Profile Writing: The Don’ts

Let's get straight down to business. If you found your way here from "Profile Writing: The Do's," you have some ideas about what you should be doing in order to craft an effective online dating profile (and if you didn't, take a moment to read that article as soon as you're done with this one!).

It's time now to talk about everything you don't want to do when creating a profile:

• Don't succumb to clichés. If you want to meet that special someone over the Internet, your profile has to stand out from millions of others. Filling it with quotes like "I'm one of the funniest people you'll ever meet" or "I like to have fun and take long walks on the beach" is not the way to accomplish that.
• Don't lie. It can be incredibly tempting to stretch the truth when filling out a dating profile, but what seems like a little white lie in text usually feels like a massive untruth when you meet a date in person. I'll be talking more about lies in dating profiles in a future article, so stay tuned!
• Don't state the obvious. You might love traveling, but saying "I love to travel" is not going to get you very far in the world of online dating. Think about it: almost everyone likes to travel, so mentioning it as an interest doesn't set you apart from the site's other members at all. Sharing the story of one of your favorite travel memories, however, does. Remember what you were taught in your elementary school writing classes:show, don't tell.
• Don't talk about past relationships. Other members will not be interested in exploring their potential future with you if you seem like you're stuck in the past. There are appropriate times to discuss former partners and other baggage in new relationships, but your online dating profile definitely isn't one of them.
• Don't write a novel. An online dating profile is supposed to be a glimpse into who you are that will make your readers want to know more about you. If you include every detail about your life, there will be nothing more to know, and no incentive for other members to contact you.
• Don't be too specific. I know I told you that knowing what you want and writing a targeted profile are do's, but hear me out: if you write that you're only interested in meeting people with red hair and green eyes, who live in Texas and are over 5'10", and who know how to make sushi and salsa dance, you're going to miss out on a lot of awesome potential matches. Why put unnecessary limitations on finding love?

The last thing I'd like you to remember about profile writing is this: your profile is always a work in progress. Don't be afraid to edit, update, and revamp it as often as you need to. You are a constantly evolving creature, so make sure that your profile continues to reflect who you are by allowing it to evolve with you.