Ladies, stumped as to what makes a great dating profile? Well, here are some amazing dating profile examples for women that will take your online dating to the next level. I’ve taken years of experience to distill it down to just what you need to succeed.
With so much competition for the attention of your potential dates and partners, it can feel impossible to truly stand out from them. If you are trying to work out how to build a dating profile that gets results, this list of dating profile examples for women can arm you with the knowledge and inspiration needed to land the man you want!
Table of Contents
The basics of a great online dating profile
How to choose the best dating profile photos
- Use more than one photo
- Make it clear who you are
- Use recent photos
- Give a sense of who you are as a person
How to write a dating profile bio
Which dating site or app should you use?
The Basics of a Great Online Dating Profile
So, what are the first things you need to know when coming up with a dating profile? It can be useful to start out with the things that you should definitely rule out. Online dating etiquette can be complicated, especially if you are unfamiliar with it.
What to avoid
Some of the biggest dating profile turn-offs that men report are based on photos. Photos that are low-resolution or covered in Instagram filters are usually a no-no (trust us, as cute as the dog ears or princess tiara filter are, no guy will be impressed by them). Including only face shots or only body, shots is also usually a misstep, as it makes guys wonder what you are hiding. I’ll delve into choosing the best possible photos a little further on, but avoiding these mistakes is the first step.
Not every common turn-off is visual. There are many things in dating profile bios that make most guys groan and skip past you quickly. Anything that makes you seem unpleasant or difficult to spend time with is certainly best left out. One example is listing requirements that a man must meet (while we all have requirements, listing them before anything else on your bio can make you look picky or shallow). Complaining about previous dates or partners or blatantly bragging about things such as money or achievements are also turn-offs for most.
What usually works
What each individual guy wants in a woman can vary widely. However, some basic guidelines apply to most men. For example, not many men are attracted to women who seem uptight, controlling, or demanding (and let’s be honest; you probably wouldn’t want a man like that either). Most would prefer a laid-back, fun partner. Showing that you have a sense of humor and like to enjoy life is usually the best angle for your dating profile.
In terms of physical appearance, tastes can vary. While we can’t change many aspects of our appearance, the way that we present ourselves can make or break someone’s attraction to us. Smiling is usually best when it comes to photos—not many people can genuinely pull off the “moody and mysterious” look in online dating. Aside from this, looking clean and wearing clothes that suit you are pretty universally appreciated factors. When a guy is looking online for the perfect girlfriend, he is almost certain to choose the laid-back, fun-loving girl with style over the girl who seems confrontational, negative, and does not look after herself.
How to Choose the Best Dating Profile Photos
Now that you have the basics of what to choose and what to avoid when it comes to your photos, it’s time for a little more detail. Here are some tips for selecting the best pictures for your dating profile.
Use more than one photo
Look, it’s no surprise that your online dating profile photo is the key to getting people to stop, notice and engage with you. If you’re still thinking that any old selfies will do then you really need to step up your game and think twice about the first impression you’re making to people on the dating site.
Your online dating profile photo is the key to getting people to stop, notice and engage with you
Once you figure out what the best primary online dating photos are, then you can fill out your profile with additional photos that showcase your style. Don’t forget to include at least one “Full body” shot because potential dates are going to expect it, or worse ask for it anyway. Don’t waste your time and others if you don’t add additional photos. Besides, people often look very different in different photos. Adding a few different images (ideally between three and seven) of you gives people a chance to see more clearly what you look like in general. This also means that you can include both face shots and full-body shots.
Make it clear who you are
Another reason to use more than one photo is that this gives you the option to use group photos, as long as you also include photos of just yourself. Whatever you do, do not include only group photos, as people won’t be able to tell which one is you. Another thing to avoid at all costs is using photos of other people to fool people. This is called “catfishing” and is not only deceptive but also has little benefit—after all, you’re trying to find someone who likes the real you!
Use recent photos
A surprisingly common mistake when it comes to choosing the best photos is using out-of-date images. Trust me—no guy is going to be interested in how you looked a couple of years ago or more, even if you want to show off your own glow-up. There is no specific time limit on how recent a photo should be, but it should ideally show how you look now.
