The first hurdle in writing an online dating profile is coming up with a catchy opening line or profile header. There are various ways to go about doing this. Do you want to be funny, philosophical, or sweet and romantic? Aside from your dating profile picture, the profile header is the first thing that users will see. So if you want your potential mates to click on your profile and not move on to the next in line, you should avoid overused, generic, and un-thought of lines. To give you a better idea of what we’re talking about, below are some commonly used lines along with suggestions of alternative ways of writing them:
Self-selling: “I’m the one for you,” “Pick me!,” and “Your search stops here.”
Especially with the last line mentioned above, the cockiness might not work to your advantage. Or if the line does manage to get people to click on your page, it would take a LOT of interesting personal tidbits to back up the attitude. Don’t get us wrong, cockiness and having that “oomph” in describing yourself can pique people’s interests and even elicit grins. But if your profile reads more like an equipment manual than a personal dating profile, the only things you’ll get are smirks, or worse, flaming comments.
As for the eager-beaver “pick me!” line, using it will only make you appear a tad too desperate. Instead of telling people to pick you, give them good and witty reasons why they should do so. Capitalize on your awesome qualities and use them as your selling points.
Humor and wit: “I’m a funny girl or guy,” “I want someone with a sense of humor.”
Again, specificity is key. What kind of humor makes you roll on the floor laughing? Are you a fan of slapstick humor or do you prefer the wry and dry type of humor? Instead of saying “someone who can make me laugh” or “someone funny,” say “someone with a sense of humor comparable to Jon Stewart’s,” or any of your favorite comedians for that matter. This way, you’re giving people a clearer idea of what you find humorous, which will consequently help them cook up ways to make you laugh.
If you’re marketing yourself as a funny guy or girl, you can try “I make Bernie Mac seem as funny as your grandma.” Or you can also try simple lines like “I carnt spel.” Or if you’re a straight guy, you can try “I’m not gay. I’m just ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.” There are tons of lines you can use here, really. Just remember that when dealing with humor, it’s always better to show than to tell.