How To Write An Online Dating Profile

How To Write A Dating Profile (Man, Woman); Dating Profile Bio Tips, Examples

As much as some folks hate taking photos, there are just as many people who hate to write or talk about themselves.

Dating app profiles are definitely photo-centric, but you cannot ignore bios and about me sections, prompts, captions, and headlines. Even with good photos, a bad bio, lazy prompt or vague/low-effort profile can make online dating infinitely more difficult and inefficient. 

Dating app profiles vary by dating app, but all require a mix of photos, writing, and biographical/demographic items. Learning how to write a good dating profile bio can make a difference in your dating efforts.

Below are some tips to help out with your online dating profile, dating app bio ideas, good dating profiles for guys & girls, what to put in a dating profile, dating profile bio, and what to avoid in dating profile bio examples.

How To Write A Bio For A Dating App Profile, Dating App Bio Advice, Examples

Before you start to draft your dating profiles, be sure to read this guide to make sure you are ready to date. It’s important to understand the first few days of a new profile are crucial, as new accounts are boosted for visibility (review the dating profile templates below). Similarly, even with a great profile, you can struggle massively if you lack basic things like:

-proper hygiene

-social skills

-interesting lifestyle

-hobbies/interests

-realistic expectations

-some population density

-being in the general majority of the population (things like being in the minority can hurt you if too many people swipe left on you).

Keep on reading for some great help with your dating profile bio.

Online Dating Questions, Dating Profile Questions, Template: Hinge, Bumble, Tinder

Hinge Profile Template  |  Bumble Profile Template  |  Coffee Meets Bagel Template  |  Tinder Template

Bumble, Hinge Profile Example: Good Dating Bio (What To Write In A Dating Profile)

What NOT to do. Don’t put this in a prompt or bio. Similarly, don’t use generic opening lines that she/he has heard thousands of times. Bios like this are a huge red flag and not only show that one is bitter but likely to get unwanted attention a lot. While you can’t block all unwanted advances, you can control who you attract by how you carry yourself.

Setting Up An Online Dating Profile, Tips On Setting Up a Dating Profile

Remember, as soon as profiles are created, they are boosted and shown often to others so lazy, incomplete profiles with bad photos can really hurt you. Even if you improve your profile, it can take weeks or months to see improvement if you have been on the app for an extended period of time.

It’s essential you start off strong to make a good first impression, otherwise, you may not get a second chance.

For tips on making a good Hinge profile, read this. For help with making a good Bumble profile, read this. For those that are brand new to apps and don’t know where to start, contact me today for a consultation.

So you downloaded the dating app of choice, uploaded a few dating profile photos and synced your Facebook, LinkedIn, Spotify and Instagram account to populate your location, hometown, age, height, favorite band, company name and title. That was easy, wasn’t it? Not so fast.

While it’s true that most people only review the main profile photo when doing a first pass on profiles and also true photos account for 90%+ of the decision-making process on whether to swipe left or right, bios, prompts and answers to prompts should not be ignored.

Online dating profile bios are an essential piece of the puzzle to have in your online dating toolkit. While bios and answers will not make up for bad, unflattering selfies and ambiguous group shots, they can provide some insight, confidence and context that photos do not always convey.

How Do I Describe Myself For Online Dating Site: About Me Dating App Profile Examples

Bios or About Me sections should fill in the holes that you can do so via prompts as seen in Bumble and Hinge. They should be succinct, insightful, anecdotal and complement your photos and photo captions. Use specifics, be random – don’t be afraid to geek out a little.

How you spend your time, what piques your interest and examples of your knowledge, experience, culture go a long way to separating yourself from the competition.

Don’t write about one time events, things from your childhood – the focus should be about the person today and how you spend your time. Be sure to include what you seek as well – profiles should be 2/3 about you and 1/3 about what you are looking for.

Profiles should convey:

• who you are
• how you spend your time
• what you seek
• and a little personality

Writing An Effective Dating Profile, How To Do I Make My Dating Profile Standout: 

A dating profile bio should not read like a resume, it should complement your photos and not be a summary of your LinkedIn profile. Adding places lived, favorite TV show, and favorite dish are good starts, but you still need some dimension, life in your bios.

