You know your way around a dating site or two. You’ve had some success here and there with matches and dates, but now you’re ready to step things up.
Your dating profile is your first impression. It’s the first thing people see, and it’s what most people use to get a sense of who you are and decide if they want to know more.
Sadly, there’s no Online Dating 101, so we’re here to give you the next best thing.
Here are 7 tips to take your dating profile to the next level.
Build In Conversation Starters
The best dating profiles are ones that encourage conversation. Try including conversation starters, questions, your ambitions, unusual hobbies or interests, or new year’s resolutions. Remember people online are strangers, so make it easier for them to break the ice and strike up a conversation.
Tell People Why You’re Awesome
Without bragging too hard, tell people what’s it like to be your friend. Draw from compliments your friends give you. Everyone has things that make them unique. Embrace that you won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but the people that like you will love you. Nobody likes blabbing about themselves but it is part of online dating.
It’s as simple as that. Oh, and don’t take yourself too seriously either. Show that you’re not afraid of looking silly.
Be Strategic With Your Photos
Photos are arguably the most important part of your dating profile. There are a number of things that make a good selection of photos but here are some of my favorite tips.
- Pick Action Shots: Anything showing you moving is good. Playing an instrument, throwing a ball, yoga, are all good ways to show off your hobbies and invite conversation.
- Only Use Recent Photos: If you still look a lot like your old photos then feel free to use them. But if you’ve got a totally new hair style, changed weight dramatically, or grown up a lot, take new photos. You don’t want to turn up on a date and have someone thinking you look better in your photos.
- Be The Focus: Keep the group photos to a minimum. No more than one is a good rule of thumb. People flip through dating app photos quickly. If they can’t immediately determine who you are, they’re going to pass onto the next one.
- Use a Full Body Photo: Physical attraction is part of it. Let people see your body type. No shots from 50 feet away, either.
- No Hats or Sunglasses: These obscure your face and make it difficult to see what you look like. No bueno.
Don’t Be Critical or Cynical
It doesn’t matter how rough of a patch you’re going through, nobody wants to figure through your Debbie Downer stage. It’s not going to make you feel better and it will leave a bad impression on people.
Positivity is the best policy. Say good things about yourself and others, and don’t bring up your ex.
Spell Check
Grammar and spelling are important. No two ways about it. You need to review your profile before you hit complete. If you can’t be bothered to care about the little details of your profile, you’ll come off as lazy. Not a good look.
The final step is to take your profile live. Now, get out there.