How To Make An Effective Online Dating Profile

Tips to score an online date with ease

Online Dating | |
Updated On: August 8, 2024
how to write a dating profile
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If you are looking for love on an online dating site, having a great profile is vital to getting started. How to write a dating profile should be your primary focus to be able to unlock the doors to online dating. You may even need to take a look at some sample dating profiles before you create an account on a dating app.

A study has proved that women spend about 3.2 seconds looking at “attractive” profiles of men before swiping right and 6.9 seconds looking at “unattractive” profiles of men before swiping left. For men, it’s 5.7 seconds before swiping right and 6.3 seconds before swiping left. So, your dating profile bio has to be crisp and appealing, as it can make or break your chances of finding the right partner.

If you’re wondering what to write on dating profile, we have gathered some actionable tips — for both men and women. We have also collated good online dating profiles to copy and paste. Read on to take the first step toward creating a kick-ass online presence with our dating profile templates.

What To Write About Yourself On A Dating Site — Tips For Women 

When it comes to dating profile ideas, men feel women don’t even need to spend a lot of time creating profiles. There is a general misconception that online dating is easier for women. Well, only women who are exploring the sea of options to catch a decent fish know the ground reality. It’s true women, in general, receive hundreds of matches or have “Hi” texts flooding their DMs, but separating quality profiles from a pool that may also have a bunch of romance scammers and fake accounts is a task in itself.

Plus, you can be so much more than just a pretty face, but the people online won’t get a hint of that if your profile does not even begin to cover who you truly are. So, follow our tips on how to write a dating profile for a woman and you are good to go:

Related Reading:  What Does Dating Mean To A Woman?

1. Don’t hide behind a graphic avatar

First things first! If you’re wondering what to write on dating profile, let’s talk about that one element that most people visiting your online dating profile notice first. Don’t hesitate to put up a real picture, because, as dating coach Orna Walters says, “You’re marketing yourself to your future partner.” Photos are extremely important, because:

  • Profiles with no photos are hardly noticed
  • If you cannot see a person’s face on their dating profile, the profile seems shady

If you’re wondering how to write the best dating profile, these tips might help:

  • Choose a picture that reveals your personality
  • It’s better not to go for a blurry selfie. The picture quality matters
  • The main picture should exclusively focus on your facial features and should be followed by a few full-length pictures
  • Don’t post a group photograph as your display picture. It will only confuse others, who have no way of figuring out which one is you

Here’s an interesting insight from a Reddit user: “Women who show skin in their profiles DO get more matches, but inevitably the matches are only interested in their bodies and for many women not the attention they want.”

2. Be clear about your ‘type’ and what you want

Here is one of the most important dating profile tips: being clear about who you are and what you seek from online dating can make it easier to zero in on what to write on dating profiles to attract the right kind of matches. Or you may end up having a terrible experience with online dating like my friend Sheila did.  

On the first date after meeting online, her date took her to a library and then on a museum tour. While it was all very exciting for him, she was bored to death and had to fake the whole conversation just to make sure he liked her. Why? Because she had mentioned she loved reading old classics and enjoyed art whereas, in real life, she is a fitness enthusiast who loves adventure sports and hikes. 

For women, knowing how to write a good dating profile is doubly important, as they run the risk of being exposed to unwanted DMs and unsolicited photos. So, it’s important to state whether you want a long-term relationship or a short-term one, just to make matters simpler.

Related Reading: 10 Tricks To Choose The Right Profile Pictures For Your Dating Profiles

3. Don’t reveal too much information

One of the most useful dating profile ideas is not to reveal too much about yourself. A BBC article states how 57% of women respondents reported to have faced some sort of harassment on dating sites. This is a growing concern among women across the globe. The only way to tackle this and any form of online data breach or misuse is to:

  • Not revealing personal information such as one’s address or work location
  • Not posting photos with details such as car numbers
  • Not sharing sensitive information, such as bank details, etc.
  • Not posting photos exposing a lot of skin, as people might screenshot the photos and misuse them 

Knowing what to write on dating profiles is not enough, it’s equally important to know what to leave out. 

4. Negative is not always sexy

If you’re wondering how to write a dating profile, well, this is a crucial piece of online dating profile advice and you should take this one very seriously: try and avoid negative words. While women are asked to be a little standoff-ish to ward off lewd men and unwanted attention, they shouldn’t overdo it in terms of cynicism, a snarky attitude, and negativity. If you say “I don’t enjoy Netflix”, that will make Netflix users stay away. But what if there’s a really good guy waiting for you who’s also fond of Netflix? Remember, trivial details don’t matter. So, be a little less judgmental and more open.

