Tips for Writing an Effective Online Dating Profile

If you want to get the most out of your your online dating sites, then you need to know how to write a good online dating profile. Here are some tips to get you started.

#1- Use a photo. It's sad to say, but even if everything on your profile says that you're the man/woman of their dreams, most searchers will bypass you if they don't know what you look like.

#2- Use a good photo. Did you just put up the picture from the night you were drunk and smashed your face into the window of your best friend's car because it was the only photo you could find? That picture may be marginally better than none at all, but take the time to either find a more flattering photo or actually have a new one taken. It doesn't have to be a professional shot and you don't have to look like Miss/Mr Universe, but do try to appear conscious.

#3- Use proper spelling and punctuation. Or at least try to remember to capitalize your I's. While most people aren't too bothered about the occasional typo or poor grammar- you do want your potential mate to know that you're not 12 years old. Go ahead and type the way you want once you're messaging back and forth, but try to keep in mind that your online dating profile is like your job application. You want to put your best foot forward.

#4- Don't underestimate the intelligence of others. If you make a joke on your profile don't add "hehehe" to the end. If you're intelligent enough to make the joke, assume that the person reading your profile is intelligent enough to get it. That's not to say that you shouldn't read over it and adjust as necessary or even have a friend read your profile for you before posting it, but if the person on the other hand just doesn't get your sense of humor, do you really see the relationship going anywhere anyway?

#5- Fill in as many spaces as you can without giving up your privacy. You're looking for Mr/Mrs Right, right? Do you want someone contacting you who just read your profile and thought "Wow- I can't believe what an amazing person this is!" or do you want "Gah. I'm getting desperate so maybe I'll just message them and see what happens."? That said- don't lie. Nothing is a bigger turn off or more likely to doom a relationship.

#6- Try to let your personality shine. There are a lot of profiles out there, and after a while they all begin to look alike. Don't just say "I have a great sense of humor", show it. Pretend that you're just having fun and writing up a profile to show your friends. Write a big long introduction and an exhaustive list of what you like and dislike. Then sit on it. Give it a day or two and go back to edit. What do you like about what you wrote? What's still funny two days later? Is there a way to combine that whole paragraph into a simple sentence? Cut out all the extra flab and then post it.

Following these tips will not guarantee that you'll find your one true love, but it will help you to attract a more serious potential mate. After all, when you're looking at profiles, what do you want to see?