How to Begin Your Online Dating Profile Essay

Writing about yourself is something many people find difficult. You want to let people learn about you without sounding cocky or contrived. This is especially important when writing your online dating profile. The essay portion of your dating ad is your time to shine, or blend in with the crowd. Want to create an opening to your essay that will leave the reader wanting more? Here's how.

Things You'll Need

• Membership in online dating site
• Creativity

Instructions

1. First, browse other peoples ads. You'll see most other online daters begin their essay with something like, "Hi. I am an easy going and fun loving woman looking for a nice man." Boring. An opening like this doesn't tell readers anything about yourself nor makes them have any reason to read on. This is what you want to avoid.

2. Be descriptive and specific. You want to avoid opening your essay with a list of adjectives that make you sound like everyone else in your category.

3. Tell potential dates something interesting about yourself in the very first sentence. I recommend saying something about your job or career and something about one of your special interests. For example, if I am school teacher who loves to kayak, I might open my essay with this, "I have piece of chalk in one hand and an oar in the other..." This opening will hook the reader and make them want to learn more.

4. Be confident and optimistic. Always put some energy and thought into your essay' s first two sentences. It is part of your very first impression and will determine if daters give your profile a closer look.

Tips & Warnings

• Begin your essay with a "hook." Tell people something about why you are unusual and different from all the other online daters.

• Don't start your essay with a defeatist tone. Avoid things like, "I don't really expect this to work, but what the heck?" People will see you as pessimistic and move on.