Likewise, if you say, “Fake people need not apply”, it makes one wonder how self-important you consider yourself to be. You might think that the sass comes off as attractive at first but in reality, it just seems egotistical. Dating coach Erica Ettin says, “If you’re thinking something negative, turn it into a positive. For example, turn ‘not looking for a player’ into ‘looking for a committed relationship’.”

Related Reading: Dear Girls, Please Stay Away From These Types Of Men On Tinder

5. Catchy headlines are super fun

When you are staring at your mobile screen wondering what to put on a dating profile, consider a captivating title for your profile. For example, if you are a coffeeholic, you can punch this into the headline with a fun twist. Don’t go for a plain statement found on the list of random dating profile ideas on the internet, such as “I like coffee and books” and bore your prospective matches. Remember, men too like to see your funny, quirky side. You don’t always have to be “Ms. Goody Two Shoes” on your dating profile. 

Instead, you can write, “Fellow coffee aficionado here. Take me to your favorite coffee place in town and you’ve got a second date!” The headline is the first thing a potential match reads on your profile and, in a way, it’s your chance to make the right impression

6. Focus on your interests

One important piece of dating profile advice is to introspect a little before you get down to writing your profile. Know yourself first and then post a few keywords associated with your interests and hobbies. For instance, a study on dating profile examples actually proved that specific words such as fashion, yoga, and fitness work wonders in getting women successful matches online. So go ahead and use a short but interesting introduction, without getting into long descriptions. Use a few terms to showcase your core interests and half the job is done.

Related Reading: Are Common Interests In Relationships The Most Important Factor?

7. Don’t sound too demanding

This is one of the most crucial dating profile tips. Yes, it’s good to state what you want and be clear about your demands. But whenever you state some criteria, make sure you don’t sound too demanding or picky. For instance, if you write something like “I wish to receive princess treatment. I want my man to take me to Paris and I’d love to experience exotic vacations every year. I’d also like to shop till I drop and taste the most authentic food at Michelin restaurants,” well, most men would rather swipe left than right. This is one of the worst dating profile examples that can be. Your dating bio is your first impression in the dating world, and that can’t have you demanding like you’re already his wife. 

Dating profile bio examples Female

To help you with an ideal dating profile template for a woman, we have highlighted some of the best and most fun dating profiles of women from various sites. Take a look at these dating profile bio examples female:

Brief, but precise

Detailed, but witty

Cheeky as it can get

What To Write About Yourself On A Dating Site — Tips For Men

How to write a dating profile bio, you ask? Well, look no further. Good dating app bios for men tend to be ‘to the point’ and mind-blowing, without being too flashy. Below, we have collated some of the best dating profile ideas for you that will help you score a date with ease.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is On-Datign-Apps.jpg

To really make a girl think about you, you have to leave a trail for them and keep the mystery alive. How, you ask? Allow us to help with some actionable tips on how to write a dating profile for a man. Take a look at these dating profile samples and give these tips a try:

Related Reading: 11 Dating Tips For Beginners – Make Sure You Follow These!

1. Offer a glimpse of who you are as a person

This is one of the best dating profile tips. Men, it seems, often don’t put a lot of effort into creating a dating profile. More often than not, all you get is “football” and a picture of a dog. A Reddit user says, “Apparently you will stand out if you don’t have a photo of yourself posing with a fish you caught. The fish pic has almost become the socially acceptable d*** pic.”

What can you highlight instead? Here’s what:

  • Use interesting adjectives that describe you as a person
  • Expand on those adjectives. Are you funny? Add a line to prove you are indeed funny
  • Don’t overplay it though, or you will come off as conceited 
  • People like to get a fair idea of who they might be going out with. Will they be dating an artist or going out with an analytical investment banker? When making an online dating profile, you have to tell them who you really are
dating site
Making profile in dating site

2. Add a tinge of humor

What do women prefer? Come on! The most common answer to this question is perhaps a man with a “sense of humor”. So, how can we not talk about the role of humor in figuring out how to write a dating profile for a man? It’s not a big secret that women adore the witty side of a man, even if he showcases dry humor. And, your dating profile bio is the first place to impress her with a little playfulness. Here’s how to write the best dating profile with a dash of humor:

  • You can harmlessly take a dig at yourself and make them laugh at your expense
  • You can rate yourself out of 10 on some basic boyfriend qualities or physical features
  • You can create a wholesome pros and cons list for added fun
  • Just make sure to steer clear of any jokes that might offend a particular group of people. There is nothing funny about insensitivity

