Wednesday, August 3, 2011

How to Write a Good Online Dating Profile


Your online personal ad is what makes most people decide whether to contact you or not. Getting right and your internet dating experience will most likely be a great and happy one. Get it wrong and it could be very frustrating. It is therefore important that you learn how to write a good online dating profile.

  Steps

  1.   Know what you want: This may seem easy, but ask most people why they are in online dating they will only tell you "to find a date". Being more specific will not only help you find the right dating site for you, but also make your dating profile come alive. List down what you want from the type of relationship (short term, long term or marriage), age, gender, sexual orientation. Include also, things like whether you want (or have) children.
  2.   Create a list of must haves, good to have and no-nos. Must haves are things that you can't do without. These could be passions or hobbies as well as other interests. Remember the movie "Must Love Dogs"? The title is based on a must have that was posted on a popular dating site. Good to have means just that; things your potential mate might have that you like, but could do without. The no-nos are things you can't stand or will not tolerate.
  3.   Make a list of things that make you... well, you. What makes you unique? This will help create more "fodder" for your dating profile.
  4.   Brainstorm a catchy screen name: Your screen name, also known as your handle, should be concise and easy to remember. Don't be just another "Sexygirl26" or "workingstud35". Make it meaningful. Let it say something unique about you. Try including things you like to do, what you looking for, or some activity you participate in.
  5.   Post a good photograph: The first thing that people see in your dating profile is your photo. Profiles with photographs get many more responses than those that don't. The picture should show the best of you without being pretentious. It also should show you as you look like today. And by all means, smile.
  6.   Start with a good, attention-grabbing headline: Most dating sites usually provide a box for a 100 character (typically) headline. This is perhaps the second most important aspect of your online dating profile, after your picture. It is what makes prospects decide whether or not to read the rest of your profile. Treat this the same way as your screen name. It should be meaningful and give a hint of who you are or what you want (of course, without revealing too much personal information). You could study headlines that attract your attention in your chosen dating site(s) and emulate these without directly copying them.
  7.   Be positive: The saying that "misery loves company" does not apply here. Be positive about yourself and others. Avoid saying things like "no losers please".
  8.   Be honest: If you lie, it will catch up with you somewhere down the road. You want someone who will accept you for who you are, not who you wish you were.
  9.   Start writing your profile based on your notes. Most people make the mistake of writing their profile right there on the dating site. Don't do this. Draft it on a separate piece of paper or on your favorite word processing program (such as Word, Word Perfect, Word Pad etc.). Write as fast as you can without hurrying. The objective here is to get your words down. Don't pay attention to spelling or grammar at this stage. And do write like you speak. Imagine your ideal "date" seating right there in front of you, and tell her/him what you want and why you are the best choice for her/him.
  10.   Polish: Save your profile for at least a day, and then come back and edit. Correct any grammatical and spelling errors. You can add anything you think might make the profile better or remove anything that seems needless.
  11.   Post it: Now all you have to do is post your online dating profile. You may need to edit it farther to fit a particular dating site, but the hard work is already done.




  Tips


  • The best dating profile will not serve much purpose if posted on the wrong site. This is why you should know the type of relationship you want. Basically, there are three types of dating sites; general dating sites, matchmaking sites and specialty dating sites.
  • In order for your online dating profile to truly come alive, you should strive to make yours not just specific, but make your specifics more specific. For example saying that you love James Bond movies may be specific, but adding which Bond movie one is your favorite and why is more specific. This also helps give your prospect something to say when responding.
  • Though your personal ad (another name for your profile) should "sell" you and cast you in the best light possible, you should avoid the appearance of bragging. If you're really good at something and think it might help your personal ad, attempt to present it in a neutral way. If you are good at playing the piano, for instance, you can say something like "my friends say I'm really at good the piano and love to hear me play".
  • Though you should list the things you want in a partner, avoid making it appear like a laundry list. And keep in mind that no one person will satisfy all your wants. Be flexible.
  • Here's an example of a near-perfect W4M ad: http://www.jetcityorange.com/dating/best-W4M-ever.html
  • Avoid clichés: Using clichés is not always a bad thing, but do avoid the overused ones.
  • Use capital letters and exclamation marks sparingly.
  • Have fun.


  Warnings


  • You might be tempted to go for free dating sites. Free sites largely lack oversight, have less features and are favorites for creeps. Unless your budget really doesn't allow it, go for a reputable paid site especially if you're serious about finding a soul mate. Nothing proves seriousness better than committing a few dollars to finding a partner.
  • Do not give out your personal information such as real name, address, place of work, or even favorite hangouts until you're ready to reveal more to the right person.
  • Do not use your regular email for online dating purposes. Most dating sites provide an email address for this purpose. You also can open up a new address for this purpose through one of the free email providers. Be careful if your dating service forwards emails to your regular email as replying could give away your main email address.


  Things You'll Need


  • Access to a computer with internet access. A laptop, cell phone or other similar device with an internet connection will also do.
  • At least three recent photographs of yourself. One should be a head-shot to be used as your main profile picture. Others can show other aspects of your life (such as hobbies).
  • Your lists of must haves, good to have, and no-nos.
  • A positive attitude.






  Related wikiHows




Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Good Online Dating Profile.  All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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