Online Dating and LinkedIn Profile Writing Advice
I regularly critique excerpts from random dating and LinkedIn profiles (for anonymity). By pointing out dos and don'ts from actual profiles, you too can look at your own with a critical eye and improve on your personal branding.
Online Dating Profile Writing Critique. Tuesday Nov. 5, 2013.
Today’s blog is inspired by a disgruntled woman who ends up sounding like Jessica’s Daily Affirmations. Excerpt from the dating profile of a 42-year old woman: I am not into playing games. I don’t like guys (or their exes) who bring drama. I don’t like liars. I want someone honest and down to earth. I love baseball. I love nice dinners and dancing. I love movies. I love the beach. I like cruises and going somewhere warm. I like all… read more →
Online Dating Profile Writing Tips. Monday November 4, 2013.
I used to take excerpts from random dating profiles and critique them. For some reason I stopped this practice. But, recently, I was asked if I’d to it again. So here goes, the first critique of many to come. I hope they help. Excerpt from the dating profile of a 36-year old man: I was on this site before and thought I try again. I’m ambitious and take care of myself mentally and physically. I have travelled extensively and even… read more →
Online dating sites. Where every day is Halloween.
It’s been awhile since I showcased outrageous online dating profiles. But it’s Halloween and I’m feeling inspired. So, in honor of all things terrifying, I scanned a few random dating profiles and picked a few worth sharing. For your entertainment, here are some of the craziest, scariest and most insane profiles I’ve had the giddy, guilty pleasure of reading.The bold headings are from yours truly (I couldn’t help but add my commentary). The excerpts are in italics. Oh and don’t read… read more →
Profile writing tips for LinkedIn users.
How to unlock that opening anecdote. You may be surprised by this, but the best LinkedIn profiles and professional bios begin with a personal anecdote. Why? For three reasons. The first is that it makes the bio unique to you. After all, while other professionals may share your qualifications, none share your personality. The second reason is that a personal anecdote will bring you, the person, to life and, in doing so, it will inspire trust. Let’s face it, we… read more →
The dumbest job interview question ever.
Years ago, a former colleague used me as a reference. When her potential employer called he had a number of questions related to her role as an Art Director. “Was she a team player?” he asked. “Was she any good at presentations?” “What was her best quality as a professional?” I answered each question positively, sincerely, and without missing a beat. Then he asked, “What’s her greatest weakness?” Stumped, I blurted out, “Umm, chocolate?” (which was true by the way). I’ve… read more →
Online dating and the insignificance of your headline (gasp!).
As someone who’s spent years as a copywriter, I know the importance of headlines. In fact, ad writers often spend hours on them. After all, great headlines can ultimately maximize a client’s investment. Conversely, bad headlines can backfire badly. Yet, despite the fact that I’ve sent clients big bills for writing one simple headline – and I sincerely believe that they’re worth their weight in gold in most cases – I confess they have little value when it comes to… read more →
Online dating in track pants.
I confess. When I was online dating, I sat behind my computer in track pants. My hair was usually in a tousled ponytail. I wore socks with no shoes. Truth be told, had it not been for the fact that I shower daily, I was pretty much ungroomed. Oh and I’d eat little sesame snacks too. Crumby does not begin to describe what my keyboard looked like. It didn’t matter though. Who would know? I sat behind the anonymity of… read more →
Online Dating And Choosing Out of Your League.
The notion of a potential mate being “out of one’s league” is crass, insulting and arrogant. It’s also not entirely without foundation. In many cases we do tend to pair up with matches similar to us in looks (not to mention intellect), thus dating “within our league”. After all, hitting on someone much more attractive not only means entering a more competitive arena, it also puts us at greater risk of rejection. In evolutionary terms, where would that leave us?… read more →
Online dating and “what does fair have to do with it”.
I’ve seen a number of dating profiles with variations on the words, “Must have pic. It’s only fair.” Fair? Really? Fair is to online dating what big toes are to fried chicken. That is – totally unrelated. Actually, let me make this even clearer: Fair is to online dating what otters are to Barry White. Fair is to online dating what spleens are to overdue library books. Fair is to online dating what pedicures are to kiwi fruit. I could go on.… read more →
Online Dating Profiles and Tips for Cell Phone Selfies.
I don’t understand why some singles continue to take self-portraits with their cell phones. More perplexing still is that they usually do it while looking at themselves through a bathroom mirror. I’ve come to realize that cell phone pictures are the online dating equivalent of comb-overs and wearing socks with sandals. Though everyone makes fun of them, some people miraculously think they can get away with them. I suggest that you can’t. Taking a cell phone selfie in the bathroom is… read more →
