists – You might have an internal list of qualities that you want your potential mate to have, but don’t post that list in your profile. If your profile contains a laundry list of qualities that you demand in a mate it will scare away a lot of potential dates. It makes you look shallow and calculating.

Lose the lists. There will be plenty of time to consider how each date rates with the list once you’ve actually had a date. When you are describing your ideal date, don’t list more than three qualities that you want your potential mate to have. This will help keep your expectations realistic and make you look more attractive.

Think small – Even though you might have a lot to say, it’s important to make sure that you write in small chunks. Keep each paragraph to three or four sentences and use lots of small paragraphs instead of a long essay.

Remember, this isn’t a resume; it’s to show off who you are. Organize your thoughts. Use short sentences and keep the information simple. You don’t need to go into great detail about your job, your education, or other accomplishments. Leave that information to discuss on your first date.

Instead, talk about things that will reveal some of your personality. Talk about a book that you loved and why it touched you. Or write about the first rock concert you attended and why it was memorable.

Make it funny – Having a sense of humor is a highly desirable quality. Most people look for partners who have a good sense of humor. Keep the tone of your profile light and interject some humor here and there. A good way to do that is to write about a situation where you looked foolish or were embarrassed and make fun of it to show that you have a sense of humor and can laugh at yourself.

Talk specifically about your hobbies – Making your interests seem too broad is a common mistake that people make when filling out online profiles. Most people put too many general interests down as hobbies.

Do you really like to walk on the beach, go for long walks, and watch sunsets? Talk specifically about what you like to do instead of writing what you think sounds good.

If you like to ride horses, talk about how you got into riding horses and how often you ride, whether or not you have a horse, and facts like that. If you like to go to baseball games, say that you like baseball and what your favorite team is and how many games you usually go to each season.

It’s ok to only talk about one or two hobbies. Being specific about one or two things is better than being vague and listing five or nine hobbies. Don’t talk about more than three hobbies in your profile.

Make a pitch – Remember that you’re selling yourself in this profile. Your profile is to tell people why they should get to know you. Don’t put anything negative about yourself in your profile. You need to sell yourself as if you were selling a product. In one of your last paragraphs, write three reasons that you are fabulously exciting and unique. Tell the truth, but put the most positive spin that you can on the truth.

Be confident but don’t brag – Bragging is a big turn off. Confidence is a big turn on. Do you know the difference? Make sure that your profile shows you as being confident but not bragging.

Sometimes, it can be hard to know the difference. If you’re not sure if your profile makes you sound boastful instead of confident, read it out loud. Would you think that the person behind those words was bragging or just confident? If the words sound like you’re bragging, you need to keep editing.

Editing your online personals profile is a process. Be prepared to take some time and really put some thought into your profile. The difference between finding the love of your life or not could come down to how well written your profile is.

Filed under: Online Dating

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