If you're looking for love online, there's one area you need to pay close attention to - your online dating profile. Your profile can make or break your chances of finding love online. It's what people see when they land on your page. They don't see you in person, so you need to ensure you put your best foot forward. Go all out to make a strong impression so you're just a click away from finding love.
1. Fill Out Your Profile Completely
The first tip for setting up a good online dating profile is to fill it out completely. If you take a look at the profiles on an online dating website, you will discover that many of them are incomplete. People often get lazy when it comes to filling out their profiles, and there's a notion that people looking for love online don't take the time to read long profiles, but that's not true. Someone serious about finding a serious person online would take the time to read their profile.
They want to know who you are. They don't want to reach out to a random person, a complete stranger. Yes, you are a stranger, but they want to know certain things about you before reaching out. So, how can they do that if your profile is incomplete? There's little to nothing to give them an idea of the kind of person you are.
There's a reason we have several sections on an online dating profile. Those sections aren't there for show. They're there so you can tell people, tell the world, who you are. By reading your profile, someone will know what you are and what you're all about, and they can decide whether you're a good match or not.
If you haven't filled out your online dating profile and it's scanty on information, you should start there. Go back to it and take the time to fill it out completely so that when your person comes online and lands on your page, they have all the information they need to be convinced you are the right one for them. You don't want to miss out on that opportunity, do you?
2. Upload the Right Photos
Photos are one of the first things that come to mind when you think about setting up an online dating profile. You want to look good. You want the world to see you in all your awesomeness. While you're doing that, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, stay away from photos that just have a studio background or backdrop. Those kinds of photos say nothing about your personality. You want to upload photos that say a thing or two about who you are, photos that showcase your physical environment.
If you like to cook, you should upload photos of yourself in the kitchen. If you're someone who likes to go to the beach, you should upload photos of yourself on the beach.
By doing that, you're telling people who you are. Someone who loves going to the beach and sees your photo would be more interested in getting in touch with you because they can see that you have something in common. You might also want to avoid uploading too many selfies. Selfies make you look self-absorbed, like you just want all eyes to be on you. You want to be the center of attraction. It's all about you.
Another thing you want to do is stay away from group photos. It's your profile we're talking about, not a class reunion. When people are on your profile, they want to know who you are. They want to be able to identify you without having to rack their brains. When you're with a group of people in a photo, it's harder for people to identify you. These are total strangers. They don't know you yet. Make it easy for them to see your face clearly.
Upload photos of yourself in environments or settings you like so people get a sense of what you enjoy. A lot of people want to look sexy in their profile photos. It's okay to be sexy, but you need to tone it down. Don't go overboard. You don't want to expose your body in your photos. You will look desperate, like you're trying too hard, and serious-minded people may not like that.
Less is more. Just show the right amount of skin. Don't push too hard. Don't put everything out there. You'll only attract the wrong attention. You'll probably attract people looking for a one-night stand or a hookup. If you want something more, you should cover up a little. Look good, look decent, look presentable, but not desperate.
3. Give a Clear Description of Yourself
Now that you've uploaded the right photos, take it a notch higher by describing yourself completely. There are so many people on that website. Understand that you're not there for everybody. You can't be there for everybody, so leaving your profile open and hoping that many people will contact you isn't a good idea.
You need to get specific by thoroughly telling people who you are, what makes you tick, what you're passionate about, and what turns you on. If you're a good listener, say so. If you love to travel, show it. What do you love to do for fun? List everything out. If you love hiking, skydiving, or road trips, say it in your profile.
When someone who loves doing the same things as you reads your profile, that person will be interested in getting in touch with you. By doing that, you've sieved out the crowd. You've sieved out the people who don't belong in your category. Don't leave your profile hanging. People aren't mind readers. They can't tell the kind of person you are if you don't tell them.
You need to voice it. You need to literally write it. What are you passionate about? What do you want to do in life? What are your ambitions? What are your goals? What are the things you look to do with a partner? Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Part of going online to find a date is putting yourself out there. If you're holding back because you don't want people to see who you are, you're probably not cut out for online dating.
If you are serious about finding a date online, you need to get to the crux of it. Let people know those little details about yourself, like your favorite color and your favorite meal. It might seem as though you're saying too much, but you are not. You want to make sure that whoever is contacting you knows what they are getting into.
By sharing these details, you're giving prospects icebreakers. If you list in your profile that you love skydiving, someone might mention it in their first message to you, and that will be a great icebreaker. The limelight is on you in your profile. Grab it and show that special person all the good stuff you're made of. Make it look so interesting and irresistible that they can't wait to get in touch with you.
4. Focus on the Positives
There's a long list of things you don't like, and you should list them all on your profile, but writing all those negative things makes you look like a negative person. When someone is reading, you won't be there to explain what you truly meant. It's just them and your words.
Focus on the positives and leave the negatives alone. By focusing on the positives, you are indirectly saying that you don't want the opposite of those positives. If you don't want to be with people who are on the big side in terms of weight, you could say that you are looking to meet people who are passionate about health and fitness. You just stated what you want and what you don't want without sounding rude or condescending.
Saying you don't want fat people would sound rude and could be misinterpreted. To avoid misunderstanding, focus on the positives. Serious-minded people take offense at condescending statements. One disrespectful comment could keep someone great from reaching out to you. Drop all the negativity. Be positive. Express yourself with excitement. Let people see the excitement in your profile. No room for negativity.
5. Be Clear About What You Are Looking For
You're not there for everybody. You can't be there for everybody, so clearly state who you want in your life. If you don't, you'll attract many people and realize that half of them aren't what you're looking for.
List the traits you're looking for in your prospective date and state them clearly so anyone who contacts you knows whether they fit your list. This saves you the trouble of investing time only to find out they do not meet your standards. Be upfront from the outset. Make sure whoever is contacting you has something in common with you, so you stand a better chance of making things work out between you, too.
6. Proofread for Spelling and Grammar
After filling out your profile, make sure it looks good. Errors are a huge turn-off. Take your time to go through it word-for-word. This makes you come across as serious-minded and attentive to detail.
Don't give people a headache just because they are reading your profile. Remember, an online dating profile is about putting your best foot forward. Make sure everything is on point from start to finish. Dot the i's and cross the t's. No grammatical errors, no blunders.
Creating a good online dating profile is halfway through the journey. Once it's well set up, other things will naturally fall into place. Remember to be truthful. Whatever information you provide must be accurate. Misleading people will backfire in the long run.