Dating Profile Fix: ALL CAPS NO PUNCTUATION MAN
The internet has been around for a while. Those of us who have been keeping up with the Fashion Train know that we should never use ALL CAPS when typing. We also know to use punctuation. But sadly, not everyone is on the train…
Welcome to the Daily Fix, where we take snippets from real dating profiles and changes the names to protect the not-so-innocent.
Today’s subject is a barely legal male we’ll call Quinn.
Before:
I JUST LOOKIN FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN KEEP IT REAL BEST BELIEVE IM GOING KEEP IT REAL I LIKE AN OUT GOING PERSON AND SOMEBOBY WHO LIKE HAVING FUN AND KNOW WHAT TEY WANT IN LIFE AND SOMEONE OF GOT A GOOD HEAD ON THEIR SHOULDER…
What This Says:
It’s taken me several read-throughs to figure it out. I can’t focus on ALL CAPS to be able to read what he’s saying. Let me type it out for you all normal:
I just lookin for someone who can keep it real best believe Im going to keep it real i like an out going person and someboby who like having fun and know what tey want in life and someone of got a good head on their shoulder.
You know, that still doesn’t make much more sense. Perhaps I am too old to understand the lingo. (Is 30 old?)
The Fix:
Quinn’s profile could at least stand to have proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. He can keep his hip lingo (since he probably wants a girl who shares the same vibe).
I’m looking for someone who can keep it real. Believe me that I’m going to keep it real, too. I like an outgoing girl who likes to have fun, but also knows what she wants in life. She’s a party girl with her head on her shoulders.
Still Quinn, just much easier to read.
Seen a bad profile recently? (Maybe your own?) Email it to me and it may be featured on an upcoming Daily Fix.
Dating Profile Fix: From Laundry List to Sexy Story
It may be tempting to write a list of the things you like in your online dating profile, but what really draws people in is a STORY. What’s the tale of your life?
Welcome to the Daily Fix, where we take snippets from real dating profiles and changes the names to protect the not-so-innocent.
Our subject today is a 20-something lady who we’ll call Patty.
Before:
I DO:
* prefer coke over pepsi…but I will drink both..
* enjoy camping & 4-wheeling with people I love to be with.
* wish I will be happy, and wish everyone good health.
* like to dance on occasion and being silly.
* horsing around/wrestling IS fun! lol
This Is…
There’s nothing wrong with this. It’s good information. It’s positive. It’s cute and friendly. But it could be better!
The Fix:
Patty can incorporate all of these into a story and really draw in her readers.
Getting muddy while 4-wheeling with friends is an awesome way to spend a weekend. Or camping – maybe camping!! Bring on the s’mores and dancing like fools around a campfire under the stars. Crack open a can of Coke (or Pepsi, I’m not too picky) and let’s see who can burp the loudest. Don’t hold back because I’m a girl. I will kick your butt!
Which version of Patty would you email if you had to choose?
Seen a bad profile recently? (Maybe your own?) Email it to me and it may be featured on an upcoming Daily Fix.
Dating Profile Fix: Dealbreakers Minus the Bad Attitude
You have some dealbreakers. How do you state them without sounding like you have a nasty attitude?
Welcome to the Daily Fix, where we take snippets from real dating profiles and changes the names to protect the not-so-innocent.
Today we have a 40-something woman who we’ll call Ophelia.
Before:
What I dislike: People that don’t like animals, people that neglect their pets, small talk, laziness, impertinence, people without a sense of humour, people without a moral compass, people that litter…Oh and bad drivers..they just tick me off!
What This Says:
“I have a long list of things that annoy me. There’s probably more I’m not telling you and one of your habits is probably on this list.”
The Fix:
There’s a way to scare away your dealbreaker people without frightening the rest of the world in the process. For example, Ophelia hates people who litter. She could scare away litterbugs with a simple statement like:
“A walk in the park involves a garbage bag. I’m always happy when I can get exercise and make the environment a little cleaner in the process.“
This will scare away litterbugs AND have the added bonus of drawing in men who share her green views!
Seen a bad profile recently? (Maybe your own?) Email it to me and it may be featured on an upcoming Daily Fix.
Dating Profile Fix: Details Matter, Fill Them In!
Your dating profile shouldn’t be a novel, but it should definitely give potential mates an idea of who you are and why they should contact you.
