However, online dating only works when daters put in the effort. Adding the first picture that appears in your Facebook profile and describing yourself with a half-hearted quote found via Google might be appealing, but usually doesn’t work. Finding the person you may spend the rest of your life with is a big deal, so taking the time to ensure that you’re doing your best to meet them is worthwhile. The main section that needs to be perfect is the online dating profile since this is where anyone interested will make a stop before approaching you. Here are a few golden rules to follow when writing your online dating profile:
Honest profile description
Stay away from cliches and pre-made phrases. You may love taking long walks on the beach, but there are thousands of other profiles stating the same thing. If you want to make an impression, you should come out with something different and interesting that can be used as a conversation starter. And what’s more unique than yourself? Every human is different, so you can never go wrong by describing who you are.
Be honest as well. Lying on your online dating profile may get you a first date, but usually nothing more. Although being completely honest – flaws and all – may give you fewer matches, these will be from people who genuinely like you, increasing the chances of forming a couple who are perfect for each other.
Describe yourself and be specific
The profile description should focus on defining your activities, beliefs, and personality. You should look at your profile as something that someone can use as an icebreaker when getting in touch with you, and the best conversation starters have a common theme to talk about. In other words, tell your visitors what you like to do and try to be specific about it. If you love to travel, write about the last place you visited or the countries you’ve been to so far.
While activities already give a sense of what you could do together, it’s also essential to describe your main beliefs. For example, if you’re against animal cruelty, you’re not going to go out with someone who hunts animals for sport. Include your life values that need to be shared 100% by your possible date.
Unless you’re using a dating website that shares your personality traits (like eHarmony does), describing your personality is a big plus. It’s no coincidence that the most popular dating apps make you do a personality test when creating an account: it’s scientifically proven that having matching personalities is essential for a happy relationship. It’s a no-brainer that if you’re looking for a serious and long-term relationship, you should include a phrase or two about your personality.
Three quarters about yourself, one quarter about what you want
In the end, you should also describe what you’re looking for. Don’t come up with a long list of features, though: think about your main desires and stick with those. Amazingly, most people end up with someone who doesn’t actually tick all their boxes. So unless it’s a big fat ‘no’, don’t address it on your profile.
Make it short and no spelling mistakes
While most of what has been written so far will change drastically depending on who’s reading, there are some technical steps to follow that can make or break an excellent online dating profile. Proofreading is a must since daters usually skip past profiles with spelling mistakes – even if they aren’t sticklers for grammar. Furthermore, you want to make sure that your description isn’t as long as a best seller. Instead, try to stick with brief sentences that are easy to read and absorb. There will be time to reveal more about yourself when you go on a first date.
Daniel C.
Inês P.
