Online dating profiles are the equivalent of meeting someone in person in terms of representing yourself and what it is that you are interested in.
The sites we have mentioned all make creating a profile fairly easy, with prompts and questions. They also show examples of effective profiles.
Experts agree that keeping it simple and being honest are two of the most important factors in creating a profile. But creating a power profile takes more than that, David DeAngelo, author of the program Meeting Women Online says that your profile is like a "vending machine, put in the right location where there are hungry people going by, and it can make you money 24/7."
Your Online dating profile acts in the same way, and David's program offers years of experience and proven techniques on creating profiles that get constant attention, as well as other winning strategies for dramatically improving your Online dating response rate.
Remember what your folks taught you about first impressions? It still matters Online.
We will be covering more of David's strategies in later chapters but a simple tip he mentions that guys often overlook when writing a profile is to use Spell-check.
You do not have to be Earnest Hemmingway when writing a profile, but obvious spelling errors make you look lazy - a definite turn-off to women.
You really want to make sure that you can present yourself in the best possible light, while maintaining the honesty and sincerity of who you are. There is no sense in creating a false image of yourself if you are serious about eventually making the transition from online dating to offline meetings.
1.) Create a Positive Self Image
Avoid using negative wording, such as hate, not, never, etc.
As obvious as this may seem, many online profiles are filled with negative statements that are naturally overlooked by potential partners who aren't interested in getting involved with someone who has a negative outlook on life.
By focusing on positive reflections and phrasing, you will be able to create an appealing profile that attracts a large number of possible mates, as well as ensuring that the people who contact you are equally as positive.
Example of positive versus negative phrasing:
Positive: 'I prefer women who love the outdoors".
Negative: 'I hate women who never like to go outside.'
2.) Describing Yourself
When it comes to summarizing your likes, dislikes, and essentially who you are, you want to describe yourself in the most appealing way possible, while once again, being honest.
Balance this out by showcasing your interests, and describing why you'd make a great partner, while avoiding coming across as someone who is egotistical or self involved.
Confidence is exceptionally attractive but you need to make sure that you are approachable, and that those reviewing your profile will feel that they could be comfortable with you.
3.) Be Memorable
When it comes to online dating, there are literally thousands, if not millions of profiles available online. You need to make sure yours stands out in a positive way.
The more information you can provide about yourself and you're your lifestyle, the better.
Instead of summarizing your interests, take the time to provide a thorough, detailed overview of what you are all about. Use creative wording and detailed phrasing so that you can give people a real, solid idea of who you are.
Example: Rather than simply stating that you like music, describe the exact type of music you like, as well as specific artists or genres.
The same goes for sports, hobbies or other interests.
The more detailed you are, the more likely you're your profile will receive a lot of exposure and attention from potential mates who would rather contact someone who isn't afraid to provide a lot of information about themselves, versus those with very short profiles that fail to offer useful information.
4.) Keep Your Profile Updated
Once you create your profile, you will want to make sure that should your situation change, you update your information accordingly.
Since many online dating sites will display the date of the last log in as well as the last time the profile was modified, keeping it fresh and updated will show that you are still actively involved in the dating community, and are still looking for potential partners.
5.) Keep it Simple.
Keeping your profile on target and focused is extremely important. While you want to provide as much information about yourself as you feel comfortable with, you also want to avoid running off with long paragraphs or repetitive phrasing.
Since people tend to skim over profiles that are too lengthy, you need to balance out providing enough information to attract interest with ensuring that it doesn't take the reader a lot of time to digest the information you're offering.
6.) Take Your Time With Your Profile
If you are serious about finding potential mates online, you need to take time when creating your profile. The most successful online dating members have spent hours tweaking their profiles over the course of their time participating within the communities.
Remember, your profile is the single most important element in regards to your online dating account, as it is the digital representation of who you are.
This is where people find you, decide to contact you, or skip you over simply because someone else has taken the time to craft a more detailed, entertaining and useful profile page.
Consistently update your profile as you find time. Add in new photos of yourself, and do your best to keep it interesting, light and of course, informative.
If you struggle creating your profile, spend some time browsing through the community and looking over other profiles to help you become familiar with the profile layout, as well as be able to generate fresh ideas on what you should include and perhaps, what should be left out.
A well through out, carefully planned profile shows, and will maximize your chances of finding that perfect partner.
7.) Photos Are Very Important
Looks may not be everything, but the fact of the matter is Profiles without pictures just do not get the kind of traffic that those with pictures do, according to match.com women are 8.5 times more likely to look at your profile if it has your snapshot.
And members in general with photos get up to 15 times more overall attention than those without one. But you picture doesn't have to be formal.
Remember this is not a job interview; we are out here to have FUN. Don't be afraid to be a little whimsical and show your humorous side, but don't be too silly or goofy as that can turn some women off.
The number one rule when it comes to posting a picture on your profile is to just be sure to use one that is an honest representative of your real looks so there are "no surprises" in real life.
Most Online experts agree not to choose a photo that is overtly sexual or provocative, (unless of course that is what you are looking for, on one of the adult sites we talked about).
It is better to err on the side of being conservative, you can always post something a little sexier later if you desire, but it's hard to take back something that may have made the wrong initial impression.
Since all of the recommended sites offer some type of Free Trial membership that allows you to test the waters a bit, take the time to play a little until you find the one that is right for you, before you make the commitment of a paid subscription.