How to Create an Excellent Online Dating Profile

When you create your online dating profile, you want to create one that stands out from the crowd. How many times have you seen someone's profile say something like "I'm easy-going, funny and like to have fun"? Profiles like that are safe but they don't give that special someone a reason to continue further. Why would someone click your profile out of the hundreds of others that look exactly the same?

The key to creating an excellent online dating profile is to be original, witty, and confident. Even a little self-deprecating humor adds spice to your profile. It really doesn't matter what you say as long as you don't use the same old lines everyone else uses.

Five Tips for Making Your Profile

Here are our top five tips for making an excellent dating profile. Follow these tips to have the best dating profile on your dating site!

Tip #1 - Be Honest

If you aren't honest in your profile, people will pick up on it. Honesty shows confidence and it's a highly valued trait in the dating world. However, don't be honest to the point of revealing too much information. If you go through three rolls of toilet paper a day, you can leave that little tidbit out ;)

Tip #2 - Avoid Clichés

Clichés will kill your chances faster than anything else. Don't tell people that you're funny - show them you're funny. If you're not funny, stating otherwise won't fool anyone. Avoid phrases like "I might be the one for you" or "I like to cuddle." Those lines are used so often that they've basically become meaningless.

Tell people about your real hobbies and interests. If you like to read, mention a couple of your favorite books! If you like movies, tell them what kind. Don't just say something like "I like reading, watching movies, and working out." Details will distinguish you from the rest of the crowd even if your interests are common.

Tip #3 - Go Easy on the Romance

This one applies equally to guys and girls - if your profile reeks of romantic overtones, you're going to scare away all but the most troubled of people. It's one thing to tell them you know about a little Italian joint that's the city's best kept secret, but it's an entirely different thing to state that you want to give your match a sponge bath in rose-petal water by candlelight.

Tip #4 - Include Pictures

Seriously, it's not 1995 anymore. If you don't have a digital camera, you probably know someone who does. And if you don't know anyone who has a digital camera, you can probably pick up a cheap one at the drug store for $20. Your profile won't get any hits if you don't post pictures of yourself.

Most online dating sites allow their users to filter out the profiles that don't include pictures. So by neglecting to include a picture of yourself, you're already weeding yourself out of 50% of all searches.

And, as obvious as this sounds, make sure your picture actually gives people a clue of what you look like. Those tiny little grainy web cam close-ups of your eyes and nose don't accomplish anything. If you're able to find your way to an online dating site and create a profile, you are perfectly capable of getting your hands on a digital camera.

Use a real camera, decent lighting, and give people an actual indication of what you look like. If you think you're ugly, you're probably just being too hard on yourself. But even if you're not exactly Brad Pitt, hiding it won't save you any time. Trust me, there's someone out there for everyone.

Tip #5 - Look at other Profiles for Inspiration

There's no shame in browsing through a few profiles to get ideas for your own. Find a few profiles that catch your attention and take notes. You can also look at the profiles of people that interest you to get an idea of their expectations. You don't want to mold yourself to anyone's expectations but it does help to get a basic idea of what they're all about.