How to write a great online dating profile

Meeting new people and searching for love can be very difficult, and going out on a Saturday night for a few drinks is not always the best way of meeting the man or woman of your dreams.

How many dates have you been on that don’t work out because you have different hobbies, different tastes in music, or even different opinions? They say opposites attract, but if you like to snowboard and your date prefers to watch TV, then you might not be right for each other.

However, with online dating you can instantly see what the other person is in to. All of their hobbies and interests are shared, as well as any future plans they may have. You can even see what they look like, which makes the blind date a thing of the past!

Having all if this information right from the start saves you a lot of time, and makes finding a partner and meeting new people much easier and much faster. However, if you don’t know how to create a great profile for yourself, then you’ll be back at square one!

So whether you’re interested in joining an online dating website and creating a new profile, or even if you’ve already got a profile – please read our guide on how to write a great online dating profile, and guarantee yourself success!

What do you want?

Not an easy question, but one which needs to be answered and explained in your profile. You don’t have to go into too much detail, but it’s important you outline why you’re on a dating website and what you’re ultimately hoping to achieve.

For example, you may state that you’re looking for a casual relationship, or you may even be looking for marriage. Some people also like to visit dating websites just to meet new people and find new friends.

Girl on laptopSo whatever you’re looking for, make sure you tell everyone else and add this into your profile. It may be sometimes advisable however not to be too forward, and stating that you’re looking for a husband or wife might put people off – it all depends on the vibe of the website and what everyone else is looking for.

If you’re unsure of what to put, then our advice would be to state that you’re looking for a ‘relationship’. This is usually the happy medium which won’t put people off.

It’s important to explain any future plans you hope to have, like having children. Or you may want to move abroad one day and live a life of luxury. You must put these important needs down so everyone is aware of what you want right from the start.

Also, don’t be afraid to be even more specific as to the type of person you’re looking for. Age, gender, sexual orientation – these are all really important and help everyone else understand what you’re looking for.

We all hope to get lots of messages through dating websites, but it’s a bit pointless if they don’t tick your boxes!

Things you don’t want

This is just as important as the things you do want! So even though you may think you’re being too picky, try to remember that there could be some things that you just couldn’t accept.

It could be that you don’t like people who smoke, or it could be that you’re only looking for people that have kids because you have children of your own.

If these things are important to you, then it’s vital you put this in your profile. You wouldn’t want to meet this person and find out these things later. It’s just a waste of time, and it’s important you take advantage of the dating profile and make these things clear from the start.

Tip – try not to be too picky, and don’t make this into a shopping list. You have to be flexible and make some exceptions; otherwise you may be single for a long time!

Hobbies and interests

Listing your hobbies and interests is a given when it comes to dating profiles, but a lot of people still get this part wrong. Most people think they can just list them like they do on a CV, but it’s important to remember how passionate you are about these interests, and then make everyone else know this too!

BikingIf you love watching films, then don’t hesitate to list your favourites. The same goes for music – make sure you tell everyone who your favourite band is and mention how many times you’ve been to see them. If someone else reads your profile and share the same interests, then you are on to a winner.

You could be a keen traveller and have just come back from somewhere amazing, so why not tell everyone about it on your profile. Everyone loves to read positive and passionate profiles because it shows everyone that you are a positive and passionate person.

Try to use phrases like, “I had such an amazing time travelling the world for the past 3 months, and I still can’t stop smiling.” Or, “I love to watch films, especially the Hunger Games. Jennifer Lawrence is my favourite actress.”

Profile name

It may not seem very important, but having a great profile nickname might just be the deciding factor when someone is considering reading your profile.

If someone checks out your picture and likes what they see, the next step they may take is to read the nickname you’ve created. If it’s cheesy or rude then you may put people off instantly, and they may never get to see the amazing profile you’ve written about yourself.

Some of the most common names which can put people off are things like ‘sexybeast666’, or ‘studmuffin123’. These are not very original and won’t do you any favours. Try to think of something catchy and original, and something which sums you up in a nutshell.

Say cheese!

A photograph is an absolute must if you want to attract attention, as most people will ignore profiles altogether if there isn’t one. Not many people like blind dates, and that’s why they’ve come to an online dating website in the first place. So if you don’t put up at least one photo, then you might as well not bother creating a profile as you just won’t get any messages 

When choosing a photo try to find one where you are looking happy and have a nice big smile. This might sound a little obvious, but time and time again we see people posting unflattering pictures that don’t do them any justice.

You also need to make sure the picture is up to date and accurate. It wouldn’t be fair to others if you post a picture from 10 years ago, as it’s very misleading and could put them off instantly if you do go out on a date.

Stay true to yourself and don’t worry about the way you look. If you’re happy you’ve found a great picture of yourself, then all you now need to do is focus on writing your profile. Don’t get too hung up and worried about your picture and if everyone will fancy you or not. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Tip – If you’re really not sure which picture to go with then why not ask a friend to help you choose. If you’re too embarrassed about asking a friend, then that’s understandable. But if you do have someone you can trust and rely on to help then don’t hesitate to ask them.

Further advice…

Couple on dateOverall you need to be confident and positive with your profile. Try to avoid any negative words, and be careful not to be too picky with what you’re looking for. You want to grab everyone’s attention, and the only way you can do that is if you have fun with your profile and don’t take yourself too seriously.

Consider writing your profile on Word or Notepad before you actually post it straight to the website, in case you make any mistakes and don’t notice them until it’s too late. Take your time over the profile and don’t post it up there on the same day. Consider sleeping on it, and then just give it one final look over the following evening before you post it.

Finally, make sure you choose the right dating website for you. There are literally hundreds to choose from, and each one may have a different theme. Some for example may attract a certain age group, and some may be for dog lovers only. Each dating website is unique and it’s important you do your research before you commit.

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