Did you ever wonder why some guys seem to have luck with online dating while others don't? The trick might be as simple as a few great profile pictures. Never underestimate how much a good profile can help you get attention from the very people you're looking to meet.
If you think all pictures are created equal, or that you have to be great looking to have a full inbox, think again. Online daters that have the best responses from their pictures tend to share some common strengths.
Profile Mistake: Inappropriate Pictures
Some guys feel very comfortable in their own skin, which is great, except that with online dating a little confidence can come off as arrogance. If you've got pictures up where you have your shirt off or are flexing your muscles, rethink these. Women don't want to see you without your shirt (yet) or watch you flex those big biceps unless they get to know you. Posting pictures like these will scare off your ideal mate before she even has a chance to read what you're all about.
Another online dating turn off are photos cropped to show that someone else was once in the picture. Since the person reading your profile knows nothing about you, she will use your photos to judge what you might be like. A cropped photo that has the remnants of an old girlfriend or even a buddy can make it seem as if you can't let go of the past.
Profile Success: Post Pictures That Illustrate Your Life
We're visual by nature, so even if you have the greatest essay ever written, it won't get noticed without some pictures to accompany it. The right pictures include:
A clear head and shoulder profile where you smile at the camera in the most natural way you can. Just smile and be yourself. Also, wear business casual attire that allows you to project a polished image.
Variety. Put up three to five photos, all with different outfits and backgrounds.
Action. Have at least one photo where you are standing (a full-body shot), and make sure the rest include backgrounds that highlight the things you talk about in your essay. If you're a booklover, go ahead and post a shot of you reading in a chair (posed nicely, of course). If you enjoy biking, golf, or tennis, incorporate a few photos that show you doing those activities. If you're a travel buff, post a few vacation shots.
The point of photos is to give someone a sense of your personality, and what you'd be like on a date. Allow them to help tell your story so someone will be interested enough that she'll contact you to find out more.
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