Dating Online - Top Tips for Writing a Winning Profile

Internet dating is no longer seen as the kingdom of the sad and lonely, where all the left-on-the-shelf waifs and strays go to find love. Social networking sites have made dating online an acceptable, straightforward and often necessary option for people with busy lives. So why do so many people have trouble finding that perfect partner?

The two things that let prospective daters down are actually the most important aspects of their online profile:

A - their photo

B - what they write

Well, the photo part it easy - you upload one to your profile and, in some cases, crop or reposition it and hey presto! (I'm assuming you have one that's in focus, shows your actual face - as opposed to the back of your head - and is either a head and shoulders portrait or presents you standing reasonably close to the camera). The written part though, can be more problematic.

If you're not great with words, descriptions or if you're a bit short of ideas, try my top five tips for writing a winning profile:

1. Take inspiration. Have a look at what other members have written. What sort of impression do they give? Do they make the writer sound positive? Are they overly enthusiastic? Are there any spelling or grammatical mistakes? Do they sound like a hundred other profiles? Make a note of anything you think might be useful - words, phrases, topics.

2. Don't write it online. I know what you're thinking - "but hey, I'm already online, only minutes away from browsing through photos of thousands of possible partners and all I have to do is add a few lines to describe myself. I'll just scribble down some ideas and I'm all set, right?" NO! Here's what you do: log off the dating site, think about what you want to say and allow yourself the time to do it properly. Then open a Word document, or grab a pen and paper and start writing.

3. Be positive. Make two lists. The first one should be about you, listing all the things you feel are positive in your life, that motivate you, get you excited, enthusiastic, fascinate you or get you thinking. Also, consider what you want out of life, where are you going? What are your plans? (It's okay if you don't have any.) The second list must describe what you're looking for. It may be that it's pretty much a reflection of your first list, and that's okay.

3. Tell the truth. Don't invent a whole new life for yourself just to sound interesting. Never lie about your age, height or anything else that will be perfectly obvious to a prospective partner when he/she turns up for that first date.

4. Use language. If the written word isn't one of your strong points, you can always get a little help. You might find you've used the same word several times in your writing. If so, grab a thesaurus, or if you're on a computer, do a right click on the word for synonyms (words or phrases that mean the same, or similar). You can also browse the Internet for ideas around your particular passions, so instead of saying "I'm interested in old movies", you might say "I'm fascinated by classic cinema of the 1940's". This isn't a lie, but it does make you sound a little more culturally aware, and that gives you an advantage.

5. Who am I? When you've got something near to a finished profile, try and put yourself in the position of the kind of person you're looking for. What would that person get from your summary? How do you come across? And most importantly, is this the sort of profile that would make you think "Hey, this person sounds really appealing".

Don't forget to check spelling etc, and finally, if you have a friend who you know will offer an honest opinion, ask them to read your work before you put it out there for the rest of the world to see.

Find more tips and advice about online dating at http://www.guide-to-dating-online.com/dating-online-creating-a-profile.html

Three Big Tips For Winning at the Online Dating Game

The other day I was sitting around thinking about what makes the difference between winning or becoming frustrated at the online dating game. There are three BIG tips that really make the difference, and these are the same for man and woman when dating online.

1. What Type of Relationship Do I Really Want?:

Before you even touch the computer to go online ask yourself this simple questions and write down the answer on a computer notepad or a piece of paper:

What kind of relationship am I really looking for? The answers could range from long term marriage, long term romantic dating, casual or singles dating,single parent dating, gay dating, e-mail dating, chatting occasionally or one night stand. The answers to these questions all depend on you.

Your lifestyle,personality,expectations of dating and degree of commitment are all factors that will help you answer the type of online dating game you want to play. Don't rush this initial step or push it aside as boring or irrelevant because it is this that is the key determinant of what game you want to play. Once you have decided what kind of relationship you want, go online and do an engine search online for the specific type of relationship you want. Most dating sites cater for a specific niche of people. This first step allows you immediate access to other online daters who have similar intentions to you in terms of relationship commitment.

2. Who am I playing For? Me or Someone Else

Once again take the time to write down what your Mr or Mrs right will look like and who they will be for you. Some questions surrounding this task could be: What does my online date look or sound like?; What interests do they have to have in common with me?; What career or earning capacity do they have?; What are their family like?; Do they have children or are they single?or What do I think their expectations of me would be?

