Statistics show that 441 million people across the world use dating websites. You know what that suggests, right? If you’re single and looking to boost your prospects of finding that special someone, you may need to give online dating a try. To be able to stand out in this vast sea of users and connect with the right people, it’s imperative to learn how to write a dating profile.
Your online dating profile is a reflection of your personality in the virtual world. Just like the way you dress and carry yourself in the real world determines whether you get attention and from whom, your dating profile determines how much traction you gain on online dating platforms and what kind of matches you attract. Now, the question is what does creating a good online dating profile entail? We bring you some actionable dating profile tips in consultation with dating coach and counseling psychologist Dhriti Bhavsar (M.Sc, Clinical Psychology).
15 Actionable Tips On How To Write A Dating Profile And Make It Stand Out
Table of Contents
There are so many elements to consider when putting together a profile on a dating app or website. From dating profile heading to bio and pictures, you have decisions to make at every step of the way. This can leave you a little confused about what to put on a dating profile.
To this, Dhriti says, “The key to crafting interesting dating profiles is to look at them like a sneak peek into your life. A trailer of the movie of your life.” Now, what this trailer looks like will vary from person to person, so there is no single dating profile template that can work for everyone.
Essentially, you should aim at showcasing who you are — your dreams, passions, goals, desires and expectations. A little snippet of what makes you, you is the key if you’ve been wondering how to make the best dating profile. Now, words like dreams, passions, goals, etc, can sound a bit abstract. So, let’s get to the specifics of how to write a dating profile that is hard to miss. Here are 15 actionable tips shared by our dating coach:
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1. Identify your dating goals
As I’ve said before, there is no set dating profile template you can replicate to find success in the realm of online dating. You may have noticed how varied dating profiles can be. Some people catch your attention even with a brief dating profile bio, while others write paragraphs. Likewise, some profiles have fewer but impactful pictures while others turn into an endless carousel. Everyone’s idea of creating a good online dating profile can be different.
What’s yours? You can gain clarity on this by first identifying your dating goals.
- Are you dating for marriage?
- Are you looking for something casual?
- Do you just want to go with the flow and see where things lead?
- Are you looking for a stable romantic partnership?
Clear dating goals can help you carve a distinct online dating persona which is reflected in your profile as well.
2. Consider what you seek in a partner
It’s equally important to know what you seek in a partner. Clarity about what you want in a partner can help you craft a dating app profile that attracts the right kind of people. Dhriti says, “When trying to envision a future partner, don’t limit yourself to physical or material attributes. Instead, introspect a little, and think about what personality traits, core values, and worldview you hope them to have.”
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3. Be creative
‘Traveler’, ‘Foodie’, ‘Funny’ — if I had a dime for every time I spotted these words in an intro for dating app. Not surprisingly, more often than not these profiles with such cliched intros either get ignored or swiped left. If you want yours to stand out, here is a piece of online dating advice you shouldn’t ignore: mention something more substantive and meaningful about yourself.
It can actually be really difficult to describe oneself when one gets down to it but make the effort to do so. Remember what Dhriti said right at the outset, treat it like a sneak peek into your life. That requires putting your real self out there. Even if your real self is best described as, “Serial napper, socially awkward, dog mom”. Authenticity is so much better than looking for good online dating profiles to copy and paste.
4. Use candid photos
Pictures are a key part of figuring out how to make the best dating profile. While your choice of words, be it in the dating profile heading or bio, makes an impact on how a potential match perceives you, your choice of pictures for your dating profile is what grabs another user’s attention, to begin with.
“While you need to put your best foot forward, your pictures must reflect the real you,” advises Dhriti. So, ditch the photoshopped, filtered, and posed pictures in favor of the ones that reflect who you are.
- If you’re a fitness enthusiast, post a few workout pictures
- If you bake, post a few pictures with the goodies you’ve made
- If you love a good adrenaline rush, go ahead and post that picture of you bungee-jumping
- If you read, pick one of you curled up with a book in your favorite corner
Natural and candid photographs make you appear confident in your skin.
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5. Keep the dating profile heading succinct yet engaging
Apart from your pictures, one of the first things that catches the attention of potential matches is your dating profile heading. So, it makes sense that you give it due attention when trying to figure out how to write a dating profile that gets you more matches. Dhriti advises, “Keep your dating profile heading succinct.” Much like her advice, might I add?
Now what does a succinct dating profile heading look like? Here are a few examples:
- Seeking a partner in crime for *insert activity*
- Wanderlust and laughter
- Join me on an epic quest for love
- Soulmate for match
If you need more inspiration, check out these 200+ dating profile headlines.
6. Think about what you want to put in your dating profile bio
Your dating profile bio is not your resume or your LinkedIn bio. So, you don’t need to list your achievements, your work portfolio, and your skills, one by one. Far too many people make that mistake and end up being scrolled past without a second glance. To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, here is a how to write a dating profile 101 for you: put some thought into things you want to include in your dating profile bio. To make that selection, it helps to be mindful of the rule of thumb we started out with in this article: what makes you, you.
For instance, if there is a pizza joint you frequent, this can be a fun addition to your dating app profile bio: “Can be found at Jamie’s Pizza on Saturdays.” Likewise, you can weave in your travel experiences, your love for grilled cheese, or your favorite show of all time in your bio. This not only gives potential matches a clear insight into who you are but also a common ground to connect over (of course, if they like the same things as you).