Similarly, a list of adjectives can be biased, possibly inaccurate and impossible to invalidate online. It’s not any better if you frame the list of qualities through a third person: “My friends say I am caring, thoughtful, loving” blah, blah, blah.

Friends can be biased, friends may not want to hurt your feelings and maybe your friends can’t be trusted – who knows? I call these characteristics empty adjectives.

Many people have a hard time being honest about themselves (just look at your co-workers LinkedIn profile). Acting too coy or using joke prompts and answers lack vulnerability and can be seen as defensive behavior by others.

Dating Profile Headline Tips: What Is A Good Profile Headline For Online Dating

These are typically used on sites like Match.com, OkCupid and POF where they are separate from longer, detailed bios and about me sections. These profile headlines can be cute, fun and random – movie and tv quotes are good (if done well).

Avoid obvious ones from shows like the Office. Headlines like poke fun of yourself are great as long as you don’t go overboard. “Life is great, on dating apps at 41 – just like I pictured it”

Do You Like Guacamole?

Dating App Profile Tips: Use Details, Anecdotes, References, Inside Jokes

Cliche answers, bios are not only boring but often lack any insight. Ask me anything, open to new adventures, liking Netflix or hiking is extremely vague. Dig into types of hikes with favorite types of trails i.e. short scenic, remote locals only/hidden gems, particular regions, half-day hikes, post-hike activities.

A great bio should reveal anecdotal insights, passions, beliefs, curiosities, guilty pleasures, some embarrassing tidbits and priorities. Short examples that illustrate points are great.

Taking a stand vs. trying to be the most agreeable or interesting man in the world is preferred. No one wants an exact clone of themselves. Be original, be you. It’s easier to connect with someone through a distant, random or obscure reference than it is through something cliche and mainstream.

How To Describe Yourself Dating Site Example Female, Male

Don’t be boring: brunch, the Office, Game of Thrones will not get you far (see how many boxes you check off in this online dating profile bingo card).

Nouns like hiker, traveler, foodie etc. offer no insight into frequency, prioritization or level of commitment.

Are you a casual Land’s End hiker or are you a weekend warrior that does 3-4 hour hikes. Are you a beach resort traveler or do you like to immerse yourself in culture and languages with locals different from yourself?

Are you a superficial Instagram traveler or do you have some depth to your curiosity. Do you like safe chain restaurants, dives featured on No Reservations or posh Michelin rated restaurants. Be careful about vague descriptions in your profile. The more vague, the less interesting you will sound.

Bios should not read like a novel, but they should have substance. A balance of flow, randomness, self-deprecating humor, insight is key for a good bio. Many folks strike out when it comes to bios. Don’t let that be you.

Most people never seek unbiased feedback on their bios and profiles and the ones that do often times get biased feedback or have context into your bio and photos that a stranger does not.

Friends, family members and co-workers may not want to be brutally honest with you or they might have some advantage that allows them more flexibility to get away with breaking guidelines for photos and bios.

Related read: Dating Profile Examples

Use Prompts, Questions On Hinge & Bumble, How To Make Dating Profile More Interesting

If you have a great story, reference or humble brag, see if you can share it using one of the prompts on these apps. These prompts are your best friend to help you set up an opportunity to talk about yourself without seeming as self-absorbed or randomly weird if referenced in a small bio.

Short Dating Profile Examples, Witty Dating Profile Examples, What To Say On A Dating Profile

Finance exec who will never end up on @MidtownUniform. Global Entry / Espresso cocktail snob / Worst fear: ending up on boyfriends of Instagram.

Relocated from NYC to trade in summer Fridays to Long Island for weekend trips to Mendocino, Big Sur and Portland. Former analytics geek turned designer. Own 2 small pugs, 800+ credit score and looking for a tennis partner in town and someone to knock out the Eater 38 list – interested?

