There are numerous articles on the web giving tips and advices on how to make a great online dating profile to increase the chances of responses and consequently finding the ideal online partner. Recommendations range from the usual generalities of honesty, creativity, and simplicity to tips on supercharging your photos. Specific suggestions on profile contents, however, are quite limited.

There are millions of people who join online dating sites and only a small percentage can express themselves effectively given the virtual limitations of the internet in particular and of written communication in general. Taking into consideration all the good-meaning advices on how to create a great online dating profile, what are the specific contents that should be added to or removed from one? An online dating profile should always have that unique, catchy and funny headline.

Dating, whether online or offline is basically selling yourself to other people; online dating profile, therefore, should be your marketing pitch. And just like those advertisement one-liners that successfully lodge themselves in our consciousness, your online dating profile should include an attention-grabbing headline that would make people interested enough to keep on reading about you and hopefully want to get to know you more. Instead of saying that you are “funny and have a great sense of humour” in exactly those words, write a catchy headline that shows you ARE funny and have a great sense of humour.

Dating Profile Headlines

Here are some examples of catchy and humorous headlines -- “Willing to lie about how we met!”, “Blondes have more fun but brunettes nag less often,” “Well preserved but not yet pickled” or “Some will, some won’t. Some do, some don’t. I might!” These headlines are definitely more attention-grabbing than “single male seeking single female”, “let’s get together”, “try me”, or “nice girl seeking nice boy” which belong more to those tiny boxed ads in the newspaper classifieds.

Although an online dating profile should not be a shortened version of your curriculum vitae since you’re looking for a date and not seeking employment, particulars about yourself should be included. Things which would help your prospective dates get a clearer picture of who you are without inviting security-risks on your part. Not offering information apart from your age or gender could add a touch of mystery, but it might also be a deterrent. If you are a divorcee with children, it is one fact that should be important enough to be mentioned in your profile.

Of course you don't have to reveal where you currently live if you don't want to, but mentioning the places you have lived in or at least visited would add another facet to your profile. You would widen the list of people who would get interested in you as you establish possible connections and similarities with them.

You need not write your whole career history and life’s plans but you could give at least an idea of what your profession (if any) is or has been. If you usually tell people you meet in a bar or at a party what it is that you do, then include it in your profile. Remember to be brief and not blabber on about the details.

Profiles & Personalities

Since dating and the possibility of relationships are the main objectives of online dating, communication plays a major key. The inclusion of the languages you speak should be included so any language barrier could be avoided and you establish a wider net of possible compatibilities.

Aside from mentioning the things that you like, you should also list some of your pet peeves. Mentioning pet peeves or the things that you don’t like should be stated in a less negative way. Avoid such phrases as “I definitely hate” or “I’m annoyed with...” Only include those that are of significance to you and not list things that would make you sound like a whiner.

Online dating profiles are both a sales pitch and a wanted ad rolled into one. It is equally important to mention the qualities you are looking for in an online date. The most important thing to keep in mind is to include age, appearance, communication and other response filters. If you are looking for people within a certain age bracket, possessing certain physical attributes and communication styles, you should say so. This way, you convey that you are the type of person who knows what he or she wants. Of course, do this in a non-offending manner.

As for using a screen name, try to come up with one that is equally remarkable and fascinating as your headline. If you couldn’t find something uniquely appealing, use your initials as a safe bet.

What should not be included in an online dating profile, then? For one, remove any sexual innuendos in your profile. It is a big turn off for many online dating site users. Sexual innuendos would only cheapen your whole profile. They are best left unsaid.

Do away with unimportant details like your favourite ice cream flavour, your favourite colour, or other trivial information. You are writing an online dating profile not answering a series of questions in a magazine for fourteen year olds.

Photo Personals

Lastly, take that lewd photo away. If you are to upload a photo of yourself (and not someone else’s), choose a decent one that is both pleasing and appealing. You might be surprised to learn that most people find vulgarity and lewdness to be unattractive.

In creating your online dating profile with the above points in mind, always do so in a positive, upbeat and constructive tone. The bottom line is, you should create a profile that describes you as you really are and not a made-up ideal person. Make yourself sound interesting without inventing and embellishing. After all, you would not want to be conned yourself, would you?