Deciding that you want to try online dating is one thing, actually setting about doing it is another thing.  Once you’ve found the site where you want to search for romance, you have to write yourself a profile!  But how do you go about writing yourself a catchy, engaging and accurate profile, that will not only make the reader read past the first line, but then contact you?

First of all, recognise that you need to approach this little necessity as a means to an end: you want to meet a like minded person in order to have some fun!

There is nothing like setting yourself for failing at something like this if you take it too seriously and approach it like you would your Finals, so write  the way that you would when speaking to a bestfriend.  Relax and try and be anecdotal, rather than too formal.

Think about who you are and what you have to offer.  Be confident when you write about yourself, that will always shine through as an attractive asset of your character, but please avoid arrogance and the need to show off, both of which are a turn off.  Don’t worry about what the person reading your profile is looking for - let’s face it, you’re never going to please everyone and nor should you want to!  So, think about your strengths, your abilities displaying all the elements that make you an attractive and warm woman who is worth contacting.

Don’t be afraid to let the reader know what you want.  There is no point saying you’re interested in a long term relationship, if you’re not!  Equally there is no point saying you’re interested in a few dates and some fun, if what you really want is a long term relationship.  Of course your needs and desires may change as time goes on, but leave that for time.  What are you interested in now?  Be honest!

Okay, the photo!  Do you include one or not?  A lot of people get really hung up about whether to include a photo in their profiles or not.  Well I have to say it’s a MUST!  We are programmed to visually take in the world around us.  How much so when it comes to Romance. Also, it’s a proven fact that profiles with photos, get far more traffic than those without.  Be honest, you want to see what he looks like before you agree to meet him, don’t you?  Well pretty much the same applies the other way!

Some dating sites offer a template that you simply fill in with your details.  If the site that you have chosen has one, all the better, since the headings and sub-headings are already there and you simply fill in and submit.

If the site you have gone for does not have this kind of online form, then the kinds of information you should look to put into your profile are things like: what you enjoy doing socially, what kind of music you enjoy, your ideal day, your ideal date.  If you have children, say so (and this piece of information is not about opening up your private life to anyone who happens by, it’s about weeding out those people reading who might not be interested in dating someone who has children).  It will save you a lot of time and besides, why would you want to date someone who didn’t care for children anyway, so nothing lost!

Outline the kind of person you’re looking for.  Don’t nail it down to specifics e.g. features and job, because doing that just limits the responses you will get.  What you should look to outline are things about age, marital status, location, drinkers, smokers, race etc.  Again, this is about you thinking about what you want and what will waste your time if someone way off your ideal contacts you!

Above all, your finished profile should not contain anything negative or anything too personal about your identity and your private life.  Once you’ve finished your profile take sometime to read it through before submitting it!  Get a friend to read it through!  Sleep on it and if you’re happy, hit that submit button and hope for success!