We want 2011 to be your most romantic year yet. To ensure that your Cupidtino experience is fun and unforgetful, we asked our friend and dating expert Laurie Davis to share her magical tips on spiffing up your profile in this guest post.
You notice her profile and feel a tingle through your iPad . . . could it be instant virtual attraction? Despite sending the wittiest email any of your friends have read, all you get is radio silence from your match. As an online dating coach, I see digital scenarios like this every day. Maybe she’s just not that into you; or maybe your profile isn’t sending the right cyber signals to Miss Cupidtino. But don’t worry, I’m here to help! Perform my diagnostics check to make sure your online impression is right every time.
Photos. Few things will turn a Mac-lover off more than a pixilated photo. Make sure that your main pic is a sharp image, which on Cupidtino means at least 400 wide. It should also be the best snapshot of you that exists – not too far away, looking friendly and as awesome as you get. Fangals: Make sure that your hairstyle and color is still the same. You want to look like your best self today. Fanboys: Ditto for your facial hair. Photos should never stop at the first pic, though! Let the match you are mac’ing on get a better sense of what you’re all about by uploading at least 3 more, 1 of which should be a full-length shot.
Profile Questions. You only have 300 characters per question, so stay away from anything generic and cliché. Making your answers specific is the most important way to maximize space because it will give others a better sense of your personality . . . and they might even find something in common with you! For example, rather than saying “I became a Mac when… my Mom bought me a Macbook for college,” complete this question by telling the story of how you fell in love with a particular product. Taking a different approach to a question will help you stand out from other eDaters. And lastly, don’t be afraid to geek out because you’re among the fellow tech-savvy!
Favorites. This section should be filled out strategically. There is a reason it’s not auto-populated! You want to show your match that you have depth . . . and maybe even some things in common. Variety is the key to this section. Listing only slasher movies or classic rock tunes sends the digital signal that your interests are only Gelaskin deep. For app faves, do not include anything you use to enhance your dating life. Geo-location apps for your single life are cool. Showcasing them in your profile is not. You wouldn’t want your match to question whether or not you’re a serial dater before you meet, right?
Your Status. Updating your status on the site is important because it shows that you’re active and is the most immediate way to get some search action. Consider it your Google juice – every time you update your status, your profile gets ranked higher in your matches’ searches. Be careful with the content of these updates, though! It’s one of the first things your match will notice when they go to your profile, so make sure the update adds personality and is upbeat. Limit it to a short sentence (as you would a tweet) and keep it positive. Try something along the lines of “Best start to the day = yoga!”
Of course, this is just for starters, but you’d be surprised at how far a few simple tweaks to your profile can take you. I’ve seen people change a couple sentences in the right place, and come back with double the response rate. Of course, if you can’t find the right words an eMakeover is only a few clicks away.
About Laurie Davis:
When Laurie Davis first jumped into the sea of online dating ten years ago, she could have drowned. After years of helping her friends stay afloat, her next step was clear: create a lifejacket. In 2009, Laurie founded eFlirtExpert, a date coaching service that does just that. Consider her company the genuis bar for your online dating life. Laurie is responsible for relationships all over the globe, has given advice to over 350 singles and has been featured in over 100 media outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, NBC, Glamour and NPR. Her second brand, eFlirtExpertVIP is the Web’s most comprehensive dating management and concierge service. Her fresh ideas continue to innovate the world of online dating.