Why? I just don’t have enough time to update it.

My interests have also shifted since starting it, so if I make time for another blog, it won’t be about online dating. I had fun working for a paper with a local dating site for three years, but I think it’s time to move on.

I’d like to thank the 1000 or so unique visitors I’ve received since starting it. Also, to everyone whose emailed me, you’ve made it interesting. If you need advice, I’d suggest you check out geeksdreamgirl.com.

Good luck!

Teeth are one of those universally hot physical traits—unlike putting a plate in your lip or tattooing your forehead.

2. It makes you appear friendly.

Crazy how simple that is—smiling = friendliness. But it’s true. And mysteriously, when you appear friendly, people are more likely to want to be your friend,  and you definitely want female “friends.”

3. You look hotter when you smile.

I know you don’t think you do—but I promise—you do.

4. Women will think you are smiling at them.

When women see a picture of a guy, they imagine what it would be like if he were looking at them, and if you are frowning, they imagine what it would feel like to piss you off.

5. Smiling makes you look less like a serial killer.

And anything that accomplishes this is worth the effort. Have you ever seen a serial killer sporting a friendly non-creepy grin? (Because I know we’ve all met hundreds of serial killers right?) Well, I haven’t. The keyword is “friendly,” not “ha ha, I just killed 200 people and made omelettes out of them.”

Stay tuned for a post on “How Not To Look Like a Serial Killer Even If You Are.”

Sign up for these sites first:

Match.com

Pros: Easy to use, and there are millions of members.
Cons: Not free

OKcupid.com

Pros: It’s free, the members are smart and hot-tech-geeks.
Cons: Not as many members as match.com

Plentyoffish.com

Pros: Free
Cons: It can feel a little bit like Craigslist personals at times.

Other sites to try

Chemistry.com

Pros: They use science to match you up with your anthropological match, or say they claim.
Cons: Expensive

EHarmony

Pros: If you are looking for a relationship, and you want a site that does all of the work for you, this is the one.
Cons: This site is expensive and it takes forever to fill out their questionairre.

If I had a nickel for every time someone wrote, “I am trustworthy, down-to-earth and laid-back” in their profile, I’d be rich enough to buy everyone I know an Angelina-Jolie-plastic-surgery makeover  (not that I the need the help of course). These adjectives have been overused to the point that they now mean nothing and are just a waste of page space.

2) Don’t create egotistically long lists of your favorite things.

Endless lists—the soundtrack of your life, your favorite foods,  your favorite TV shows—hardly define you. By all means, mention your favorite bands, but don’t let any list take up more than a couple lines. I’ve seen profiles where the only thing written in the “About Me” section was a list of bands.  Would you really disqualify someone based on the fact that their soundtrack includes Beyonce and yours KISS?

3) Don’t forget to talk about what you are looking for in a date.

Often people get so immersed in writing about themselves, by the time they get to the end, they’ve completely forgotten to mention what they are looking for in a partner—this is a big mistake. You end up looking like you either aren’t that picky (i.e., you’re desperate) or like you’re completely self-absorbed and don’t want to waste precious screen space on anyone but yourself and your quirky interests—either way, I hear the click of a mouse.

A preference is wanting to date someone who is 5′9—if the woman of your dreams shows up and she’s 5’4, you aren’t going to turn her away, you’d just prefer that she be taller. Now, if she also shows up with a human femur in her mouth, once again, deal-breaker.

Read this profile and tell me if you recognize it:

“I am a fun person who loves movies and music. I like walks on the beach, good conversation, and dining out. I’m looking for someone who is fun and can make me laugh.”

Unfortunately, the above describes most profiles – typical and non-informative. Beef up your profile to be more descriptive and unique. Instead of “I like movies,” say “my favorite movie is ____ because _______” or use a movie character to describe you. “I’m a lot like _____ in ______ because _______.”

Instead of “I like to discover new things,” say, “I’m a lot like Indiana Jones in that I love exploring the mysteries of life, while educating my mind to appreciate new things.”

When you sit down to write your online dating profile, imagine a friend is asking you the profile questions over a beer (or a shot, whatever relaxes that brain of yours).

2. Be honest.

I know this sounds extremely obvious, but it can’t be stressed enough–be honest–you might end up getting more dates if you aren’t, but they will be with people who want to date a version of you that doesn’t exist (and they also might get a little angry when they meet the 5′4 version of you after wearing 4-inch heels in anticipation of a 6′4-stud).

3. Avoid writing a laundry list of adjectives.

Instead, take each adjective and tell a story that illustrates that trait without having to mention it. Instead of saying you are funny, make someone laugh by telling a joke or telling a story where you make fun of yourself (people love self-deprecating humor). Adjectives are easy to come up with–supporting them with evidence, however, isn’t.

4. Write in your own voice.

A profile that stands out is one where the reader feels like the writer is speaking in their own voice–so don’t plagiarize works of art or try to use advanced language you aren’t comfortable with. This is one of the reasons I don’t believe in professionally-written profiles–it isn’t really you speaking. The first time you send an email, the girl or guy is going to know that you hired someone to write your profile for you.

5. Be as specific as possible.

We all have something interesting to say about ourselves–each of us has a unique past with stories only we can tell. The key is to be as specific as possible–take a detailed example and get even more detailed. Specific details make you more interesting and increase the chances of a potential date connecting with something you’ve said.

Have you ever met someone who doesn’t like movies?…or music?…and laughing? That’s like hating back massages (maybe a rancid essential oil experience?).

OK, here’s a way to change this sentence into something specific to you: I love cult films, electronic music, and sarcasm. Not everyone loves cult films, electronic music gets on a lot of people’s nerves, and sarcasm is an art not everyone has mastered.

Simple changes such as this really give your sentences life, and as a result people will  get more of a sense of who you are.