How To Create The Perfect Online Dating Profile In 3 Easy Steps

We've all been there before: you answered the questions, wrote a little bit about yourself in the profile section, posted it online with the cutest selfie you could find, and despite the vast amount of lonely emotions that are swimming in your chest, you're debating about whether or not it might be a good idea to reply to smooth_operator69.The good news is that if online dating doesn't seem to be working for you just yet, you're not alone. More than one-third of all people who use online dating sites have never actually gone on a date with someone they met online. But if that means that two-thirds of online daters are in fact, getting dates and going out with other single online daters, then why isn't your photo of your adorable chihuahua not bringing in more suitable candidates who like dogs into your DMs?! The reality is: people are out looking, and if you’re single, the dating market is at its prime. The question is: do you have a dating profile that’s up for the challenge? Here are some tips on how to create the perfect online dating profile:

1. The Smart Selfie. For your primary photo try to stick to a picture with a genuine smile, one that crinkles up around your eyes and shows your head slightly tilted. Selfies alone won’t cut it completely: in your photo gallery, you should include pictures that show your social life and your friends around you as well. What is even better is if you can get a shot of you in the center of a group of friends because of the center-stage effect where being in the the middle of a group signifies a sense of importance. Lastly, instead of having five photos just showing a different angle of your face, choose photos that tell a story about you: what you like to do, things you can be seen doing often, etc.
2. Strategic Descriptions. When you only have a few select ways to choose how you come across to your potential suitors, it can be complicated to know how best to advertise yourself. In a poll of over 12,000 users fromeHarmony, the popular online dating site found that certain words in a person’s profile were more successful in achieving awarding results compared to a number of others. A few examples: women who used the descriptors "sweet," "funny," or “ambitious” received an average of 33% more communication requests from men than those who didn’t. Alternatively, women preferred terms like "perceptive," "physically fit," and "passionate" in a man's profile. Words like "spiritual" and "quiet" ranked the lowest for word preferences by men and women, respectively. Essentially: if you are able to demonstrate your best qualities using the right set of words, the results will follow suit.
3. The 70/30 Rule. Research published in the BMJ’s journal reveals that in your description, 70% should be about yourself and 30% about what you’re looking for in a partner. Think of it a little bit like a résumé: what can you offer, and what are you looking for? Profiles with this balance receive the most replies because people have more confidence to drop you a line knowing that they already have some of the points you are looking for in a partner. This is a great way to inspire—and filter—your potential suitors as well as arm them with material to ask you about in their messages to you. (Full list of words can be found in the link above!)

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how spot-on your profile is if you don’t initiate and take a few chances of your own. Keep in mind that many online daters respond better to people who stick to messaging back within the first 24 hours. If you like someone, make sure you get on it sooner rather than later to ensure they keep their attention to having that electronic conversation with you. Good luck!