Online dating magazine agrees that you need to take your vague profile a step further by making it unique to you:
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
Here is an example of a descriptive sentence that is too vague: I like movies, music , and laughing.
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.