Don't rush the process when answering these questions because they form the blocks of who you want to date online. The more specific you become the better the chances of winning the online dating game. Now when you go onto the online dating site based on the type of relationship you want, you can write your profile to a specific audience. The answers to the questions you have taken time to answer should serve as the perfect guide as to what to write in your profile.

Writing as if you were speaking to Mr/Mrs Right will attract and cause online daters who meet your criteria to sit up and take notice of your profile. If writing is not your strong suit, you can also record an online video or voice message to go with your written profile. once again speak to your Mr/Mrs right from the questions you have taken time to answer.

3. Pace Out The Online Dating Game

Set yourself a time line on paper or computer notepad before you reply to any e-mails/hit hotlist buttons or further review a profile. Knowing the time line you want for your online dating game will help you keep the online relationship on track. To help you with this process ask yourself: How long do I want to simply chat /e-mail my online date?; When do I want to meet my online date in person?; How many dates will we go on before declaring this online candidate my Mr/Mrs right?; At what time line will I know I have won my game?

Now when you go online, you can play your online dating game with a start and finish line in site. this is what winners do, they pace themselves according to the length of the race from start to finish. Your online actions then match the game, for example how fast you send an online card or call your Mr/Mrs right.

When online dating taking time to look at the relationship you want, playing for the right person and, setting the pace of your online dating game, are three Big determinants of you winning your online dating game. All three sets of actions will in combination put you on track for winning the big prize of your perfect online relationship. What are you waiting for? Get on the track and win your online dating game!

Michael and Alison Jamison have been together 5 years and married for 3. They met on an online dating site and have never regretted the experience. Michael and Alison love to assist others in their quest for true love,visit [http://www.thebestonlinedatingguide.com] for more invaluable tips and aid in finding your true love or visit Michael and Alison's own online dating site at [http://www.myperfectmatchdatingsite.com]

Winning a Woman Over With Pick Up Lines and More

When you have an interest in a woman, you want to try just about anything to get her attention. One of the first things that will probably occur to you is trying to find pick up lines that work. After all, if just one sentence can get you what you want, that will save you a lot of aggravation. While pick up lines do sometimes work, most women roll their eyes at this sort of attempt, especially if it's just a generic line.

You might have better luck with something more personalized; for instance, if you know what her favorite movie is - a little social media research could help in this regard - you could quote something romantic from that movie. Of course, this is best attempted if you've actually talked to each other a bit in the past. Otherwise, you could come across as rather creepy.

While spouting bon mots like Cyrano de Bergerac might seem like a good idea, you really don't have to worry so much about being witty. What's really important is to be yourself. If you're presenting yourself as something you're not, eventually, the woman is going to figure it out, and if she fell for a character you were playing, that doesn't bode well for your relationship. You want to have a girlfriend who will appreciate you for who you are.

You also shouldn't come across as too desperate. Before you try to pick someone up, you should feel confident in who you are and be able to think of yourself as a prize. Don't project the idea that you need this woman in your life or it will be meaningless. Most women find that rather pathetic and are also intimidated by the pressure that comes with being the center of someone's world.

If just making that first contact is almost impossible for you, ease yourself into situations that will allow you to feel more comfortable about women. For instance, every time you go out into a public situation, make an effort to say hello to at least one woman. All you have to do is issue a friendly greeting, and gradually, it will get to feel more natural. If one of the women strikes up a conversation with you, so much the better.

Another way that you can interact with women if you are very shy is to go online. You don't even need to join a dating site; you can go through a site like Facebook and talk to girls you already know on instant messenger or browse for new acquaintances. Do you have a favorite TV show? Go to its official fan page and consider striking up an online friendship with one of the female fans you see there.

Instead of focusing on pick up lines that work, try to think about ways that you would relate to her in a sustained relationship. Pay close attention when she is talking so that you can say things to her that show her you've been listening. Women love to feel that their opinions are valued. Depending on the situation, you might also try for a little physical contact, though this should always be subtle enough that she doesn't feel strong-armed. If she feels under pressure, chances are good that she will bolt, especially if she barely knows you.

Don't interrogate her, but if you can get a feel for some mutual interests you might have, that can give you a great springboard for conversation and future date ideas. Just have fun with it and try not to worry too much. If she's not receptive, she's just not the one for you.

Peter Mclucas is an avid traveler, educator and writer on a variety of subjects. Watch his videos here