With 33% of married couples meeting online, if you are single, chances are you will be writing an online profile at some point! Writing the best profile is the most important thing you can do to attract the kind of people you want to meet. You want it to be captivating, to catch people’s attention and be specific enough to attract the right people. So let’s get started.
One thing you might want to do before you start is to review other profiles of the same sex. Look for things you like and don’t like. This will give you a good feel for how to proceed to be one of the best profiles out there!
The first thing you will write is your username. This will be the only name that shows up on the site, so make it personal and interesting to catch people’s attention.
Next you will create a header. You might want to wait until you have written your profile to do this part. After reading your profile, a header might pop out at you. This should be something catchy that tells the reader something about who you are. You want this to set you apart from other profiles that are being read. This might be what attracts someone to actually read your whole profile, so make it interesting and maybe thought provoking. It can be a quote or part of a quote you really like. This is your tag line.
Next you will be writing your paragraph or full profile. The most important part here is to be honest! You need to take some time to figure out what you really want from a relationship and what kind of relationship you are looking for. Are you just looking to casually date, or are you looking to get married and have kids? You want to be honest so you avoid meeting someone who has different relationship goals than you do. It might be best to come up with a list of must haves and deal breakers before you start writing. If you are having trouble with this step, hiring a relationship specialist or coach might be helpful.
You want this section to be 40% about you and how you are unique. Include what other people say about you and how do they describe you. You can ask a few friends to help with this part if you need to. Be positive and honest, and let people know what kind of person you are, what makes you special. This is where you can let your personality come through.
Then 40% should be about the person you want to meet. This is where you will use that list of must haves you created. Be specific here, but remember to be positive. Do not use this space to talk about what you do not want. You will come across as negative and not someone to meet. Also, be careful of using clichés like, “looking for prince charming.” The remaining 20% should describe the kind of relationship you are looking for. Feel free to talk some about things you might want to share, but be open, as well, to new experiences.
Now comes the photo section. You must have at least one. If you do not have one you like, ask a friend to come over and take a few for you. Do not take the picture yourself. Make it a flattering one, but make sure it looks like you; no glamour shots. It needs to be a recent pic, and there should be at least one with a close up of your face showing your eyes and your smile. You can have a photo with a pet or your children if you want, but make sure that this isn’t the only one or the first one. The other person is interested in you.
Once you check your profile for spelling and grammatical errors, you are ready to post it. Remember to keep a positive attitude throughout this whole process and enjoy the journey!
Lori Ann Davis, MA, CRS
Certified Relationship Specialist