Related Reading: 25 Ways To Keep A Conversation Going With A Girl

3. Reveal what you’re looking for 

The answer to how to write a dating profile for men lies in the awareness that prospective matches will take the desired action only if their interests match yours. Good dating app bios give an idea of what a person is really searching for. Here is some dating profile advice on how to make that happen: 

  • Avoid listing the hobbies, body type, and education of your ideal partner – this is just one of the unwritten rules of dating
  • Instead of saying “My ideal woman should possess a sense of humor”, say, “I love being around someone with a good sense of humor”
  • Instead of bragging about having a fit body, use an impactful word like ‘active’ Focusing on physical characteristics may make you sound superficial or overly picky 
  • It’s also important to be honest about what you want. If it is a relationship you are looking for, state it. If you want casual hookups, don’t shy away from typing that out. This part is crucial, for it will only attract people with similar thoughts

4. Showcase your interests without overdoing it

If you have no clue about what to write on dating profiles, well, remember, mere words are not enough. You must also highlight what you’re good at. Upload photos that you think describe you the best and are a reflection of your personality. Here are some tips on how to do that without sounding like you’re bragging:

  • Are you into making music? A shot with your drum set or guitar will definitely showcase your musical side
  • If you are a gym buff, know that a barrage couple of gym selfies will turn most people off (only because there are so many of them out there!). However, a magnificent shot of you doing pull-ups will work wonders though

But don’t overindulge. Knowing the right balance is key in deciphering how to write a dating profile bio. We’ve also got some good online dating profiles to copy and paste into our article for you to refer to.

Related Reading: 15 Things Girls Always Notice On A Date

5. Use spell check

A Grammarly study has proved that men who have just two spelling mistakes on their profiles are 14% less likely to get matches. So, along with focusing on what to put on a dating profile, pay attention to how you put it. Keep an eye out for bad grammar and spelling errors. Errors show carelessness and people looking for something serious might believe you are frivolous or lame. Be smart. Use an online grammar-check tool to clean up your mistakes, because there are way too many grammar Nazis out there. 

6. Don’t use a sexual tone

Women who wish to date seriously are usually put off by people who lead with sexual innuendo. Unless you’re looking for a hook-up or a one-night stand, try and avoid language that showcases you as someone too eager to have sex. So, don’t brag about your sexual prowess or body count. It’s likely that women won’t take you seriously if you do this. This is the simplest answer to how to write a dating profile bio conundrum.

Related Reading: Finding Player 2: How Online Gaming Can Lead To Love

7. Use a ‘call to action’ 

More often than not, men end up starting conversations on dating apps. Why not shake things up a little and give your matches a chance to set the ball rolling? For that, we have a simple piece of dating profile advice: add some open-ended questions to your bio, which prompts your matches to follow up or start a conversation. Now that you have a fair idea of how to describe yourself on a dating app, check out some good online dating profiles to copy and paste. 

Dating profile bio examples Male

To showcase what an ideal and effective online dating profile template for men looks like, we have sourced a few snapshots of real dating profiles of men from various dating sites. Do take a look at these dating profile samples:

Informative, yet cool

Funny, but direct

Short and sweet

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I put on my dating bio? 

Keep your bio short and simple. Your introduction should be approachable and friendly but also not overly specific. The right way to make an online dating profile is by using concise terms and sentences. Put your interests, hobbies, passions, and drives simply and sweetly. Go through some sample dating profiles too. 

2. How do I write about myself on a dating site? 

Keep it casual and honest. People should get a glimpse of who you are when they see your profile. Write about your interests, what makes you wake up in the morning, and things that make you unique. 

3. What are 5 words to describe yourself? 

There are many, but you can try some of these: adventurous, movie buff, indoorsy, party animal, or animal lover. 

Final Thoughts

Infographic on - how to create a dating profile
How to create an effective online dating profile

We hope this detailed guide on how to write a good dating profile has helped instill some confidence in your ability to put yourself out there. With a few basic steps, you can easily figure out how to describe yourself on a dating app (without needing a dating profile template to fall back on). Now that you have these pointers and have gone through all the sample dating profiles provided by us, go ahead, and jazz up that profile of yours to make the most of all that the world of virtual dating has to offer. 

Virtual Dating – Is It Here To Stay?

What Are Some Good First Date Questions To Get To Know Someone?

Online Dating – 8 Tips To Make It Work For You

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