1. Differentiate yourself

Before you start creating your masterpiece, peruse through a bunch of existing profiles to see what people are already saying… and then don’t say those things. You’ve got the chance to demonstrate that you’re unique and special – the words you use to describe yourself should set you apart, not make you blend in with the crowd. You’re facing some steep competition in the online adult dating world. You’ve got to find a way to stand out.

2. Have a Fabulous (and realistic) Photo

Your photo isn’t the only factor that will make or break you, but it is a major aspect. Make sure your photo is clear and professional. Don’t settle for a simple head shot – there’s no rule to say you can’t be doing something you love in your photo. In fact, you want to make your photo as memorable as possible without being too corny. Count how many photos you see of people with their dog. Please! You can be more creative than that.

For goodness sake, let your photo be flattering but it’s also got to be accurate. If you’ve gained 40 pounds since your photo was taken, choose a more recent shot. Same goes for age… don’t use photos that are more than five years old. Using a deceiving photo is only setting yourself up for disappointment down the road.

3. Keep it Readable

If you’re seasoned at online dating, no doubt you’ve learned your share of online lingo. But not everyone knows that GWM ISO LDR means that you’re a gay white male in search of a long distance relationship. Keep in mind that a lot of people reading your profile might be new to online dating and have no idea what all the trendy acronyms mean. Appearing to be ultra cyber sophisticated could be a real turn off.

4. Don’t Write Cheques You Can’t Actually Cash

Are you writing cheques in your profile that your personality simply can’t cash? If you say that you’re funny, be funny. If you describe yourself as successful, you better at least have a full-time job. And if you call yourself a big literature collector, chances are most people won’t count your Archie comic book collection. Make sure you’re grounded in reality when creating your profile. Consider letting a friend preview it to make sure it rings true for them.

5. Keep is Simple Stupid

You’re profile isn’t meant to tell the whole story… you want just enough information to pique someone’s interest. Leave a little to their imagination. Don’t put so much information in your profile that it’s more like a novel than a quick description. People should be able to read about you in a minute or less. Too much information will likely be boring and tedious to read.

6. Don’t reveal anything too bizarre about yourself

Unless we’re talking about an adult dating site, disclosing a bizarre fetish or fantasy might not be your best bet. You’ll want to let someone get to know you before you let them in on some of your shocking secrets.

7. Use proper spelling and grammar

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when creating your profile is to have spelling and grammatical errors all over it. It’s hard to portray yourself as a smart, successful person when you have trouble with basic writing skills. Have someone proof read your profile before it goes live.

8. Don’t Make it All About You

Of course your singles dating profile is about you… who else would it be about? But be cautious about coming off as boastful or arrogant. You definitely want to highlight your finer points, but try to be humble. Also, keep in mind that you also want to save a couple of lines to describe the person you are looking for.

9. Create a realistic and respectful description of your ideal mate

Two words to keep in mind when describing the person you are looking for are realistic and respectful. You should absolutely be honest about the personality and physical traits you are seeking, but try to do this without seeming too shallow.

10. Be honest about your status and what you are looking for

If you have kids or are just recently divorced, don’t try to hide these facts. People will find out the truth eventually so you might as well disclose it up front. Adult dating sites are great examples of honesty. Have a look at some of these profiles and you’ll see people who really lay their cards out on the table.

written by: Aelicia J. Anderson (singlesguide.org)