A Summary, Not a Soliloquy
- Friday, September 27 2013 @ 06:52 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 1,257
Chances are, you’ve heard that when it comes to an online dating profile, short and sweet is better than well-meaning but long-winded. First-contact emails are much the same; they shouldn’t be generic, but there’s no reason you can’t say what you need to in a paragraph or so. However, many people simply consider this a rule that must be followed. If we actually think about the reasoning behind this “rule,” it won’t only ensure that we won’t forget it; it might enhance our profile overall.
First, think about the experience of the reader, sitting behind their screen, somewhere across town. They’ve already looked at fifteen profiles, and here comes one that looks like one giant block of text. They scroll down... and down... and down. Who has time for that? It might be incredibly interesting, but they’ve already clicked away - they can view three profiles in the time it’ll take to read this novel.
“Well, I’ll only attract those who like to read, then,” you might be thinking. Perhaps - but in actuality those who are well-read have probably come to the conclusion that most random people on the internet aren’t the best writers. Again, you might be the exception, but you’re going against years of experience that’s taught them otherwise.
Next, consider that a profile that is exceptionally long is probably not a page-turner. So what’s creating that length? Chances are, a lot of filler. Also potentially some tangents. Unlike a conversation, in which you have immediate feedback and which naturally has twists and turns, when you’re writing a profile you only have your own stream of consciousness. Not exactly something you connect over.
Finally, imagine that your potential match is not across town behind their own screen; instead, they’re in person, standing next to you at a bar or a movie queue or some other place you’d naturally strike up a conversation. They approach you. What would you rather hear: a confident hello and a witty remark, or a five-minute summary of their life story?
Keeping a profile short and sweet isn’t about arbitrary word limits; it’s about creating an impact and avoiding unhelpful filler. When you next sit down to edit your profile, remember: you’re not submitting an entry to a literary magazine, you’re striking up a conversation. Does your profile reflect your purpose?
First, think about the experience of the reader, sitting behind their screen, somewhere across town. They’ve already looked at fifteen profiles, and here comes one that looks like one giant block of text. They scroll down... and down... and down. Who has time for that? It might be incredibly interesting, but they’ve already clicked away - they can view three profiles in the time it’ll take to read this novel.
“Well, I’ll only attract those who like to read, then,” you might be thinking. Perhaps - but in actuality those who are well-read have probably come to the conclusion that most random people on the internet aren’t the best writers. Again, you might be the exception, but you’re going against years of experience that’s taught them otherwise.
Next, consider that a profile that is exceptionally long is probably not a page-turner. So what’s creating that length? Chances are, a lot of filler. Also potentially some tangents. Unlike a conversation, in which you have immediate feedback and which naturally has twists and turns, when you’re writing a profile you only have your own stream of consciousness. Not exactly something you connect over.
Finally, imagine that your potential match is not across town behind their own screen; instead, they’re in person, standing next to you at a bar or a movie queue or some other place you’d naturally strike up a conversation. They approach you. What would you rather hear: a confident hello and a witty remark, or a five-minute summary of their life story?
Keeping a profile short and sweet isn’t about arbitrary word limits; it’s about creating an impact and avoiding unhelpful filler. When you next sit down to edit your profile, remember: you’re not submitting an entry to a literary magazine, you’re striking up a conversation. Does your profile reflect your purpose?
Subscribe
