Seven Online Dating Mistakes In Profiles

The first time I tried online dating I was terrified. The second time I was frustrated. The third time was better because I got the attention I wanted. This happened because I took the time to experiment with my profile, ask my friends what they were doing and read-up on the topic.

Do yourself a favor and don't make the same mistakes I made.

Mistake Number One: Ignoring the Competition Weeks went by before I looked at another woman's profile. It didn't occur to me to compare myself to others and one-up my competition. If of women in my zip code have a picture of themselves at a baseball game, then shouldn't I make myself stand out by posting a picture of myself playing the game?

Mistake Number Two: Never Changing Your Photo The first two times I was on Match I used the same photo. The third time I signed-up I searched men under 35 and found a guy I had seen on the first-go-round. Although I really liked him, I quickly changed my mind about writing him because his profile was exactly the same. I picked a new photo for myself and changed my profile a little every couple of weeks. I did this so guys who may have passed by me once, wouldn't pass by me again.

Mistake Number Three: Upload the Wrong Photo It's safe to assume that we've all been in relationships before, or have a friend of the opposite sex that likes to hug or hang on us. Avoid photos with other people or photos where it's obvious someone has been cut out.

I think that pictures with puppies and babies are cheap. Nice try.

The photos of you in your bathing suit should, of course, be avoided. You're hot and want to tell someone, which is great, but keep it classy.

Mistake Number Four: Write a Novel The written portions of your profile should never be too long. Our attention spans just won't withstand the 580 words describing your ideal date. Save the novel for the second, third and fourth e-mails because that will certainly let him or her know you're interested.

Mistake Number Five: Played a Broken Record Make yourself sound unique by focusing on your distinctive attributes like, for instance, the fact that your eyes change from hazel to green depending on your outfit. Avoid clich phrases like "I'm laid back" or "My friends say I'm..." Making yourself stand out may be the most important aspect of an online profile.

Mistake Number Six: Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve No one cares that you just broke up, or that you've been hurt before. Let me take that back, everyone looking at your profile cares, but not in a good way. Don't say things like, "I just got out of a relationship and am just looking to have fun" or "I've had bad luck finding a good man, and now I'm here to find Mr. Right." It's ok that you're heart-broken; just keep it to yourself or you risk scaring a lot of great suitors away.

Mistake Number Seven: No Second Opinion For a small fee, a profile writing service can help you write your profile. If that's not an option you should definitely ask a friend to review what you've written because, let's be honest, it's hard to write about yourself.

The outcome of dating will only be positive if you keep realistic expectations and the right attitude. Online dating is not hard, and shouldn't be scary.