7 Reasons Your Online Dating Profile Didn't Work In 2014

Right now everyone is talking about the big resolutions you're supposed to make for 2015. High on the list this year, as they are every year, are all things related to dating and romance. And that's great – I'm a firm believer in setting goals for yourself – but you can't figure out where you're going if you don't understand where you've been. Before you start making plans for 2015, let's talk about 2014. Specifically, about where you went wrong with your online dating profile in 2014.

First things first: don't think that going wrong is...well...wrong. It's fine. It's part of the process. And don't think that going wrong means there's something wrong with you. There isn't. All it means is that, somewhere along the line, something went a little haywire with your profile and decreased your chances of meeting someone meaningful on the site. And the good news about all that is, it's fixable.

So where exactly did things jump the tracks? Here are 7 reasons your online dating profile didn't work in 2014:

1. You didn't include an image: I get it. It's a privacy thing. But if you want to be successful on a dating site, there's no way around it. A clear picture is a must.
2. You didn't write enough. I know this sounds crazy, but that profile asking you to write about yourself is there so you can actually write about yourself. No-word answers, single-word answers, and in many cases even single-sentence answers, are not acceptable. You would move on if you came across that profile, so don't expect potential dates to do anything different for you.
3. You wrote way too much. It's easy to take that last piece of advice and run away with it. Yes, no one wants to read a weird e.e. cummings poem of a profile, but no one wants to read an epic James Joyce novel either. A wall of text is overwhelming to read and even more overwhelming to digest. Save some getting-to-know-you for the first date, will ya?
4. You focused on the negative. Read your profile out-loud to yourself and be honest. Do you sound hurt, angry, sad, or negative in any other way? Experiencing those emotions is ok – it's part of life – but making your online dating profile about them is not ok. Optimism is attractive. Sounding like you have more baggage than an airport over the holidays is not.
5. Some things are better left unsaid...but you said them anyway. Having strong opinions is a good thing. Being able to express them calmly, clearly, and confidently is also a good thing. Doing that in your profile is...maybe not such a good thing. Unless the issue at hand is 100% a dealbreaker for you, keep the controversial stuff to yourself until a later date.
6. You sound just like everyone else. You like hanging out with friends. People say you're fun and funny. The first thing people notice about you is your eyes. You're into candlelit beaches and long walks to dinner. Yawn. Did you copy/paste your profile? You sound just like everyone else on the Web, and that's no way to score a date. Differentiate yourself.
7. You didn't have one. Wait, you don't even have an online dating profile yet? Well there's your problem. Start there and get back to me in 2016.