Dating App Profile Ideas
A lot of users, particularly on swipe apps like Tinder and Bumble, seem to think that providing a slew of 'fun facts' in their bio is the key to profile success. But this isn't necessarily the case. Super Short Online Dating Profile Examples On some apps like The League, your bio has a 140-character limit. That means you’ve got a couple sentences max to make a good impression, which is crucial if you want a shot at meeting her in person. Super Short Profile Example #1. Sep 20, 2018 A lot of users, particularly on swipe apps like Tinder and Bumble, seem to think that providing a slew of 'fun facts' in their bio is the key to profile success. But this isn't necessarily the case. Attractive photos and an attention-grabbing bio will entice her to send you a message, and that’s your only shot at getting a date on this dating app – so putting time into your profile is CRUCIAL. Keep reading for easy, actionable steps you can take to apply these 5 expert Bumble tips for guys to your profile!
Creating an online dating profile can seem hard at first but it’s really all about introducing yourself to people in a way that makes them want to learn more. You may feel pressure to write a lot or to be the wittiest person on the site or app you’re on, but the truth is that some of the best online dating profiles are the simplest, and some of the best online dating profile tips aren’t that hard to follow.
I’ve worked at the online dating site and app Zoosk for over five years now and during that time I’ve seen a lot of profiles and learned a lot about what does and doesn’t work. To help you take your dating profile to the next level and to make sure you start chatting with and meeting more people, there are a few simple things you can do right away that can have a big impact.
Here are 11 online dating profile tips to help you turn your normal dating profile into something amazing:
1. Don’t leave anything blank.
A big mistake a lot of people make while putting their profile together, is not taking advantage of all the tools they have to show who they are. If the dating site you’re on let’s you create a username, do it. If you can verify your profile using you phone number, Facebook account, or email, do that too. If you can have up to seven photos, then use all seven. Data has shown time and time again, that the more you put into your profile, the more you’ll see back.
When you look at the stats from Zoosk, you can actually see that people get more incoming messages the more they fill out. For example, adding a username can get you up to 20% more incoming messages, writing a description about yourself gets you up to 28% more incoming messages, and verifying your photos can get you up to 100% more incoming messages. All of that can really add up.
2. Be honest. People LOVE it.
When asked what they’re looking for in another person, the number one thing people across the board are looking for is someone who’s honest. In fact, honest is the word that people on Zoosk mention the most when describing their perfect match. When you’re online dating you may be tempted to stretch the truth a bit to present yourself in the best light, but the majority of people prefer honesty and openness instead of someone who tries to be something their not.
“Be open and honest about who are and what you want,” explained one Zoosk member. “It’s natural to want to be friendly and accepted, but it’s more important to be who you are and not mold yourself into the person that you think your love interest wants.”
3. Don’t hide your face in your profile photo.
When it comes to choosing your profile photo, people want to see you and get a sense of who you are. Your photos are a part of that, and anything that makes it harder to see your face or tell who you are can be confusing. If you hide behind sunglasses and a hat, use a group photo so people can’t tell which person you are, or use a blurry photo that makes it hard to see you, people may just pass you by.
What people do like are things like adding a full body photo (adding one can get you up to 203% more incoming messages than the average) and seeing your smile (46% of women say a smile is the number one physical feature that draws them to someone). So don’t forget to show off a little!
4. Make it easy for people to talk to you.
One of the main functions of an online dating profile, is helping people come up with ways to start a conversation with you. Often after you’ve matched with someone, they’ll check out your profile to try and come up with something to say. If you have very little information, or don’t have anything someone could form a question about, they might just be at a loss for words. So here’s a good cheat—give them a question to ask. Do you love books? Add “Ask me what I’m reading” to the end of your profile. Do you love good BBQ? Add something like “Bet you can’t guess my favorite BBQ in town.”
5. Have a mix of photos.
I know it’s tempting to just choose the five photos you look best in, but if those five photos are all selfies, or are all pictures of you hiking, or are all pictures that look pretty much the same then you aren’t doing yourself justice. Your photos shouldn’t only show how you look, they should show who you are. It’s always good to have one main head-shot, but also use a full body photo followed up by photos of you doing things you enjoy and photos of you in different settings.
