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Creating the perfect dating profile is the key to your success online. But where do you start?
Dating websites
Dating sites have in the past had a tendency to be looked down on or given a bad rep. Thankfully as time goes on, we seem to finally be able to see these sites as being highly beneficial for those who are single.
Long gone are the days when we would dread admitting where we had met our significant other or your only knowledge of dating sites, was when your best friends cousin once worked with someone who’s daughter met her Husband on a dating site!
With the stigma almost removed, people are finally embracing it rather than turning their nose up over them. Even my recently widowed Father has had his friends telling him to consider it. I am fully on board but I’m not sure I am quite ready for him to be just yet!
How did I find success?
What is key to online dating though is having the right profile. Giving potential dates the right kind of information about you. But knowing what to put in can be hard.
I met my Fiance on a dating website initially. As it turned out, he was best friends with my best friends husband! Small world huh? But without us finding each other online, who knows if we’d have clicked when we met in real life.
So now I am that real life person that met the love of their life online. I feel like that means I am uniquely positioned to offer advice to others. In fact, I soon became the person my friends turned to for advice. Today I want to share those tips with you.
How to create the perfect dating profile for success
Pick the right site for you
Always take time to find the site that is right for you. Matchmehappy.co.uk is there to help you find romance and long term relationships. They offer a way to narrow down your preferences. Allowing you to search for exactly what your looking for in a potential partner.
Make your match want to talk to you
Using free dating sites allows you to meet people from the comfort of your own home. But from behind a screen it will be your profile that leads them to strike up a conversation.
Seems obvious to say but an engaging profile is the best way to start. It will give potential matches a way to get to know you. Helping them decide if they want to contact you further.
Offer this information in a way that makes sense for a start. You’re telling a story and your the subject matter.
Who are you?
Shout out for all to hear about you. Talk about your interests and your life experiences. Often this will be where conversations come from. If you don’t give enough away there is little reason for someone to want to message you. Equally if you put EVERYTHING out there, it almost makes it impossible to find something to talk about.
Think about how your friends might describe you. If they’d say you’re quirky or funny then make sure you show this. These are the things that people love about you, it is so important you showcase this.
Talk about your interests and tell matches if common interests is important to you. If you love to binge watch TV for example, is it important to meet someone who feels the same or would you rather meet someone who will push you out of your comfort zone?
It is best to know in advance what it is that is most important to you in a potential partner.
Why are you here?
Talk about what bought you to the dating site. Are you looking for a serious relationship for example. You don’t want to go in to too much detail of course. You may scare people off if you announce your 3 year plan is to be married with a baby or two!
Equally though, if you do not want to start a conversation with someone who does not want marriage and children. There are ways of doing this without alienating a potential beau. Be honest and polite about it. I’ve seen some profiles in my time that are pretty scary in their messages.
‘Do NOT bother contacting me unless you’re ready to settle down, no time for time wasters!!’
OK so it might get your point across but it might be off putting to other people.
Never give away any personal information
I feel like this should be a given, but many times I have seen people posting very personal info on their profile.
Remember these people are strangers. They do not need to know where you work, what you earn and certainly not specifics about where you live for example.
Be honest
This is your time to ‘sell’ yourself to potential matches. Creating a polished version of yourself will be difficult to pull off in real life.
No one is looking for perfection, they are looking for a connection. A true connection can only be developed when you are being yourself.
Choose your pictures carefully
We all want to look our best but is catfishing really the way to do it? The answer to that is NO!
Find a recent picture that is a true reflection of you right now. The you that they will meet or see on facetime for the first time.
I always selected pictures that gave an idea about my personality. If you rock climb or are in to surfing, maybe you love to travel, then let your pictures show this. It can be a great conversation starter.
Be open minded
It’s really important to assume that not everyone has spent a huge amount of time creating the best profile. That doesn’t mean you should by-pass them.
If someone contacts you, be open to having a conversation before dismissing them based on their profile alone. Who know’s where a love story might begin!
Enjoy the experience but be safe
It would be irresponsible of me to NOT take this opportunity to tell you to be careful online. 99.9% of the time, people are honest and are who they say they are but always be cautious.
I’d recommend video-calling people before you meet them. This is a great way to see that a person is who they claim to be.
If you are meeting in real life, make sure you only go somewhere you are comfortable with and that someone knows where you are going.
Most importantly, enjoy the experience. It is meant to be fun. Starting your love story with match me happy could be the best thing you ever do.
Have you ever tried internet dating? What are your top profile writing tips?
This is such a great and informative post because it is such a shame that some people are embarrassed to say that they met their significant other online when it is completely valid! That’s so cute that you met your fiance that way when he is your best friends husbands best friend!
