In another article I presented you with some common mistakes in online
dating profiles (link to article here). In this article, I’ll
go over the kind of things one can and should talk about in their
personal ad or dating profile to get across their real you,
their personality, on the online dating board-to get responses
from the right people to their dating ad.
The best way to write a profile is to imagine yourself meeting
someone new for the first time in a casual setting- a bar, a coffee
shop, or at a friend's party. Think about the kind of things you would
tell about yourself to this person- your dating profile or personal
ad is the same idea extended over the Internet.
Follow a factual but casual approach to writing your personal ad.
You want to let the people get to know concrete things about you,
but at the same time, your ad shouldn't come across as a boring resume.
Sprinkle it with some humor, exclamation marks; make it fun and interesting.
A good profile has 200-250 words, with 150-200 words for
yourself, and 50-100 words describing the kind of person you are looking
for.
Discuss your career history and plans. What kind
of jobs you have held, what your future career aspirations are, etc.
These are generally looked at as positive. Think of it as the first
conversation you are having with someone, don't we usually talk about
we do? Excellent stuff to write about in a profile. Be brief, of course-
you don’t want to go on and on about selling shoes, delivering
the mail, or designing and fabricating cars, for that matter.
If you have children, tell a little about them. This
is an important part of your life, and interests the people interested
in dating you. Mention their ages, and if they live with you. Don't
describe them too much-but giving their ages for example, makes you
come across as a normal parent.
If you have moved around a bit in your life, mention the
places where you have lived. It gets more people interested
in you and wanting to write to you. For example, if you are presently
living in Los Angeles but have lived in Dallas, someone who has a
Texas connection is more likely to write to you. If you have lived
internationally, all the better-people are always interested in life
in other places and cultures.
If you have just moved to where you are living now, mention that.
People love playing tourist guides. They are eager
to know new faces from other parts of the country or the world. They
can also help you settle down in the town more easily-so even if nothing
happens romance-wise, you can always make some good friends.
If you speak a foreign language, mention that. It attracts attention.
Along the same lines, mention a little of your family genealogy, as
people may find a connection there as well (e.g. I have a Scottish
or Chinese mother).
Talk about how you entertain yourself. This is where
you can be funny and witty, so exercise your imagination. Mention
about your social circle. Are you a social person? Do you have
many friends? Do you go out with them a lot? What activities do you
do with them? If you have a good relationship with your siblings, your
parents, and your family, mention it. Mention if they live close to
you, and how often you see them.
Mention if you like pets, and have any of your own.
When you are talking about the person you are looking for,
be clear in your requirements, but make sure you don’t limit
yourself unnecessarily. So if you don't want to date men
who have kids, say so. Or if you don't want to go out with smokers,
say it clearly in your ad. But again, be careful-you are restricting
potential mates here, so put things only if you are very sure what
your potential partner absolutely must or must not have.
Mention if you are looking for a stable relationship or if
you are just looking to make friends and will see how things
go from there ("looking for nice and interesting people to hang
out with").
Click here if you want John to review or rewrite your Dating
Profile!
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Article by John G., Founder Dating Profile
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