After looking into online dating data, here are some types of photos that can actually can help you get more incoming messages:
– People with a full-body photos get 203% more incoming messages
– People with a sports outfit (like a jersey) get 32% more message
– People with an outdoors photo get 19% more messages
– People who have a vacation/travel photo get 6% more messages
6. Don’t write a novel.
Back in the day, online dating profiles read almost like a resume, and you would say everything about yourself as if you were writing a cover letter. But now the dynamics of online dating have changed and writing a short paragraph is enough. Your profile should give an idea of who you are, but not give everything away at once. Give people a reason to message you to learn more.
7. Feel free to talk about your kids.
A lot of the old dating taboos, like not bringing up your kids too soon, don’t apply when it comes to online dating. On Zoosk, people who mention that they have kids in their profile actually get 13% more messages than those without.
8. Add details.
If you want to help someone get a sense of who you are, details are where your profile can really come alive. Instead of saying you love hiking, tell people your favorite hike. Instead of saying you like movies, tell them your favorite movie, or better yet, add one of your favorite movie quotes and see if they can guess where it’s from.
9. Don’t talk about dating.
One thing I’ve noticed a lot of people doing more recently, is talking about dating itself or online dating in their profile—and usually they do it in a negative way. Saying something like, “None of the other dating apps have worked so now I’m here,” or “I hate dating but want to meet someone,” or even, “Not interested in talking back and forth forever before meeting up,” may sound lighthearted when you’re chatting it up with your friends in person, but often comes across as negative when you’re reading a profile.
Instead, focus on what you are looking for or the type of person you’d like to meet. Saying things like “Looking for someone to pick movies out with on Friday nights,” or “I have a dark sense of humor. If you do too, that’d be great,” or even, “I love chatting but am interested in meeting up too,” can be a lot more inviting.
10. Get a little romantic.
A dating profile is one of places you can really lay on the charm if you want, so if you’re the type of person who’s into romance don’t be afraid to talk about it. It might seem a bit cheesy to say you’re looking for someone you can watch rainstorms with, but the truth is, a lot of people eat it up.
After looking into online dating data, here are some romantic phrases you can add to your profile to get more incoming messages:
– Mentioning romance or romantic can get you up to 41% more incoming messages.
– Mentioning hopeless romantic can get you up to 38% more incoming messages.
– Mentioning that you’re old-fashioned can get you up to 16% more incoming messages.
11. Be your wonderful, weird self.
Some of the dating profiles that stand out the most are the ones where someone’s personality and what really makes them different shines through… and sometimes, well sometimes it can get a little weird. Whether you love grandma sweaters, tell corny dad jokes, or have read ever Harry Potter book over ten times, let people know. The oddball things about you, are what makes you who you are.
When it comes to online dating, it’s all about putting your most authentic self out there and finding the person who’s interested and into you. You never know what’s going to spark someone’s interest and make them say yes to matching up… It could be that photo of you reading “Howl” by a campfire, how you admitted you love Bill Murray movies, the obscure Calvin and Hobbes quote you added, or a photo of you on vacation in Disneyland with your kids. The same types of little, silly things that can catch your eye when you meet someone in person, can get someone’s attention online too. You just have to be yourself and be open to what comes your way.
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If you’re online dating in 2018, chances are you’re on more than one dating app—and that’s great. Afterall, if you’re looking to meet people you wouldn’t just go to one bar or hang out with one group of friends. It helps to spread the love around and see what you find. Dating apps work a similar way. You meet different kinds of people and have different kinds of experiences on different apps—which means, what makes a great profile on one app, doesn’t necessarily work on another.
That’s why we put together a collection of dating profile examples and quick tips on what works on what apps. There’s a lot of different approaches to consider, but these general tips will help you tweak your profile for each app and meet people on multiple sites.
Dating Profile Examples on Tinder
What Works: Short, detailed, and preferably funny.
What Doesn’t: Longer paragraphs about who you are and the type of person you’re looking for.
Eli, 24
Sunday fundays > lazy Sundays
Skiing > snowboarding
Electric guitar < acoustic guitar (but I play both)
Peanut butter > jelly (Though, they still go together pretty well. Maybe we will too.)