Welcome to the Daily Fix, where we take snippets from real dating profiles and changes the names to protect the not-so-innocent.
Our subject today is a lovely 50-something retired lady looking for love. Let’s call her Nimue.
Before:
Im an attractive lady looking to find that special someone. Hope he is out there somewhere. I love to travel, both in here and overseas. Enjoy swimming, walking going to the cinema, eating in/out. Also enjoy watching formula 1 racing
What This Says:
Nothing, really. It’s pretty boring. Maybe she might find a fellow racing fan or world traveler. Or maybe not. It’s a snooze-fest.
If people don’t fall in love with your story, they won’t fall in love with you, Nimue. Let’s fix you up…
The Fix:
Retirement has been great to me. I’ve had time to feed my love for travel (both here and overseas), I’ve perfected my breaststroke at the local pool, and I’ve had the time to see all the movies I meant to watch years ago. (Thank you, Netflix!) I’m still looking for a place with great Chinese takeout – do you know of any in the city?
Seen a bad profile recently? (Maybe your own?) Email it to me and it may be featured on an upcoming Daily Fix.
Dating Profile Fix: Finish Strong!
Every once in a while I run into a profile where I’m thinking, “Yes, yes, yes…” because it’s pretty good. Then I read an ending that makes me sigh. Nooo.
Welcome to the Daily Fix, where we take snippets from real dating profiles and changes the names to protect the not-so-innocent.
Today’s subject is a 40-something male who we’ll call Marcus.
Before:
You should message me if you think I am attractive or interesting or charming. Seriously, what are the consequences of saying hello? I love meeting new people and I might turn out to be someone fun to talk to or whine to or laugh with. I could also turn out to be a turn off but at least you said hi to a stranger. You can’t meet people if you never say hello.
What This Does:
Marcus had a very strong, witty, funny, and generally great profile before this bit at the end. He had a nice confident vibe going. The paragraph here dilutes it by admitting he may be a turn-off.
Marcus, if you are a turn-off, the lady wouldn’t have gotten this far down your profile. Have some faith and finish strong.
A Better Ending:
You should message me if you think I am attractive, interesting or charming. I love meeting new people and you may just find me to be that person who fits your life perfectly. Go on, say hi to a stranger. You never know who you may meet.
Seen a bad profile recently? (Maybe your own?) Email it to me and it may be featured on an upcoming Daily Fix.
Dating Profile Fix: Get a Little Help From Your Friends!
OkCupid is infamous for their super-long profiles. There’s a category for everything you could possibly want to know about someone. So what happens when you don’t know an answer?
Welcome to the Daily Fix, where we take snippets from real dating profiles and changes the names to protect the not-so-innocent.
Today’s subject is a 30-something male we’ll call Lamar.
Before:
Here’s what Lamar wrote for “The First Thing People Notice About Me“:
i have no clue
What This Says:
“I have no friends.”
“There’s nothing unique about me.”
What Should He Do?
Lamar, here is where you need to talk to some of your friends. It’s pretty easy.
Say: “Hey (insert friend name here), what did you first notice about me when we met?”
Hopefully they say something nice like “your bright red hair” or “your big smile” or “your laugh.” If they say, “The girl you were dating was hot!” or “That you can really hold your liquor!” maybe you should move on to a different friend.
Either way, do some market research! Find out how other people perceive you and use it to your advantage.
Seen a bad profile recently? (Maybe your own?) Email it to me and it may be featured on an upcoming Daily Fix.
Dating Profile Fix: I Don’t Know What I’m Writing…
You walk into a job interview, shake hands with your potential employer and say, “Well, I don’t really have a resume… and honestly, I’m not sure what I can offer you…”
Wait, you don’t do that?
Welcome to the Daily Fix, where we take snippets from real dating profiles and changes the names to protect the not-so-innocent.
Today’s subject is a 30-something male we’ll call Kevin.
Before:
I’m re-writing this currently. It is very difficult to know what to put into an online dating profile and all that stuff… So stay tuned and there will be something more interesting here soon. How soon, I can not say, but eventually.
What This Says:
This is the equivalent of walking into a job interview with no resume and no idea how you’re going to pitch yourself to your potential employer. Unless you are insanely attractive or your stellar repuation preceeds you, you’re not going to get the job.
What Should He Do?
