How to Write a Great Online Dating Profile
For some people, writing an online dating profile comes
naturally - it may even be considered fun and interesting. But for
many singles, creating an online profile can be just as stressful
as building a resume - or climbing Mount Everest. If you find
yourself in the latter category, you're not alone. You're correct
in assuming that what you write in your online dating profile will
be what makes the strongest first impression. But if you focus on
your goal instead of on the task, you'll find it significantly
easier. Here are some tips for writing an interesting and
eye-catching online dating profile:
- Add a picture. Studies show that profiles with
pictures get over 50% more hits than those without pictures. You
may not love the way you look, but your potential mate hopefully
will. In the world of online dating, there is only so long you can
hide behind your computer screen. Exposing your face from the
beginning will help you overcome that initial discomfort and will
let your future dates know what to expect from you.
- Be conversational. Write like you speak. When
you meet people for the first time, you want them to be comfortable
with you right from the start. If your online dating profile and
online communication is overly formal, terse, or doesn't truly
represent who you are, it will prevent the right type of person
from getting interested in your profile.
- Spell check is your friend. Remember to run
your dating profile through a spell checker before submitting it.
If the online dating site submission tool doesn't include one,
write the dating profile out in your favorite word processor to
take advantage of this feature. Making sure that everything is
spelled properly is an easy way to put your best foot forward.
- Be specific, don't use passive voice, use
nouns. That was 3 in one, but they're related to each
other. Basically you don't want your dating profile to sound tired
or stuffy and all of these no-nos can help you avoid sounding that
way. If you want to tell a story about your weekend hike, include
details like where you were hiking to, how your dog liked swimming
in the lake, etc. There are thousands of singles who enjoy hiking.
You'll want to make yourself stand out even if you have traditional
tastes. Likewise, if you're talking about a movie you just saw,
don't just say you loved it, go over your favorite scene and why
it's your favorite - without being overly verbose. It's never a bad
idea to make yourself stand out in an interesting and positive
way.
- Update your profile regularly. There are a
couple of reasons for this suggestion. First, keeping the content
fresh can only help, people will read profiles multiple times and
if yours is stale, they'll know it. Second, many of the top online
dating sites feature profiles that are the most recent, so updating
yours regularly will help you get the attention you're looking
for.
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