Maria, 25
“The girl doesn’t stop.” – My best friend Erin
“Excellent incisors. And she flosses.” – Dr. Dan, my dentist
“She’s not as crazy as she looks.” – My ex boyfriend Jake
“Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!” – Betty Davis from All About Eve
(Ok, so Betty didn’t say it about me, but it fits somehow.)
Yin, 27
Grew up in the Portland, Oregon area. Survived middle school by becoming a skater kid (still haven’t grown out of it). Now I’m trying to pay my rent, play my music, and make my way.
Looking forward to going to Brazil in the fall. If you have any tips on what I should see, definitely let me know.
There’s no getting around it—Tinder is massive and massively popular. And because it’s so huge and has grown so quickly, there’s sort of a, everything goes, Wild West of online dating type of feel to the people and profiles you see on the app.
On Tinder, you can get away with using one obscure movie quote, a funny one-liner, or a complete joke in your profile as long as your photos are good. People are moving through profiles so quickly that writing a paragraph about yourself and your hopes and dreams definitely isn’t required, and may even come off as a little weird.
Get more tips with these Tinder bio hacks or check out more examples of Tinder profiles for men and Tinder profiles for women.
Dating Profile Examples for Bumble
What Works: Short and detailed, but take it seriously.
What Doesn’t: Snarky comments or joke profiles.
Kenny, 43
If I could play one sport professionally, it would be soccer because I feel like it’s the least harmful. (Football is terrifying.) Which sport would you play? Which sport do you play?
Sandra, 32
My favorite movies are The Godfather, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Toy Story, and When Harry Met Sally. I hope that wide range of movies allows you to see that there is more to me than meets the eye.
John, 30
I haven’t dated much in recent years because I’ve been so focused on my career. Now I’m ready to meet the person who will pull my head out of the books and bring me a bit of happiness.
Similar to Tinder, when you’re on Bumble it’s important to make it short and sweet. This isn’t like old school dating sites where you wrote longer descriptions about yourself and where you are in your life. Instead, you want to create a snapshot of who you are, and give enough information that makes people want to learn more.
However, unlike Tinder, Bumble’s women’s first approach to dating means that the site attracts daters who are slightly more serious and put themselves out there in a different way. If you only have one silly comment in your profile, it might not help you out as much as writing a little more about who you are, or focusing on one hobby you’re into.
Check out more examples of Bumble bios for women, Bumble bios for men, or Bumble profile hacks.
Dating Profile Examples on OkCupid
What Works: Long profiles full of clever or candid remarks.
What Doesn’t: Short profile or leaving things blank.
Apps To Meet Singles
Tina, 27
My patronus is
A black and white cat. I was hoping for something noble like a lion or stag. Heck, a llama, even. Nope. I got a housecat. If you take the Pottermore quiz and get a dog or a mouse or something like that, feel free to message me. J.K. Rowling is trying to tell us something.
Valente, 30
You should message me if
You’re looking for something serious. I’ve done the short-term dating thing and no knock on it, but it’s not for me. I’m looking for a genuine connection with someone that thinks it’s okay to (occasionally) eat dinner after midnight. Open to dinner suggestions~
Tracie, 21
I value
My family. I know it sounds corny, but I’m not ashamed to say it. Family comes first. Blood is thicker than water and all that. We’ve been through a lot together and in those hard moments our strength together is what gets us through. No doubt about it.
Back in the day, OkCupid was the dating app where people really tried to show off in their profile. You’d write long profiles full of jokes and language designed to show off how smart you were. (It was kind of part of the fun.) And, though a lot has changed about the app these days, there are a few aspects of its earlier self that still hold true.
On OkCupid you need to write a lot. And the more the better. People on the app, enjoy reading profiles and learning more about each other. Also, OkCupid takes keywords and information from your bio, and uses it to match you with other people so writing a longer profile can help you out a lot.
Unlike the past, you don’t have to show off quite so much, but it’s definitely recommended that you fill out every part of your profile with at least something. And if you’re the type that likes to go off about your favorite books, your obsession with the way the human brain works, or your experience canvassing for Planned Parenthood last summer, then go for it. This is the app where long profiles reign supreme.
Check out more examples of OkCupid profiles for women and OkCupid profiles for men.
Dating Profile Examples on Hinge
What Works: Fragmented answers that are unique and/or go with your photos.
