YourTango Online Dating Bootcamp: Day Four

Meeting your match online starts with creating a knock-out profile that catches eyes and wins hearts.

Easier said than done, right?

Sure, crafting the perfect profile requires a little bit of trial and error experimentation, but it doesn't have to be hard. To jumpstart the profile writing process, YourTango's online dating bootcamp spoke with Julianne Cantarella and Heidi Lee Munson for expert advice on how to make your profile great from the get-go. They shared their top ten tips for writing a profile that stands out:

1. Show, don't tell. Instead of defining yourself (or the date you're looking for) as a list of adjectives that could describe anyone, share vivid personal anecdotes that show off your individuality.
2. Accentuate the positive. It sounds like it should be obvious, but daters all over cyberspace are getting this one wrong. Don't focus on what you don't want or don't have, instead of highlighting your positive attributes. Profiles that begin by putting down the experience of online dating ("I can't believe I'm doing this...") and the other members who're trying it get skipped over.
3. Don't lie! This is everyone's greatest fear about online dating, right? So why contribute to the problem? "If you are genuine and authentic," says Cantarella, "you will have a greater chance of attracting like-minded matches." Lying is a waste of time.
4. Ask the experts. If you're feeling stuck, consult your friends. They can help you sort through screenname options to find the one that suits you best.
5. Be positive. Yep, positivity makes it on this list twice! Your profile is not the appropriate place to discuss your problems or list your negative attributes (in fact, you shouldn't be dwelling on your perceived negative attributes anywhere). Instead put the spotlight on your most attractive qualities, like your intelligence and sense of humor.
6. A picture is worth a thousand words. You have to post a photo. There's no way around it.
7. Flirt, don't fight. Joining a dating site inevitably means hearing from some frogs in addition to the princes. If your inbox is filled with messages from un-dateable amphibians, Munson says it may be because your profile is packed with complaints about your exes. Instead, "be a little flirtatious. Share the ideas and activities that make you smile and your positive energy will attract the right matches."
8. Check your spelling and grammar. It's as easy as running a spellcheck program, and it makes a huge difference.
9. Put an honest face forward. Choose pictures that accurately represent who you are. "A candid and natural shot of you doing what you love the most attractive image you can present," says Munson, "and it is a true image."
10. Complete your profile. An unfinished profile sends the message that you're not serious about meeting someone online. Put in the time and effort to finish it and make it shine.

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