How Your Friends can Help with Your Online Profile

Sometimes it's difficult to strike the right balance when describing yourself in an online profile. The language you use might sound either timid or arrogant, and the pictures might be out of date or ineffective. When you're having a hard time or need to freshen it up, sometimes it's best to call a trusted friend to help you. After all, they know you better than anyone - your best qualities along with your faults.

Following are some ways your friends can help:

Improving your photos. If you're using a picture from last summer's trip to Mexico when your skin was tan and you were twenty pounds lighter, you might end up with some irritated dates. People like to know that their dates resemble the pictures they post online, or else they feel they're misrepresenting themselves. Your friend can help by choosing good, accurate photos of you or by grabbing a camera and taking some new ones.

Adjusting your tone. Maybe you come across as a bit cynical or negative - you have a long list of requirements for what you don't want. Your friend can help turn things around by focusing on what you do want. If it's too vague, friends can help add specific details that you can't remember or are afraid to write down. Sometimes, you just need that extra boost of confidence when you write about yourself - and friends are the best supporters.

Your online handle is bad. I know that people like to create handles that get attention. After all, this is online dating, not job hunting, and you only have a few seconds to capture someone's interest. But "SexyTime" and "PorscheDriver" aren't cutting it. These handles aren't original or engaging, and will turn a lot of people off. Your friends can help you brainstorm something more interesting and flirtatious, or at least tell you to lose the old one.

You're misrepresenting yourself. Sure, you may describe yourself as "athletic" because you've signed up for an amateur league baseball team with your co-workers, but be honest: do you actually work out enough to have an athletic body? Also, your friends will keep you from shaving a few years off your age or inches off your height. It's better to be truthful when physically describing yourself - and friends can help keep you honest.

Your friends are a great support system for getting your online profile in shape - just make sure you trust their opinions and they aren't leading you astray. Negative and cynical friends aren't going to really benefit you with their advice and opinions. Ask someone who is cheering you on, and keeping you honest. And if they're single, it's even better - you can help each other.