5 Tips for Creating a Good Dating Profile
Professional profile writers aren’t magicians. There aren’t any secrets to what you need to include (and exclude) to make your profile stand out. It’s a lot easier to build a compelling profile than it is to win casino bonuses.
Follow these basic tips and you’ll reset your dating life in no time.
Photos
If, as the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words, on a dating profile the picture accounts for much more than 1000 words. In fact, you can put up a good photo and cut down on the words by half.
Use the “album” tool to put up a bunch of photos. You don’t want to put up an excessive number of photos which may make it seem as though you have an ego problem. On the other hand, don’t include so few that you leave the viewer wondering “what’s wrong?”
Make sure that you look flattering in each photo and that many of the photos show you in “action” – engaged in a hobby or other type of activity. This will also reveal your personality traits and interests which is what potential partners want to know about you and help you spark a conversation about these activities with potential dates.
Make sure that your photos can be seen clearly on a small screen. Most people use their mobile device to monitor their online dating activities, at least some of the time. So be sure that your photos – and especially your main profile photo – display well on a mobile screen.
Display honest photos. You might be tempted to show yourself in your swimsuit – in a 10-year-old photo when you were 20 pounds lighter and in fitter shape. But dating experts say that those photos are the reason that first dates don’t turn into second dates – if you create unrealistic expectations, the person who read your profile won’t feel very confident about trusting you in the future if s/he sees that your photo misrepresented what you really look like.
Structure
Structure your profile. Keep paragraphs quick and to the point so that it will be easy to read. Create “mini paragraphs” that each tap into a different aspect of who you are.
For example, start with a short summary of your life – your age, family status, location and work. Then you can move ahead, in another paragraph, with several sentences about your hobbies/passions, special interests, family, career, etc.
A third paragraph might expand on one of those themes. If you love you job, talk about it a bit including how you got into the field, what you find challenging about your job and why you enjoy going to work every day.
Your paragraphs should be positive because you want to present yourself as a positive person. If you don’t like your job, don’t talk about it, or phrase it in a positive light, for instance: I haven’t felt very fulfilled in my professional life recently but I’ve decided to look around for a move to a situation where my skills and experience will be more valued.
Professional profile writers suggest that you create a profile that can be skimmed for information but can also be read for detail.
Conversation-Starters
Put some conversation starters in your profile. The easier it is for someone to start a conversation with you, the more likely they will stay on your profile and not move on to the next one.
Use “profile bait” to set the reader up with an easy conversation starter. For instance, you might say something like “In the next year I plan on finally exploring Ireland (where my family comes from) and taking a long awaited family trip to New York. I’m always open to new ideas. Any ideas?”
The reader of this profile now has multiple subjects with which to start a conversation including discussing:
- Family genealogy
- Ireland
- New York
- Travel experiences of their own
- Traveling with family
In addition, with these few sentences, the writer has revealed that s/he has a passion for travel, is interested in family genealogy, is comfortable traveling with family and is interested in others’ thoughts about travel.
Again, keep it real (if you don’t like to travel, look for something else to talk about) and don’t forget to add a photo or two.
Be Positive
Present yourself in the most positive manner possible. Potential daters aren’t comfortable with hearing about how you don’t like your neighbors and have trouble getting along with your roommates. It may be true, and you may have perfectly valid reasons for those feelings but you’re not going to attract anyone by highlighting negativity.
Create phrases that are positive. Instead of saying “my co-workers are boring and unintelligent” write “I love working in a work environment where my colleagues are confident and goal-oriented.” Or if you want to describe your family situation, instead of writing “I’ve been struggling as a single mother for 3 years,” think about phrasing it by saying “my biggest pride and joy is my children whose optimism and love make all the struggles of single-parenthood worthwhile.”
Honesty
Be honest. If you’re looking for a fling, say so. If you’re looking for a solid, long-term relationship, make that clear from the beginning. It’s not fair to a potential partner, or to you, if you embark on a relationship in which both partners aren’t focused on the same goal.
