echnology’s a beautiful thing. Now, you don’t even have to go out to meet people; you can do it all online without leaving the comfort of your PJs. But if you’ve tried the online dating thing and it hasn’t been very fruitful, or if you’re considering giving it a shot, here are a few tips on how to make your profile inviting, interesting, perhaps even irresistible. First impressions are everything and, in the online dating world, you have a priceless opportunity to make a good one without worrying that you have a big chunk of spinach stuck in your teeth.

The FIRST first impression: the photo

The first thing anyone looks for is a picture. Have one. More people will look at your profile if you do. If you don’t have one, ask a friend to snap a few shots. It’s quite simple.

In your main photo, be smiling, appropriately dressed and alone, and be sure that your face is visible. Also, keep it fairly recent (within three years). If you’re 35 years old, your high school prom picture is not the best choice for your main photo no matter how stylin’ your flat-top was or how thin you look in that bubble-skirt dress. Steer clear of photos wherein you are far away, making a weird face, revealing more skin than you’d reveal on a first date in a coffee shop, or clearly with someone who has been cropped out. Even if that person is your sister, it still looks highly suspect – like you’re ashamed of that person.

For additional pictures, go ahead and include that picture with your sister, but leave her in it, and explain who she is in a caption. Also post that photo of you skiing, SCUBA diving or climbing to the top of a palm tree. Photos that show you having a good time, doing things you enjoy, or spending time with family and friends reveal a lot about you to potential dates.

In absolutely NO photos should you be:
• intoxicated
• photographing yourself in the mirror
• making obscene gestures
• scantily clad
• expressionless

Photos are what make a potential match decide whether or not to continue getting to know you by reading the rest of your profile. You have a lot to offer, and by having a good set of photos, you leave the door open, inviting people to find that out.

What do you have to say for yourself?

There are a few things you need to be sure you do with the information portion of your profile before a potential match finds your friendly, smiling photo inviting.

First of all, your profile is a tool to inform people about who you are. Use it for that, and don’t dedicate too much of it to specifics about what you want in a partner. Keep an open mind about the people you may meet, and enjoy getting to know them.

Next, fill out at least the majority of the information. If there are certain things you’d prefer to keep private, that’s fine, but answer the rest of the questions. Not doing so indicates that you are only there to see what other people have to offer you, not to offer anything to anyone else, and people will be inclined to feel that you are not serious or worth seriously considering.

When you answer the questions, use standard English – complete sentences, proper capitalization, correct punctuation and spelling. If you’re not sure about your grammar or spelling, ask a friend or English major to take a look at it before you post it, or at the very least, run it through spell-check. You will come across as being more intelligent and respectful, and folks will see that you take pride in whatever you do – all qualities that people generally look for in a partner.

At absolutely NO point should you:
   • Substitute “R” for “are,” “U” for “you,” or “4” for “for.” The extra two characters in each word take about a millisecond to type. Don’t be lazy when looking for the love of your life.
   • LOL at yourself. Even if your profile is hilarious, let the readers do the laughing.
   • Type more than three periods in a row
   • Type multiple commas in a row

Simple things like these can be distracting to a point that people miss what you’re saying about yourself, and that’s the most important part.

Sell yourself - don’t sell yourself short

You want to be honest and open, and you want to lay all your cards on the table up front so that people know what they’d be getting into with you. And that’s great. Your mama raised you right.

But your online profile should not sound like an apology. It should work a little more like a sales pitch with you as the product and potential dates as the customer. And as your marketing director, you need to know your product, your customer, and your customer’s wants and needs. Try these suggestions:

   1) With full knowledge and faith that God will bring the man or woman he has for you to you if it is his will to do so, make a list of all the things you want and think that God wants in your future spouse. Create a “character sketch” of this person. Imagine what he or she is like and what that person is looking for in a first date, dating relationship or spouse. Now make a list of the qualities you have that fit your ideal person’s wants and needs.

   2) Next, list the things and people that you love or are passionate about. Those are the things you’ll want to highlight in your profile. But don’t just say them; demonstrate them. Rather than saying that you are funny or intelligent, show it through your words.

In person, you never get the time you need to craft your first impressions perfectly. But that’s one of the great things about dating online. You can take all the time you need to get it just right. Take advantage of that, and don’t let any of these simple things be an obstacle between you and true love.