"Online Dating profile tips - the top 5 ways to Improve your chances in cyberspace" 

You’ve read our online dating profile tips for men and profile tips for women, but there are also some valuable nuggets of advice that apply to every online dater.

There’s way more to you than just your height, weight, and eye color. The suggestions below will help you dig deep to find your most creative self, and give you the courage to let ‘er rip! You want to be special and memorable to someone, so make it happen. Have the guts to make your online dating profile stand out, wow potential matches, and prove that you are a person worth getting to know.

Online Dating Profile Tip #1
DO be honest about who you are
Let’s get real here – you can’t be all things to all people. You’re not going to click with every person who views your profile and, frankly, you’re really not meant to. If you did connect with everyone, that would be a sign that your profile is too vague and generic (or that you need to stop faking how you really feel about people). Get specific when you describe yourself by painting a picture of the characteristics that define you.

For instance, do you always walk around with at least two novels in your bag? If so, you could explain what writers float your boat. Now is not the time to give a book report – in fact, don’t be afraid to include obscure references. It’s your very individual tastes that will grab the attention of the person who knows exactly who or what you’re referencing. The smallest similarity can create an immediate spark of familiarity between two strangers. Wouldn’t you rather have that kind of experience than communicate with someone who says, “John Irving? Um, I think I’ve heard of him. Did he have a sex tape?”

Feeling overwhelmed by getting into the nitty gritty? Try this technique:

Sit down and write out everything you’d like to say about yourself. Then leave it for a day or two – no one says you have to complete your entire profile at once. When you revisit your text, you’ll see it from a new perspective. Consider whether you’ve been too indulgent in places. Have you embellished where you shouldn’t? Is there anything inappropriate? What can you add to a generic comment to make it specific to you? How can you turn a negative statement into a positive?

Online Dating Profile Tip #2
DON’T freak them out
There are some men and women who are guilty of not putting much energy into their online dating profile since there is no guarantee that any good matches will come of it. Understandable. However, it’s also ridiculous – if you’re going to the effort to put yourself out there at all, why do a half-assed job of it?

Just ripping off a profile that says anything simply to get it posted can lead to bad matches, turn-offs, and plenty of miscommunication. Take some time, reduce the overreaching or squirm-inducing statements (examples below); you’ll have a better chance of catching the right person’s eye. (And remember – you’re looking for the right person, not just any person.) Your profile should, of course, contain details about what it is you ultimately want in a relationship, but there’s an art to getting your goals out there without turning people off. (Warning: The below items are examples. Copying and pasting these statements into your profile will not miraculously attract your best match! We are only offering inspiration to help you gain the confidence to describe the one and only you!)

• Avoid: “I’m looking for the mother/father of my children.”
  Instead: Convey your interest in someday having kids in a more subtle way. Explain the family unit you grew up in or talk about why you’d like to have children.
  


• Avoid: “I want someone who will make me laugh.”
  Instead: Sure, everyone wants a partner with a sense of humor, but what kind of humor do you love? Do you want someone who can lighten the mood, or someone who isn’t shy about breaking out an irreverent joke every now and then?
  


• Avoid: “I believe my prince charming/princess is out there.” (Oh, please, don’t use this one. Ever.)
  Instead: Skip one of the oldest lines in the book, and include your version of a real-life fairy tale. Are you looking for someone who can accept that you put the peanut butter-covered knife in the jelly jar? Are you attracted to a person’s quirky “flaws”?

• Avoid: “I’m in search of my soul mate.”
  
  Instead: Don’t say it, show it. What activities are you devoted to? What snacks are always in your cupboard? A potential soul mate is someone who can identify with your eccentricities, so don’t be afraid to flaunt them! 

Online Dating Profile Tip #3
DO be positive
If you’re like many online daters, you’ve experienced your fair share of not-so-fun dating experiences (let’s be honest – some of them may have been downright hellish). But instead of using your profile to whine or gripe about past relationships, or nitpick about the kind of person you refuse to allow into your life, focus on the positive traits you’re looking for. If you’re fixating on characteristics that you don’t want in a partner, you aren’t going to be able to see the good characteristics that a possible match can offer.

While true chemistry can’t be determined until you meet each other in person, the law of attraction definitely has its place in online dating. Avoid looking for flaws or focusing on not-so-great traits – otherwise, you’ll be like a magnet, pulling those nasty, unwanted suckers your way. When you’re positive, it will come through and help you attract positive matches. So leave the laundry list of must-haves or don’t-wants behind. The narrative you write about the kind of person you’d like to meet provides a window into who you are as well.

Online Dating Profile Tip #4
DON’T use clichés
Clichés in online dating profiles are nauseating, and that’s the long and short of it. This is an opportunity for you to talk about why you like something, not just state what you like. You’ve only got a small space in which to explain yourself so show, don’t tell. Below are a handful of some of the most overused clichés (your profile better be wiped clean of them!) and ways to avoid them (again, don’t be a copycat or use our suggestions – get creative!):

• Cliché: “I like long walks on the beach.”
  Better: One way of saying this is to describe how a specific beach makes you feel and what you like about it, whether it’s hunting for shark’s teeth, collecting shells, or listening to the sound of the waves.

• Cliché: “We must have chemistry.”
  Better: Most people would agree that chemistry is a must, but this cliché doesn’t help a potential match understand why you might be right for each other. Describing the kind of person you typically have chemistry with would be more helpful.

• Cliché: “I love animals.”
  Better: Dog-lover or ferret-lover? Do you prefer to admire someone else’s pet or keep one yourself? Love for animals can stretch in a variety of directions – be clear-cut about your feelings.

• Cliché: “I’m funny.”
  Better: Are you funny because people say you’re funny? Because you can’t tell a good joke to save your life? Or because you could do improv with the best of ‘em?

Online Dating Profile Tip #5
DO follow online dating etiquette
This is the age of text messaging, instant messaging, and abbreviations galore. OMG. Enuf. Your online dating profile should not include these cultural shortcuts. You only get one chance to make a first impression – so don’t make it a lousy one. The way you write will reflect who you are as a whole. You don’t need a graduate degree to be articulate. It just takes a little attention and effort.

Once you’re done writing your online dating profile, read it out loud to yourself to see if it makes sense. Look for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Also, DON’T WRITE IN ALL CAPS (online it’s considered screaming, and it’s really annoying to read after a while). Capitalize words that should be capitalized. Think of your profile as a cover letter for a job application – would you be lazy or half-hearted about that attempt?

Writing your online dating profile does not have to elicit groans of, “I can’t describe myself in a few paragraphs.” Approach this process as one of self-revelation. We guarantee that if you really take some time to think about the message you’re crafting, you’ll learn more about who you are when it comes to love and relationships. Understanding your own desires will help you put out the right message to attract your ideal match. And, honestly, you’ll have fun if you really allow yourself to get into it – and isn’t that what love is all about?