Online dating: 7 tips to make an impression on dating sites

#1 CHOOSE YOUR SITE WISELY

There is no need to register for 15 dating sites at once! Everyone has their own MO. So set your expectations first. It may be wise to register for a site like OkCupid as a beginner, or something more specific for, for example, LunchActually for executives.

#2 PIANO, PIANO

When we decide to register on a dating site, we are often pressed to find the profiles of other members. The result: mess-ups at different stages of creating our profile, as we tell ourselves we will come back later on. And, generally, we never do… so it is best to take a weekend to build our profiles, leave it for a few days, and then return to it with a fresh eyes and new ideas before proceeding any further.

#3 CREATE A CONSISTENT PROFILE

There must be a linking thread such that your photo, the text of your bio and your username are aligned. It is useless to have a grungy-looking portrait, if your text is very business-like or classy. Everything needs to go in the same direction.

#4 WATCH YOUR PICTURE

The photograph that you choose is crucial. Do not take the first selfie of you lying around on your computer. Ideally, do get your picture taken by a pro. Or at least by a talented girlfriend. Opt for a quality photo, with bright colours and high contrast. Even better – find a detail or background that will draw curiosity and attention to your profile.

#5 IDENTIFY YOUR STRENGTHS

What successes are you most proud of? What are the little quirks that make your friends laugh? How do you feel when you indulge in your favourite hobby? These are all starting points for identifying what, about you, can cause sparks of interest in another. To find this, do not hesitate to ask the people around you, or go through an MBTI test, the baseline personality tests.

#6 HUMOR, YOUR BEST ALLY

There is no need to overthink it, the goal is simply to provoke a smile. Here are some possibilities: exaggeration, talking about the absurd, the incongruities of everyday life, poems or self-deprecation. In short, adopt a lighter tone and dare to be different, especially in the form of your text.

#7 THE MYSTERY

Do not tell it all! It is necessary to draw some intrigue to increase the appeal, even during the first few messages.

The best advice: You spotted someone who has piqued your attention? To avoid wasting time, make it a habit to look at the date of their last log-in. Some unused profiles are indeed left online… If in doubt, you can check some databases that identify aliases attached to a doubtful profile, as Vigilove. Similarly, tineye.com is able to check whether a profile photo is genuine or reveals a simple copy + paste from Google Images.

 Julien Hirth is the co-founder of French Dating Wizard and co-author of “Sites de rencontres : mode d’emploi” (Dating Sites: user manual).