Finding a partner can be a real challenge in today’s world. If you’re single and looking for love, you know that creating a dating profile is one of the first steps you should take, but the process can often feel daunting.

Condensing all a partner may need to know about you into a short bio and some key interests can be tricky, and you need to make your profile stand out if you’re going to find the right match. You’ll need to understand what you should and shouldn’t put into your profile to have the best chance of finding your soulmate.  

We’ll take you through dating profiles examples of do’s, and don’t’s that will help you in your search for The One. You should also remember that finding your perfect match through your dating profile can take time, so being patient is critical.

You can’t expect to find your soulmate straight away, and you may need to kiss a few frogs before you find your perfect match. As with most things, the more effort you put into your dating profile, the more you will get out of it. 

#1 DO Be Honest In Your Profile 

Honesty is always the best policy when making a dating profile. You should be upfront about your expectations and avoid making claims about your hobbies and interests that aren’t true.  

The best ‘do’ of dating profiles examples is honesty in any relationship. Starting with honesty can get your relationship off on the right foot and help you to make a real and lasting connection straightaway.  Being honest can help create a connection early on in the dating process.

Being your authentic self helps to create genuine intimacy, which can form a basis for a solid long-term relationship. If you try to connect over things you don’t really have an interest in, the relationship will be built on shaky foundations. 

Being honest helps ensure that both parties are on the same page and have the same expectations. Ensuring that you and any match you find have similar expectations of the relationship is critical. Not only can unclear expectations cause confusion and wasted time and effort, but they can also cause hurt when the truth comes to light. 

#2 DON’T Lie About Yourself 

Lying about yourself on an online dating site isn’t just morally dubious – it is also pointless. At some point, you’re likely planning to meet your match in person, meaning that any lies will be immediately caught out.  

The biggest ‘don’t’ of dating profiles examples is don’t lie. Lying can sabotage a potential relationship before it even starts, eroding trust when any lies are found. Don’t lie about your age. If you plan to find a long-term partner, lying about your age is simply not practical. Whether you age yourself up or down, you’re sure to get caught out.  

Don’t even lie about your job, even if it is tempting to puff yourself up in the eyes of a potential partner. If you claim to have more money or power in your role than you do, this will create unrealistic expectations. And don’t lie about your interests or hobbies.

If you pretend to be interested in things you’re not, you’re building a relationship on a foundation of lies, and you’ll have to do things you don’t enjoy to boot!  

#3 DO List Your Interests and Hobbies 

Listing genuine hobbies and interests can help you find someone with similar or complementary interests. This can form a strong basis for both short and long-term relationships.  

It helps potential partners get to know you better and understand who you are as a person. You can each show your interest in the other by discussing hobbies and interests and building future dates around them. It can also help you attract the right kind of person for you. While opposites may attract, finding common ground is often the best way to start a relationship, and shared hobbies or interests are a great way to do so.  

It’s also a great way to show off your personality. Hobbies can show whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, an adventurer or a homebody – all vital information when starting a relationship.  

#4 DON’T Use a Fake Name or Picture 

The whole point of a dating profile is to build a relationship, and using a fake name or picture will make that goal impossible.  There are plenty of dating profiles examples where someone has used a fake picture or name, and it never ends well. A fake picture will be found out immediately, and your date will feel betrayed and confused. A fake name may be easier to get away with at first but will not stand up to even the most basic social media searches. 

Good dating profiles examples should provide a snapshot of who you are, so be honest. There’s no point trying to find love online and being fake about who you are – relationships built on dishonesty will not last. Using a fake name or picture can lead to disappointment down the road.

You might consider using a fake image to attract more attention to your profile, but this will only help you find matches. It won’t help you when the time comes to meet in person when your date will feel disappointed at best and catfished at worse.  

Putting your best foot forward is important, but don’t fib about your interests or appearance. There’s nothing wrong with highlighting the positive things about yourself to attract a potential partner, but these should never stray from the truth.  

#5 DO Post Recent Pictures Of Yourself 

Any pictures of yourself that you use in your profile should be as up-to-date as possible. If you don’t have any recent pictures, you could consider taking a selfie or two for your profile. This will give potential dates a better idea of what you look like, prevent any disappointed expectations, and will help build immediate trust in the relationship, which is one of the biggest hurdles for online dating.  

Make sure your pictures are high quality and show off your best features. Taking a good picture is an art form in itself and can be difficult to achieve without practice. You’ll need to take a few photos and look at what you like and dislike, then find ways to flatter the parts you’re not so keen on and highlight the features you love. 

The best dating profiles examples are kept up to date with new pictures as you update your look, so consider taking a new selfie at least every few months. This can also help you get the hang of taking photos that truly emphasise your best side.  

#6 DON’T Be Negative In Your Profile 

Being negative is a key dating profiles examples of what to avoid. It may be tempting to list the things you don’t want, but this can actually end up putting off possible matches.

Don’t be negative about yourself or your past relationships in your dating profile. Being down on yourself is a sure way to make possible matches skip over you. Bashing exes is another massive no-no for a dating profile, as it can give the impression you’re not over your ex.  

Don’t list things you don’t want in a partner. This is a great way to be seen as hyper-critical and snobbish by possible partners, which you definitely want to avoid. Similarly, don’t list things you are not interested in. Differing interests between couples is normal, but if you list things you’re not interested in, you could put someone off unnecessarily. Keep any discussion of dislikes until you meet in person.  

Conclusion: Creating The Best Dating Profile

Creating a dating profile can be a daunting task, but by following the dating profiles examples of do’s and don’ts above, you can put your best foot forward to help you find your perfect dating match. It may take time to create the perfect dating profile, which is true of most things worth doing right. 

By doing these things, you’re more likely to attract the right kind of person for you and build a strong foundation for a healthy relationship. By making honesty the central tenant of your dating profile, you can help ensure that neither you nor your matches get let down by expectations vs reality.

With the right information, you can start setting up a really great dating profile on Illicit Encounters to give you the best chance at finding the partner you are looking for.

FAQs