How to design the best dating profile: The do’s and don'ts of finding love online
By Sanchia Saunders
When it comes to dating it could be argued that the statistics never lie.
As with
reports stating that, 28.9 million people in England & Wales alone have been listed as single - and new predictions being put in place that
marriage could be extinct by 2062, it looks like we need to get our act together real fast and real soon.
This is because with it becoming increasingly more difficult to locate all the fish that were once in the sea, we now must take matters into our own hands to ensure that we have the best possible chance at attracting our perfect match.
You may be wondering how to even do this, but don’t worry this is where I step in.
As with
1 in 3 relationships now beginning online, the place singles need to start is with your dating profiles!
What is the importance of a good (dating) profile?
52% of singles have stated that they have come across someone they think was trying to scam them online - and I think this is a very vivid example of why your dating profile is so important.
As with singles comparing dating to
wading through admin, it is crucial that you make sure you’re stands out (in a good non creepy way).
If you’re wondering where you would even need to start to get your dating profile looking 10/10, then today is your lucky day! As just below you will find the top 3 areas you will need to focus on.
1. Photo(s)
I think the biggest thing that you need to take into consideration when setting up your dating profile is what images you are going to use.
This is because unfortunately statistics have found that,
‘Users decide whether to keep reading your profile in 1.4 seconds based on your first photo’.
Therefore if you only have 1 picture and it’s not giving then you will have less chance of finding a match. So be yourself, smile, add a candid photo if you must, as these are the ones most likely to get you noticed.
2. Bio
Now that we have your pictures sorted the next thing singles will read on your dating profile is your bio, so please let’s not make it weird.
Instead make it personal and tailored to you.
Be honest, don’t lie - as that weird and wonderful quirk you may have could make all the difference in you getting on that date or not!
3. Voice note/ video prompts
Finally this section is a bit like a bonus round, but videos and prompts are very much the dark horse when it comes to your dating profile.
As reports state that, video intros can increase swipe-right rates by over 50%, therefore don’t be afraid to add a video, as people can take a lot more away from a video than they can a picture - as this is where things start to get juicy as we can hear someone’s voice, mannerisms, dress sense - trust me it’s important.
So it could be argued that if you follow these steps your bound to get a date. However there are still some common profile mistakes that singles make which limit their chances of finding love online - so let me tell you what this is.
The most common profile mistakes to make:
Creating a dating profile can often appear daunting but let me tell you it really shouldn’t. As the more you overthink it the more it will feel rigid and un-natural.
This leads me nicely to the most common mistake that singles make when setting up their profile and this is adding group photos.
Like I get the whole phrase, confuse the enemy- however you’re meant to be looking for love - which means people want to know who they are trying to date, and not have to pick one out of 6 people in the photo. As the likelihood is they are going to end up wanting one of your friends.
So with reports finding that, group photos as the first image reduce engagement by 33% - please think long and hard about what pictures you decide to add to your profile - as it really could be make or break.
But what do
you think, are dating profiles important - or do you think it’s a waste of time?
Credits:
- Just4One: https://just4one.com/news/being-single/#:~:text=How%20many%20Brits%20are%20Single,in%20England%20and%20Wales%20alone
- Pew Research Centre: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/02/02/key-findings-about-online-dating-in-the-u-s
- The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/08/it-feels-like-admin-why-are-people-falling-out-of-love-with-dating-apps
- Statista - Online Dating Trends: https://www.statista.com/outlook/emo/dating-services/online-dating/worldwide
