Writing Your Dating Profile

Although you may feel your profile on a dating site is a rather straight-forward issue, think again. This is probably the most critical part of the entire dating site sign-up process. If you write a poor profile, you are doomed to cyber single-hood or, worse-yet, future-shock when your partner finds-out that you weren’t all that you claimed to be in your minds eye.

Try to place a lot of thought into your profile and try to be creative in language and in the description of yourself for the online dating community; remember, there’s tons of competition out there and you want to create a dating profile that stands-out. Always be honest and try not to be superman or wonder-woman. Remember that everybody is human with both positive and negative attributes and nobody enjoys a proud, arrogant, narcissistic person. Don’t make yourself to be something more than you can live-up to in the realistic day-to-day life of a relationship. Doing so will eventually catch-up with you and end in a less than credible perception of you or even worse, turn in an argument that possibly leads to heartbreak when your partner learns that you are not as talented as you had expounded.

People appreciate honesty and openness…to a point. It’s not a good idea to be excessively open in the introductory description of yourself to the world that your online dating profile becomes. Try to talk about your positive attributes first, but reserve room for your frailties that cause you to be a member of the human race. Attempt to be real and don’t be afraid to admit your humanness and the fact that you are not perfect. Too many profiles attempt to portray a perfect individual who has it all together…well; do you know anybody or have you ever had a date partner who is without flaw?

Everybody has their insecurities in one area or another. Most people have a lack of confidence regarding some physical attribute; while others are insecure about their education level, family background or personal history. The powerful fact of human nature is that we can usually help ease another person’s sensitivity about their issues if we are a little bit open and honest in writing our profile regarding our own lack of perfection. Remember, you can go too far with the negative; you don’t need to talk about a prior drunk driving conviction in your profile to the world.

A very important and many times overlooked aspect of an online dating profile is the photo you upload to your dating service. While it may be the most real portal of you that you have, it’s probably not a good idea to include a picture of you waking up first thing on Christmas morning in your pajamas.

Some potential cyber-daters actually consider having a photo taken by a professional photographer or modeling agency, but I consider this overkill and may lend to a sense of trying to impress beyond what is required; this may give the perception of a shallow or egotistical individual. Go ahead and use a photo that you like, one that others say is complimentary of you. Not a good idea to use one that exposes too much skin or you may end-up with a date looking for a one-night-stand. Pick the clothes colors you know are complimentary to your complexion and hair color as you would to look good for a first date. Choose a photo without shadows and the proper frontal indoor lighting or properly positioned sunlight; avoid rear-lit situations and over exposures.

Now, you are ready to write your first online dating profile, be creative and open-up your computers keyboard to the real you. Happy dating!