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7. Don’t try too hard to play cool
How to write a dating profile that stands out depends a great deal on getting the tone right. Dhriti says, “Watching your tone is important because there is a lot of scope for misinterpretation in the online world. It’s best to dial down the sarcasm and self-deprecating or dry humor, and steer clear of controversial statements.”
After all, the person on the other end doesn’t know you and they will interpret your words from their perspective. While there is no dating profile template you can follow, there are some broad dos and don’ts you need to be mindful of. And trying too hard to come across as cool and casual is definitely a no-no.
8. Steer clear of famous quotes
“True love stories never have endings.” “You are everything I never knew I always wanted.” “You had me at hello.” “The eyes, Chico, they never lie.” Now, famous quotes like these may seem great picks for the intro for dating app but they’re completely redundant and make you look lazy.
Besides, they don’t convey anything about you at all. So, if you’ve been wondering what to put on a dating profile, my advice would be to ditch the quotes, unless it is completely unheard of and depicts a part of your personality. Oh and on a related note, quotes don’t make for good opening lines either — another common pitfall to steer clear of.
9. Keep an eye out for typos and errors
One of the most effective dating profile tips I can share with you is to proofread, proofread, and proofread. And no, this is not a writer’s obsession with clean copy talking. A dating profile with typos and grammatical errors is not just a put-off but also makes it seem as if you didn’t put much effort into it. And no one really digs a person who does things half-heartedly.
10. Choose the right questions to answer
Figuring out how to write a dating profile that stands out becomes easy when you learn to work smartly and use your chosen platform’s built-in functionalities to your advantage. For example, in the process of putting together your dating profile bio, you will come across a range of questions that work like cues to help you elaborate on who you really are — for instance, the famous ‘Dating me is like‘ prompt. Here’s what these questions look like,
- What makes you a real nerd?
- What would your teacher in 3rd grade describe you as?
- What is non-negotiable for you?’
While the prompts are endless, the onus is on you to choose the ones that bring out the best in you. Don’t just pick the prompts that seem interesting but the ones that will make you seem interesting.
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11. Be vocal about your deal-breakers
The purpose of creating a good online dating profile is to attract the right kind of people with whom you can hope to build a strong connection. That can happen only when, in addition to being aware of what you’re looking for in a partner, you’re also aware of what constitutes relationship deal-breakers for you. Now, each person’s deal-breakers can be different — from smoking to misogyny, there is a wide spectrum of things a person may not want in a potential partner. However, Dhriti suggests a few fundamentals that you must never settle on:
- Different relationship goals
- Mismatched priorities
- Disrespectful behavior
- Financial irresponsibility
So, think about your deal-breakers and put them up on your dating app profile.
12. Don’t hesitate to talk about your interests and ambitions
The answer to how to make the best dating profile lies in structuring it in such a way that you attract like-minded people. One of the best dating profile tips we have for you is not to hesitate to put your interests and ambitions out there. Perhaps, you’re a fitness enthusiast or love spending time outdoors. Or maybe you aspire to get out of the rut of a 9-to-5 job to run a quaint B&B in the mountains somewhere.
Mention these things, or anything you feel passionately about, so that you attract people who share that vision. Dhriti says, “If the dating goal is a long-term relationship, this becomes even more important. Navigating the twists and turns of life becomes easier when your partner understands and preferably shares your vision.”
13. Browse other profiles for inspiration
Now, looking for good online dating profiles to copy and paste is not ideal because these are meant to be tailored to each individual’s unique take on life as well as their dating goals. However, that does not mean you cannot take inspiration from profiles that resonate with you. If you’re looking for a dating profile template to help you get started, go ahead and browse profiles that speak to you, and pick and choose the elements you’d want to replicate in yours.
14. Ask your friends for inputs
Ah, the writer’s block that hits you as soon as you get to the dating profile about me section and have to write a bio or come up with a catchy headline. Well, why not turn it into a fun activity to do with your friends over a weekend? Dhriti says, “Sometimes our friends know us better than we know ourselves, so it can’t hurt to ask for their opinion on what to put on a dating profile.”
If your friends already have some experience with online dating, they may be able to offer some astute insights into what you should and shouldn’t do. So, go ahead, call your friends over, order some snacks, organize the drinks, and turn your quest of how to write a dating profile into a party.
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15. Keep updating your profile every few months
Been on a backpacking trip since you first created your dating profile? Moved to a new apartment? Took up a new hobby? Signed up for a fun class? Mention it on your profile. Keep revisiting your dating app profile every couple of months to see what you can add or take away from it based on your personal growth.
Clearly, you can now see that how to write a dating profile is nothing to be scared or worried about. Just pick the best dating site for you and determine the parts you want to show yourself and the parts you think will invite another person. Spend some time exploring other profiles, understanding the other trends, and then craft your personal feed.
FAQs
Do not use generic terms on your profile. They will make you appear uninteresting. The same old redundant terms do not bring out anything exciting about your personality. Moreover, do not write things that make you appear boastful or as if you are showing off.
Try to appear witty and charming by what you say. You can open with a fun question or a funny way of introducing yourself. You can even open with an idea for a date so your potential date has an idea of what kind of unique things you might be interested in.
In your dating profile, you should talk about the best things about you most concisely. Try to keep it short so that the other person does not get bored but it should also reflect the primary elements of your personality.
Your hobbies, ambitions, and quirks can be attractive things to mention. You can also mention some interesting and out-of-the-box experiences that you’ve had to gain attention.
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