What Doesn’t Work: Not putting enough information in or being super vague.
You should leave a comment if
You like cheese and would like to discuss it further.
The dorkiest thing about me
I legitimately like romantic comedies. I grew up with three sisters and too man females and aunts. I was outnumbered. Plus, they have great dialogue and plot structure.
My most irrational fear
Dolphins. Can’t trust ’em. Never have. Never will.
Bumble Dating App Profile Tips
Unlike Tinder or Bumble, and similar to OkCupid though a bit more random, the relationship-minded dating app Hinge uses different prompts to help you fill out your profile. Because of this, it’s a little bit easier to come up with what to say, but you’ll have to work a little bit harder to stand out since lots of people will be answering the same question.
So whether you’re answering what you’re overly competitive about, explaining what the dorkiest thing about yourself, or saying what the worst idea you’ve ever had is; be as creative and unique as possible. And if you want some bonus points, try to make your photos match your answers so they tell a story together.
Dating Profile Examples on Zoosk
What Works: A short (or long) paragraph with details about who you are.
What Doesn’t Work: Random statements or asking people to message you to learn more.
Zoosk is one of those dating apps that is part old-school, part new-school. (Full disclosure: The Date Mix is owned and operated by Zoosk.) Since it’s been around for a long time, a lot of people like to write long profiles that go into their life, hobbies, etc. Likewise, it’s pretty normal to talk about your divorce or your kids, whereas on other apps it might be better to leave that for later.
But you can also scroll through profiles quickly, so a lot of people don’t stop to read people’s full profiles until after they match. As a result, you shouldn’t write something random or something that’s only one sentence long. But profiles that are a short three to four sentences or more do pretty well.
Check out more examples of Zoosk dating profiles for women and Zoosk dating profiles for men.
Dating Profile Examples on Match
Free Profile Ideas
What Works: A few sentences that reveal something unique or essential about you.
What Doesn’t Work: Something generic or not putting anything at all.
Erica, 33
I’ve been teaching 7th grade homeroom for the past three years and I absolutely love my job and my students. It’s hard work, but I bring a lot of energy to what I do and always have some leftover to get into trouble on the weekends at my fav. local bar. (If you play your cards right, maybe we can meet there.)
Francisco, 28
I’m A fun-loving guy who’s a happy dog-dad to my pup Tito. My friends would probably describe me as goofy but somehow I always end up being the responsible one. I do a lot on the weekend. I like to work on cars, BBQ with my friends, catch a local band (that I’ve probably never heard of but by my second beer I won’t really care as long as they bring it). If you don’t mind the dog or a little bit of a goof we could be a pretty good pair.
Jake, 31
I grew up int eh area and just couldn’t leave what has come to be my favorite place in the world. (My 14-year-old self would have never believed this.) I try to balance family, work, and time for myself and enjoy all three. I’m hoping to meet someone looking for something a bit more serious. Lately my hobbies include weightlifting and tinkering with music (no, I will not call myself a DJ). If you want to know more, just ask.
Match is another one of those dating sites and apps that has been around forever, so they’re somewhere stuck between the old and the new when it comes to the types of profiles people like to see. One good thing is that there are a lot of different aspects to Match’s dating profile so there’s not as much pressure to write a great summary. People do still read it however, so make sure you put in something worthwhile.
Like Zoosk, you can go long or short (it’s normal to see super long or just one-sentence profiles on Match) but make sure you don’t go too general or generic in your profile. Because there’s so much information on your profile already, the summary should be something people don’t know about you yet that really stands out so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.
Writing a dating profile is never easy. You’re trying to be creative and unique, while also describing yourself and who you are. The truth is, most of us think of ourselves as normal, everyday people; but there are things about us that make us unique. So dig down deep, and try to find those hidden nuggets that make you who you are. And the weirder the better!
Do you love chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips? That’s crazy but put it in. Have you never been skiing but always wanted to try because you love the mountains? Great detail, add that too. Have you always wanted to go on the Price Is Right because you’d love to bet $2 and really screw over the person who said $1. That’s a little evil but it’s an amazing detail.
Even if you don’t always feel that way, you’re an interesting person. With a little work, your profile will be interesting too.
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