Bringing In Eyes
- Friday, December 02 2011 @ 06:52 pm
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 1,409
Every online dating website is a little bit different, but many of them share a common feature: the profile headline. If your profile is the description on the back of the paperback novel - luring the reader in, eager to learn more - the headline is the eye-catching title of the book. In some site searches, you may see the headline before you even click on the profile, so it can be just as key in grabbing attention as the default picture. So how can we make sure our headline is doing its job?
Some people like to take what I call the “Name That Movie” approach. They’ll use a quote from a movie, TV show or book. It serves as a bit of a litmus test in common interests - if you recognize the quote, you already have something in common already. It’s not a bad idea, but there are two potential problems with this approach.
First of all, if you don’t recognize the quote, it might come across as irrelevant or even offensive. “Fine!” the movie buff might declare. “If they don’t recognize the quote, they’re not worth knowing!” Which brings us to the second problem - just because someone hasn’t seen the right movie or recognizes an obscure quote from it doesn’t mean they’re not compatible. It’s essentially banking on only one bit of common knowledge to tie two people together - those odds might make even the most reckless gambler take pause .
A popular alternative is the “Literary” approach. The writer clearly wants a headline that’s interesting and not a glorified classified ad; there might be alliteration, puns or other literary devices. Sometimes they even attempt a joke - a bold move.
There’s nothing really wrong with this approach, but it might be difficult to do well. Call it Level Two of profile writing - if you think you’re ready for it, you’re more than welcome to try. Just remember: it might be tempting to be as clever and witty as possible, but there’s nothing wrong with a simpler joke or phrase. You’re looking for eye-catching, after all.
In fact, some of the most successful profile headlines have nothing to do with the profile itself - they ask questions, like “Where’s the best place to get coffee in this city?” Almost everyone has a strong opinion that they’d like to share - so the “Question” approach might even bring in readers who might not otherwise have clicked on that profile. Are these extra readers necessarily compatible? Most of them might not be - but some of them might.
None of these approaches are actually absolute “don’ts” in the world of online dating; it’s just important to weigh the pros and cons of each when you’re constructing a headline that fits you. What do you want your headline to say about you? Perhaps more importantly, how will your headline to best work for you, bringing in readers who will get the real story from your profile?
Some people like to take what I call the “Name That Movie” approach. They’ll use a quote from a movie, TV show or book. It serves as a bit of a litmus test in common interests - if you recognize the quote, you already have something in common already. It’s not a bad idea, but there are two potential problems with this approach.
First of all, if you don’t recognize the quote, it might come across as irrelevant or even offensive. “Fine!” the movie buff might declare. “If they don’t recognize the quote, they’re not worth knowing!” Which brings us to the second problem - just because someone hasn’t seen the right movie or recognizes an obscure quote from it doesn’t mean they’re not compatible. It’s essentially banking on only one bit of common knowledge to tie two people together - those odds might make even the most reckless gambler take pause .
A popular alternative is the “Literary” approach. The writer clearly wants a headline that’s interesting and not a glorified classified ad; there might be alliteration, puns or other literary devices. Sometimes they even attempt a joke - a bold move.
There’s nothing really wrong with this approach, but it might be difficult to do well. Call it Level Two of profile writing - if you think you’re ready for it, you’re more than welcome to try. Just remember: it might be tempting to be as clever and witty as possible, but there’s nothing wrong with a simpler joke or phrase. You’re looking for eye-catching, after all.
In fact, some of the most successful profile headlines have nothing to do with the profile itself - they ask questions, like “Where’s the best place to get coffee in this city?” Almost everyone has a strong opinion that they’d like to share - so the “Question” approach might even bring in readers who might not otherwise have clicked on that profile. Are these extra readers necessarily compatible? Most of them might not be - but some of them might.
None of these approaches are actually absolute “don’ts” in the world of online dating; it’s just important to weigh the pros and cons of each when you’re constructing a headline that fits you. What do you want your headline to say about you? Perhaps more importantly, how will your headline to best work for you, bringing in readers who will get the real story from your profile?
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