Your online dating profile is your calling card – literally. It’s the first thing that people see and it’s ultimately what helps them decide whether they want to potentially get to know you. You want to make sure that your profile reflects who you are as a person in all of your awesome, unique, glory.
The right person will appreciate you as is, but in order to make it easier for them to find you, it’s important to optimize your online dating profile. Instead of trying to get “the perfect beach body” this summer (as mentioned above, you’re perfect the way you are), why not give your online dating profile a makeover instead?
Here’s a few ways optimize your online dating profile this summer –
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Re-evaluate your photos. Do they show who you are as a person?
A new season is the perfect time to pause and take stock of the photos you already have on your online dating profile and update them if necessary. Do the photos you’ve chosen show who you are and what you’re about? For example, if you’re the kind of person who loves to be outdoors, you don’t want to only have photos that show you standing stiffly against a wall in uncomfortable formal wear – just saying. If your photo gallery doesn’t feel “100% you,” now’s the time to switch things up. Add in photos that show who you are, not what you think other people would want to see – for example, that time you toured the Acropolis in Athens or went on an epic hiking journey through the Pacific Northwest.
Don’t go overboard though. A good online dating profile includes a mix of lifestyle shots (you doing the things that you enjoy) and a few straightforward photos that show what you look like up close. In other words, it doesn’t matter how much you love scuba diving (or another activity) – you don’t be the person wearing face obscuring goggles and a wetsuit in every photo.
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Get seasonal with your photos.
If you’ve had the same photos in your profile all winter and summer (or gasp, for the past three years), ‘tis the season to switch things up. I’m not suggesting that you post photos of you half-naked on the beach (unless of course, that’s your thing) but maybe consider swapping out that cute photo of you drinking hot chocolate at a ski lodge for a summer friendly photo of you kicking back at music festival.
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Trim down.
No, I’m not talking about your waistline. You’re awesome as is! But, summer is the season where “less is more” so, why not embrace that philosophy in your online dating profile? You can still convey who you are without subjecting potential dates to a wall of text. Instead of writing your life story, see if you can edit your profile down to 3-4 paragraphs which each each contain 3-4 sentences. It’s all about being concise and making your profile as easy to read as possible for potential dates.
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Lose the heavy makeup in your selfies.
Along with warmer weather, summer also brings natural light. Most of us have at least one or two selfies on our profile. Whether your photos show you contoured and highlighted in a way that would make Kim Kardashian jealous or depict you hunkered down in what appears to be a dimly lit bathroom or basement, why not challenge yourself to take some new selfies? Get outside into the light, go minimal with the makeup and allow your natural beauty shine. If you really want to get creative, add a few sun flares to your photos post-production.
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Show, don’t tell.
One of the first lessons you learn in creative writing class is that you should always make a point to “show” your point instead of telling it to the reader. The same applies to your online dating profile. You don’t want to hammer into people’s heads “this is who I am!” – you want to show them through describing your life. For example, instead of saying “I’m a kind, generous, outdoorsy person that will make an awesome father,” share stories from your life that show these qualities. For example, “Family is important to me. When I’m not out for a hike on the weekends, I volunteer my time mentoring at-risk youth.” So. Much. Better. Right? So, are you showing instead of telling? Now’s the time to take stock and make a few changes.