There is nothing wrong with a year-old photo if you haven’t changed much at all. However, if you have recently gone through a significant change in appearance (a complete change of fashion sense, a bold new haircut, or a significant change in weight or muscle tone), you should represent yourself as you are now. If in doubt, think, “would my date recognize me when we meet up for a first date?”
Give a sense of who you are as a person
As well as showing who you are visual, photos that give a sense of what your life is like and what makes you tick are a great way of attracting the people who are right for you. If you enjoy a pursuit such as sports, dancing, theater, horse riding, or outdoor adventures, photos of you taking part in these are a simple way to convey this.
Photos of you with friends are a great way of showing that you have a social life, which is attractive to most people. For example, shots of you and the girls at the club show that you love to party (although very drunk photos are usually best avoided). If this doesn’t represent you and the kind of guy you want to attract, choose something that reflects your passions. This could be as simple as you in a cafe having a coffee with a friend or participating in some form of a community project.
Most guys like to have at least something to start a conversation about.
How to Write a Dating Profile Bio
Writing the bio, or “About Me,” section of a dating profile is a fine art. Many women leave this section blank and let their pictures do the talking—this probably works in some cases, but most guys like to have at least something to start a conversation about.
However, writing too much is also best avoided most of the time. Essay-length walls of text are unlikely to be read fully, and may even lead to potential dates seeing you as pretentious or over-sharing. A little mystery is good, but you need to include enough information to spark interest. Including facts about yourself that raise questions is a great way to start a conversation.
Overall, it is best to seem laid-back, approachable, and honest. Information that can be seen from photos may not need to be in your bio (for example, you don’t need to mention that you like going for cocktails if there are already pictures of you doing this). A great bio is concise but informative, includes a dash of humor (although be careful with recycled, copy-and-pasted lines), and raises a question.
Dating Profile Examples
It’s tricky to explain the difference between a great online dating profile and a terrible one without including some examples! Take a look at some actual samples below and the feedback that goes along with them. I think that you’ll quickly get an idea of what’s a good profile example and what is a bad one.
Good Dating Profiles Examples
Emily, 26
My ideal date starts with a quiet coffee and intellectual conversation in a cute cafe and ends with us getting ejected from a karaoke bar at 2 am for drunk and disorderly behavior.
FEEDBACK: Funny, light-hearted, and self-deprecating. This is a good bio.
Tanisha, 21
Short but feisty
Inked and pierced
Festivals
Techno
Dogs
Hit me with your best pick-up line 😉
FEEDBACK: List-based bios can be pretty effective. This one is informative and gives an excellent overview of her lifestyle, and the last line shows approachability and humor.
Anna, 30
Just moved to *insert place name here* and looking to meet cool people. Hit me up if you like mimosas and endlessly quoting The Office.
FEEDBACK: Simple, informative, and inviting. Nothing groundbreaking, but when paired with the right photos, this is a solid bio.
Bad Dating Profiles Examples
Jess, 20
Idk what to write here lol
FEEDBACK: This one comes up a lot. Honestly, leaving it blank would be better.
Sharon, 25
5’5’’
Treat me like a princess
If you’re ugly, keep scrolling
FEEDBACK: Demanding and shallow in one. Even the most incredible photos might not be able to make up for this one.
Kate, 33
Had enough of silly boys on this app. Looking for a real man, not someone who’s gonna play mind games. If you can’t handle me at my worst, you don’t deserve me at my best.
FEEDBACK: Nobody wants to know about your dating history before knowing anything else. Add in the painfully clichéd and often misused quote, and this is a home run of lousy dating profile choices.
Conclusion
Different dating sites and apps are designed for slightly different purposes and may reward different approaches. While the tips here are pretty universal with regards to online dating, Tinder is a more image-focused app that rewards excellent photos and short, witty bios. In contrast, sites like eHarmony, Match, and OkCupid tend to attract a user base who may be more interested in reading longer bios or answering questions about compatibility.
The most important thing to remember is that it does not necessarily matter if a particular guy isn’t blown away by your online dating profile. If he sees something that he isn’t into, then he wasn’t right for you anyway! After all, the point of dating is to find people who you can really connect and who like you for who you are.
About the Author
Brenda Adair is a relationship and lifestyle writer, coffee enthusiast, and lover of new experiences. You’ll usually find her in a coffee shop with her laptop and a flat white scribbling down an article or searching for the next travel destination. She is a contributing author at GoDates, and several other online publications.