Catch hiking in Marin on weekends followed by oysters, cold beer and sun at Pelican Inn or Cafe Reyes. I get too excited about open bar seats at restaurants, all things Japan, last minute road trips up/down Hwy 1, dungeness crab season and Colin Jost / Michael Che joke exchanges.

Mottos I live by: Treat Yo Self (in moderation) / going halfsies at restaurants is a must /  travel like a local, not like a tourist / better to ask a stranger to take a photo than use a selfie stick.

How To Write A Dating Profile For A Woman: Witty Dating Profiles To Attract Men, Examples

There is nothing worst than reading another cliche dating profile that contains multiple entries from Tinder bingo i.e. wine, brunch, dogs, yoga, beach, travel, family is everything, no hook-ups, swipe left if, work at tech etc.

There is nothing wrong with those interests, hobbies but listing out those exact words is basic, lazy and cliche. If you want to attract a guy, put some effort into it, be creative and a little vulnerable.

Don’t write what you think is cute, write for the guy you are looking to attract. Being too cute will only attract shallow guys.

Unexpected pleasantries, active lifestyles, non-mainstream/cliche hobbies and interests as well as self-deprecating humor are golden. With that said, you don’t want to reveal all your great attributes at once, good to reveal pleasant surprises over time, in person.

Avid runner, Japanophile, allergic to tech logo vests, last trip before Covid = Oaxaca, first trip after covid = Naples. Currently perfecting espresso martinis at home and just discovered Parks & Rec, looking for a tennis partner.

Pros: Won’t make you take absurd photos ala boyfriends of Instagram, great person to have on your pub trivia team, can get ready in under 20 minutes for a last minute roadtrip

Cons: Take my time to get ready for a night out, gluten-free / Celiac : ( / , might Hasselhoff food from a street vendor after a late night out.

What To Say In A Dating Profile: How To Make A Good Dating Profile Bio, Ideas, Tips

Don’t use phrases like swipe left if, no-hookups, not looking for, don’t message me if etc. This sounds dismissive as well as signals to others that you are unable to filter out such people on your own and lack ability to screen profiles and read people.

This could actually backfire and suggest you are an easy target or encourage someone to accept a challenge to bypass your filters.

Avoid celebrity quotes and descriptions from friends. Describe yourself in your own words. Stop trying to pretend you are on dating apps against your own will.

Dating Profile Examples For Men, Online Dating Profile Examples To Attract Women

The guidance and tips I provide is geared toward those seeking to date with the intent of long-term relationships. If you are not sure what you want or just seeing what’s out there, your bio and profile will look a lot different from what I have written about there.

The biggest mistake guys make in profiles is lacking approachability when it comes to lack of smiles, lack of style, lack of effort/energy, lack of dressed up looks (dressing down too much or not looking mature enough) and lack of context in photos (boring photos without activities, locations, events or social context).

Related read: Biggest Mistakes Guys Make On Dating Profiles

Dating Profile Interests: Best Hobbies & Interests For Dating Profile

That really depends on your lifestyle, location, and who you want to attract. Sure there are certain interests that attract more people but your focus should be on quality, not quantity.

Similarly, hobbies and interests should reflect those that others would be interested in, not just what you geek out on.

Too many solo, introverted interests and hobbies can be a turn-off. No one is asking you to be someone else, but you do need to grow and add hobbies and interests that make you more marketable.

Related read: Dating Profile Interests & Hobbies

How To Write A Bumble Profile: Bumble Profile Review Tips

When it comes to Bumble, many people make the mistake of not fully utilizing the Bumble bio (about me section). It’s a great way to complement what you have in your photos and answers to prompts that you are unable to capture in those fields.

The section should avoid repeating anything that is stated or obvious in the drop-down fields or in your photos or prompts. This section provides the ability for you to express your creativity, quirks, self-deprecating humor and personality. For tips on Bumble prompts, read this.

Quotes For Dating App Profiles, Inspirational Quotes Dating Profiles, Quotes From Friends

Don’t do this. Anyone can copy and paste a quote – there is no originality there. Similarly, quotes from friends are biased and mean nothing unless they are brutally honest and self-deprecating.