Since its inception and the first online dating site in 1995, online dating has revolutionized dating; in 2023, nearly 40% of heterosexual relationships started online, and almost 60% of same-sex relationships again this way, too. With a massive 366 million people signed up to one of the 8,000 plus competitive dating sites worldwide, how do you get your profile seen and find the right match for you with so much choice and so many different sites to choose from?
Creating a dating profile online all depends on what you want from it. Like anything, you get out of it what you put in, and the more effort you put into finding the right site and creating the right profile, the more successful you are likely to be. That being said, there is still the chance your profile will be overlooked in favor of other users, so not only do you run the risk of being rejected face-to-face when dating, but you can be rejected online, too.
This post looks at some of the best tips for online dating so you find the right match for you.
Know what you want.
Before you even sign up for any site at all, you need to know what it is that you want. Are you looking for casual hookups or marriage? Are you looking for a man, woman, or non-binary partner, and what is it you’re looking for in a person? Knowing what you want to get from this will help you create a profile attractive to the type of person you want to connect with.
Be honest and truthful about what you want, and don’t try to be someone you’re not or project an image you are not invested in, as this will lead to failure for all parties involved.
Tailor to the app.
For maximum success, not only do you need to be honest about your profile, but you need to be tailoring your profile to the dating app you are using. If you sign up for Tinder, you need to use images as it’s a very visually heavy site, while Hinge offers many prompts for your profile, so it would be best to include those prompts in your profile.
Choose the right app.
There are so many apps you can choose from these days, from apps specifically for finding love with people working in uniform, i.e., police or firefighters, or even the military; there are apps that are dedicated to a theme or genre, such as Star Trek fans, and apps for religious benefits and sexual preferences and fetishes to those solely aimed at making marriages happen and are people genuinely wanting to get married. It’s paramount you find the right app for you and what you want from your dating experience.
Pick your photos carefully.
We’ve all seen the myriad of awful photos doing the rounds on social media that people use for dating sites. You want to avoid posting pictures of you with other people as this can be confusing for others to pick out who you are. Avoid wearing sunglasses or hats, as this can block out parts of your face. Use a picture where you can see your face clearly and are happy projecting the image you want others to see of you. If possible, back this up with other options showing you in different situations so people can get a feel for who you are.
Ensure your pictures are current and not years old, and don’t show you as you are today.
Complete your bio
As awkward as it is, you need to fill in your profile as much as possible, as this is what will attract people and make them more likely to connect with you. Try to be as authentic as possible; if you are naturally comedic, then include this in your bio to let your eros list come through. If you are more serious, rely on this through your words and prompts, too. Most dating sites use prompts to help you create a profile or use these as a guide. Practice what you want to say before hitting publish, and ensure you’re happy that your dating profile accurately represents you.
Avoid lying about your stats or anything else that can be seen as deceitful.
Opening lines
Once you have completed your profile, getting some opening lines under your belt can be a good idea to help you break the ice for potential matches. From the Best icebreakers for Tinder to opening lines for Bumble for women and so on. Avoid being sexual in your opening message; don’t be too forward to lead into long monologues. Stay away from copy-and-paste openers and try to be unique, pulling details from a person’s profile to help you find a good opening line to make constant. It can be asking them about their career if this features heavily in their profile, about the background in their image if it shows details about them, or asking a fun question.
Dating online is just as big of a minefield as in-person dating, and while many people find success from online dating, others use it to connect with others without any real direction in mind. These tips can help you make things work for you and get the desired results.
Photo by vjapratama.