That’s amazing that your fiancé was your best friends husband’s best friend! Definitely a small world – almost like it was meant to be 😉 I’ve never used a dating site. And honestly, the prospect scared the life out of me haha! I’d be open to it if anything happened with me and Carl though as you hear such great success stories through dating apps and sites!
Great tips! I’m really glad the stigma of meeting people online is almost removed :- ) I had a similar experience as you several times when I met someone online – it turned out that we had mutual acquaintances but clicked online first!
Daniela
http://www.danielanina.com
Awww that’s lovely to hear x x
I actually hate dating sites, however this is all great advice. I think when I’m honest with myself and really put myself out there it will be better.
So happy for you and great post!
You are very lucky to have found your partner online… you seriously found a unicorn! 🙂 How did you do it?! Dating sites are horrid, but if you can sift through the chaff and and take it all with a pinch of salt, it makes dealing with online dating a lot easier! Sim x
You are so right. You almost have to detach yourself from the madness of it x
Cool tips! I never register myself on any dating website yet. Which dating website do you think is the safest?
Great tips! Going into any situation with an open mind is usually nothing but beneficial, and I really like the idea of video chatting first for safety. One can never be too safe!
It is a great way to know that someone is genuine. If they refuse to video chat or make excuses as to why not, it’s probably best to run the opposite way x
This is such excellent information for people looking to date again and needs the right tools to use dating sites.
Thank you Tamyara x x
I love this post! I also met my boyfriend on a dating app, and it turned out I’d lived with his best friend during my first year of University- I love a good small world story! But I agree, without meeting in a specific setting, you don’t know if you would have clicked in the same way. While online dating doesn’t work for everyone, I definitely don’t think it should have such a bad rep 🙂
I’ve never experienced online dating – I’ll have been with my husband for 28 years next month, how scary is that!!! But your point about safety is spot on, Claire, thank you for including that. And also, small world, that’s amazing your fiance was best friend’s husband – clearly you were meant to be together 🙂 xx
Ooh I really enjoyed this. This is something that I’ve been thinking about doing for a while – as a complete introvert, it’s hard enough making new friends, let alone anything more out in the big scary world! But I’ve never quite got around to it. I’ve also never come across anything that discusses it either – so thank you so much for sharing!
I’ve never tried online dating before and these are great tips for anyone wanting to get into that! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I know some lovely ladies that could use this info. These are very good tips
Thank you x x
I’m relieved I’ve never had to use a dating site. I’ve heard a number of horror stories. I wouldn’t have a clue about setting up a profile. I’m sure those looking to will find this helpful.
I’ve never tried any dating platform, but I love your advices. I definitely will suggest them to my friends !!
Great post, so many helpful tips and information! I have never tried online dating as I met my now husband at 17 but I do think they can be really helpful for those looking for a potential partner, even more so now that meeting up with people is so limited! x
Nice post. It’s lovely to know that you met your significant other online and the tips you shared are spot on.
Thank you so much Anita x
These are great tips – my brother is on various dating apps, so I’ll send this over to him 🙂
I think having enough on your profile is important so you can get a feel for someone. Me and my fiance met online and both of us had quite a lot to say about us on our profiles so we knew we had things in common x
This is a really helpful post for those looking for love – it can be hard to know exactly what people need to put.
I don’t think I would have known where to start! It is kind of great though that there are many dating apps out there now.
I met my girlfriend on a dating app, so I know how well dating apps work well. What a small world with meeting your fiancé. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve never tried online dating before. I guess it pays to be as honest as you are in real life if you want to come across as genuine.
For me, dating sites are just a no go. I have had no luck on them so I stopped using them years ago. All they did was bring me headaches and a lot of swipe lefts lol. I’m not saying they can’t work for other people, they’re just not for me. Maybe in the future, if I ever decide to try them again, there will be better apps invented. Thanks for sharing!
I am pinning this as I need all the help that I can get, I am looking to create a profile.
Great advice! I haven’t had any experience using dating sites myself but I have so many friends who have found their partners on them 🙂
Thanks for these tips.. It will help many people.
Thank you x
The thought of using a dating site scares me, but I know it is common these days. I met my husband at work and think that is a natural place to meet people, however, I remember everyone sticking their nose in and causing problems at the beginning, so online dating would be a clean slate
Great tips! One of my friends want to find a partner, so I will share the tips with her.
Wow what a small world netting someone relatively close to you through the site. This is a great post for people using a dating site
Thank you. My Fiance’s best mate is his best man and his wife is my maid of honor!
I also met my boyfriend online and I think people nowadays are starting to get used to it. Before, when others learn that you use dating sites, they laugh at you. But we are digital now! It’s okay to date online and hopefully find the right person.
Great tips! I think it’s always best to be completely honest and to not build yourself up into something your not
This is some great advice and so many great tips. I’d definitely agree to be open minded because sometimes what you think you’ll like you don’t and something or someone that is different to that, you might really connect with.