Make a list of the things that make you interesting and worth getting to know. Tell a story about what makes you tick. Think of it like your movie trailer – your goal is to make people want to buy a ticket to see the movie. Show them some of the coolest parts and get them interested. Don’t be afraid to brag a little.
Seen a bad profile recently? (Maybe your own?) Email it to me and it may be featured on an upcoming Daily Fix.
Dating Profile Fix: Boring or Bad Usernames
Did you know your username is the 2nd most important part of your online dating profile’s first impression?
Welcome to the Daily Fix, where we take snippets from real dating profiles and changes the names to protect the not-so-innocent.
Today I’m not going to feature a particular username. It would be too easy for someone to google up the real person behind it and taunt them, and that just wouldn’t be nice.
Before (Examples of Bad Username Ideas):
- John28270
- QueenRenee
- SexySweet69
- LoveMyJaguar
What These Usernames Say:
- John28270: “I couldn’t come up with anything original. This is my first name and ZIP code.“
- QueenRenee: “I’m high maintenance.”
- SexySweet69: “I’m just here to get laid.”
- LoveMyJaguar: “I’m hoping to attract you by using my wealth.”
What Should You Do?
Pick a username that reflects your personality. It’s fine to include your first name or nickname if you don’t mind sharing that, but find a noun or adjective to include with them. BalletRenee will get more clicks than QueenRenee. TrainerJohn is much easier to relate to than John28270.
Want More?
Here are some great articles about usernames:
- Choosing a Good Online Dating Username is Like Writing a Hit Song
- Quick Fix: Getting a Name Change on Match.com in Under a Minute!
- Don’t be lovemyporsche unless you own one, please.
- Three things that make your dating profile click-worthy
Seen a bad profile recently? (Maybe your own?) Email it to me and it may be featured on an upcoming Daily Fix.
Dating Profile Fix: Your Headline Is Not Witty, Sir.
How do you write a great headline for your online dating profile?
Welcome to the Daily Fix, where we take snippets from real dating profiles and changes the names to protect the not-so-innocent.
Today’s fix is a 20-something guy who we’ll call Jason.
Before:
I’m going to tell you Jason’s headline. Are you ready to hear it? Okay, here goes….
“Headline”
What This Says:
A potential date can interpret this a number of ways:
- “He’s trying to be funny… but it’s not really funny.”
- “Did he just write that as a placeholder and forget to come back?”
- “Headline? What? I don’t get it.”
What Should He Do?
A great headline can be tough to write. When I write profiles, I usually save writing the headline for the very end. By then, there’s something about the profile that speaks to me and the headline pops out on its own.
When in doubt, a line from a favorite song or a quote from a favorite person can work as a headline. Find something that is meaningful for you and share it.
Seen a bad profile recently? (Maybe your own?) Email it to me and it may be featured on an upcoming Daily Fix.
Dating Profile Fix: Bad Group Pictures with Blurry Friends
What do you do when you’re flipping through your digital photos and the only good pictures of you are with other people?
Welcome to the Daily Fix, where we take snippets from real dating profiles and changes the names to protect the not-so-innocent.
Today’s fix is a 20-something lady who we’ll call Isabelle.
Before:
Isabelle has a dozen pictures on her profile. All but one are in groups of people. In one photo, she did this little bit of Photoshop on a blonde friend (I’ve taken the liberty of chopping Isabelle out of the picture.):
What This Says:
I have to applaud Isabelle for consulting her friends about using their photos in her profile. That’s the only reason I can think of to explain why the blonde friend is blurred while the others are not.
There are a couple red flags going on in her photos, however.
- Multiple group shots implies a “party girl”. Party girl is seen as synonymous with “drama queen” in the eyes of most men.
- The thought will be in his mind… “When she dumps me, will I get blurred out in her new set of online dating photos?“
What Should She Do?
Three words: Take new pictures.
You really only need four or five pictures on your dating profile:
- Close-up of your face.
- Full body shot. (Girls – no bathing suits. Guys – Keep your shirt on.)
- You enjoying a hobby. (Do you cook? Play music? Build things?)
- Personal choice (group shot if you want).
- Personal choice (or limit it to four pictures).
Isabelle needs to take out her group shots (especially the one with the blurred-out blonde) and replace them with pictures of just herself. She’ll find she gets a lot more replies from men looking for real relationships.
Seen a bad profile recently? (Maybe your own?) Email it to me and it may be featured on an upcoming Daily Fix.