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.
Anger management and online dating.
I’ve heard stories of men and women dating online who send raging emails to others online. The anger is inspired by a variety of reasons, anything from not getting a reply to disliking the content of a profile. That’s kookier than Naomi Campbell and Christian Bale put together. People online are strangers. They don’t know you so why take what they do or say personally? Instead breathe, take up a cause, count garbanzo beans or watch Celebrity Rehab to feel… read more →
Spell check. The best online dating device since the block button.
Have you ever tried talking with someone whose soul patch is just slightly off center? The person can be as witty as David Sedaris and as profound as Maya Angelou but it’s the patch, not the conversation, that has your full attention. Spelling mistakes and typos on your online dating profile are just as distracting. Worse still are grammatical errors. When I see “looking for a guy who’s totally out their” or “looking for an independant girl”, I think the… read more →
Online dating and seriously looking for humor?
Some online daters take humor way too seriously. Here are some quotes I took from dating profiles I found on just one online dating site: I love a sense of humor because humor helps us see things in a pro-active light. I love people with a sense of humor because humor gives us perspective. To find humor and an intense connection, that is my mantra. Wow, talk about somber. I’d probably find more levity in a scientology pamphlet. If you… read more →
Online dating because you’re tired of being alone?
When I see an online dating profile that says “tired of being alone”, do I think “don’t let this tiger get away”?. No. Not ever. “Tired of being alone” makes me think you’re desperately lonely. By that I mean “bring bread to a park and even pigeons wouldn’t keep you company” kind of lonely. Saying “tired of being alone” sounds as though no one wants to be around you. If you’re on match.com, Lavalife, Plenty of Fish, or any of… read more →
I love a good rant, but on a #dating profile?
Seeing a rant on a dating profile is wrong in the same way that Denis Leary writing Hallmark greetings would be wrong. The two don’t fit. Believe me, I too think that women with doggie strollers, men with fake tans, and serial daters are great feed for a rabid ranter but save it for friends or blogs. Dating profiles are for attracting suitors. Rants, while hilarious, are not the new sweet nothings.
Online dating without drama or games.
“No drama, no games” is such a popular instruction on online dating profiles that I even see it in the headlines. Does anyone really think that’ll work? Imagine an ad saying, “no cyclists” or “no cooks” or “no bichon frise owners”. I bet every cyclist, cook and little dog owner would read it. By putting “no drama, no games” in your profile, you’re attracting the very people you want to avoid. Lindsay Lohan herself might drunk dial you. Besides, do… read more →
Luv hurts online dating profiles.
A little while ago, I noticed “truly hip” people (the quotation marks used here are symbolic of dripping sarcasm) throwing around the expression I heart rather than I love. Evidently, it was meant to be cute. As a writer, I found it annoying. I’m fine with heart as a symbol for love. After all, who doesn’t like the ads: I (heart symbol) New York. However, to use it instead of love in a sentence is as contrived as putting little… read more →
Dating profile pictures that make me go “oh come on”.
Profile picture of a woman in a bikini and heels. Profile picture of a woman in a bath towel. Profile picture of cleavage. Profile picture of cleavage and a tattoo. Profile picture of a man holding a newborn baby. Profile picture of man with arm around elderly mother. Profile picture of man kissing a litter of puppies. I’m picking up on a theme. I’ve noticed a lot of women who seem to think that the way to a man’s heart… read more →
Why do countless online daters think life is short?
I write ads. I write dating profiles. I write a blog about marketing yourself online so that singles can stand out and compete on dating sites. I’ve seen so many online dating profiles claiming, “life is short” that I’m beginning to think I just might be able to max out my credit cards and get away with it. That upside aside, do online daters have some freakishly high mortality rate that I didn’t know about? For the record, I know… read more →
Weight loss, hair plugs and confessions of online dating singles.
I saw a profile that proudly, and in caps, exclaimed, “SLIM NOW”. Congratulations on achieving your goal but divulging that on a site full of strangers is as risky as saying “hair plug surgery went well” or “completed my 12 steps”. Personal struggles don’t belong on a public site. The people you’re addressing are strangers. They don’t know you and don’t care about you. More importantly, you need to go online fully confident and proud of yourself – without apology.… read more →
