7 tips to improving your online dating profile
More and more over 50s are finding love and companionship online these days, and so we asked Charly Lester, dating expert and co-founder of new over 50s dating app Lumen, for advice on how to improve your online dating profile.
1. Phone a friend
If you’re struggling to write about yourself, reach out to a friend for help. They will remind you of all the reasons you’re great, and sharing the online dating experience with someone close can make it a lot more fun. You can check in with them before and after dates, and get a second opinion on photos and other profile details.
2. Be honest
Try to be honest about the things you enjoy doing, and the way you spend your life. There’s no point saying you regularly do a hobby if the last time you did it was years ago. The same applies to what you’re seeking. On Lumen we have a section ‘I am looking for …’ where you can be honest about the type of relationship that you are trying to find on the app.
3. Use recent photos
One of the biggest gripes people have about meeting someone online is that often their photos don’t match reality. Maybe the person is a lot younger in the pictures. Maybe they’ve dramatically changed weight. If you’re not sure whether you should still be using a photo on your dating profile, a good rule of thumb is whether you still wear the clothes you’re wearing in the photo. If you’ve thrown them out because they’re too old, or don’t fit, maybe it’s time to update your images.
4. Say cheese!
Statistics show that people are more likely to click on your dating profile if you’re smiling in the photos. We also recommend including a couple of clear headshots (no hats or sunglasses) and at least one full body shot so people can see what you look like. On Lumen everyone has to include at least three photos, and you can upload up to six photos, so make the most of it. The more pictures you include, the more likely people are to approach you.
5. Keep it regularly updated
Don’t be afraid to make changes to your profile. You may find you get inspiration from reading other peoples’ profiles on the app. What information are other people including in the ‘About me’ section? What photos do you find yourself drawn to on other peoples’ profiles? If someone takes a nice photo of you, why not add it to your profile?
6. Focus on you
While photos with friends might make you seem sociable, what they also do is confuse people. Make it as clear as possible who you are. Ideally, you want all of your photos to be individual shots. Photos with ex-partners are a big ‘no no’ because they look like you are still in a relationship. And the problem with photos with friends is that someone might end up being more interested in one of your friends. Keep your dating profile about you.
7. Check your spelling and grammar
People assume an awful lot from a single paragraph of text, so make sure that your spelling and grammar are correct. The last thing you want is someone assuming you’re lazy because you didn’t take the time to check over your words. If you’re not sure about something, copy and paste it into a Word document so you can spell-check it.
Final tip? Just get cracking! Head over to Lumen to start meeting new people. Lumen is available to users in the UK and can be downloaded now, free of charge, from the App Store and Google Play Store.
