Top Ten - Profile Goofs

Here is our second article in our top ten series. The focus of this dating tip article will be on profiles and the common mistakes that are made when creating them.

1. The Rushed Profile - The first and most common mistake online daters do when creating a profile is they rush it. A lot of singles when going to a dating site tend to create a basic profile quickly when they join because they would rather be searching on the site for other singles than filling in a profile. They have the intention of going back and fix their profile but most never do. They then wonder why no one responds to their profile. You need to put a lot of thought into your profile and it's best to do it right the first time since this is what will reflect you on the site or sites you join. Read through all the questions carefully and answer as many as you can.
   
2. Skipped Essay Questions - Most people hate writing essay questions. The best way to deal with essay questions is take your time to write them using your favorite word processor. This will allow you to have a big page to write on (most sites give you a small box to put your answer) as well as a spell and grammar checker to use. It also allows you to take your time to write your answers and not feel pressure to hit that submit button so you can finish the rest of your profile when you are writing it on a dating site. Most dating sites ask the same 3 basic essay questions. They are General Information, Describe your Appearance and finally, What are you Looking For. Once written, all you have to do is copy and paste your answers into your profile. This is also great if you are using more than one dating site.
   
3. No Pictures - This is probably the worst offender of profile goofs that a single can make. If you expect any winks, kisses or messages on a dating site you MUST include at least one picture (more is better). Studies have shown that having a picture of yourself in your profile increases your chances of a response by up to 10 times.
   
4. Picture Quality - Pictures, Part 2. When you include pictures, make sure the quality is good. It's best to have your main picture to be of just yourself in a fun pose with a smile on your face. You want people to be looking at you, not your surroundings or at other people in the picture. Make sure the picture is of good quality, the proper brightness and no red eye. These things are easy to do if you have a little knowledge of photoshop or you could always take your picture into a photography store and they will digitize it and touch it up for you for a small fee. Your other pictures should be of you having fun and showing off what you like to do in your spare time (with or with out friends)
   
5. The Boring Headline - This is probably one of the hardest thing to write. How do you some up yourself in one sentence and still make it eye catching and sound attractive to the people looking through search results? For best results try including your favorite hobby in your headline in a humorous way. As an example, if you enjoy golf you could say "New York golf gal...looking for a partner".
   
6. Personal Information - Do not include any personal information in your public profile. This would include your real name, your street address (postal code, city, state, country is ok), phone numbers and email addresses. You don't want to give this type of information out until you have at least emailed (using the dating sites anonymous emailer) each other a few times to get a good feeling about the other person. Most people on dating sites are just like you, looking to find someone special but there are a few kooks out there. For more information on dating safety read our first Top 10 article. "10 Tips on having a fun and safe first date."
   
7. Likes & Dislikes - It's pretty obvious to state what you are looking for in a person but you should also mention what you are not looking for. This should be done near the end of the profile. Too much negativity in any profile and especially at the beginning will turn off people right away. As an example, If you hate people smoking (your date killer) and you would never date someone who smokes you should mention this in your profile. Who wants to waste time getting to know someone online, start becoming emotionally attached and then you realize on your first in person date that he or she smokes. You have now wasted a lot of time and energy in this person when a simply statement of "no smokers please" would have prevented him or her from contacting you (You Hope!).
   
8. Honesty - Be honest in all aspects of your profile. In the end, if you are not, you will only be harming yourself by people being disappointed when they don't meet the person portrayed in your profile. That means if you have an average built body, say average and not athletic. Later on in the profile you could include in your essay that you are currently having fun working out in a gym. This shows that you are an active person who is intent on losing those few extra pounds (which most of us have!)
   
9. Talking Jargon - Don't use to much jargon, or you will be cutting out potential single candidates. People tend to skim read profiles pretty fast and if someone is unsure of the acronym you have used to describe yourself or something you do then the person reading will most likely hit the next button. This is not a personal ad you are creating for a newspaper where extra words cost you more money.
   
10. Expectations - This point is similar to number 8, Honesty. Try not to brag in your profile about yourself. As an example, you may be proud of your million dollar house and your new sports car in the garage but you will just attract the wrong type of people, the people who just want you for your money. Instead write that you enjoy a comfortable living. You don't want to create an unrealistic over blown exaggeration of yourself to other singles, in the end it will be you who is disappointed.

Don't be afraid to change your profile around if you are not getting any responses or if you are getting responses but from not the right type of people. Switch your photo or edit your headline and try again. This is not an exact science so it may take a few tries to get it right, good luck!