13 Creative Ideas For What To Write In Your Dating Profile, From Experts

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August 25, 2022 — 11:22 AM

Even if you're new to dating apps, the importance of standing out has likely occurred to you. There are, after all, plenty of fish to swipe through, and you want to create a profile that will attract the kind of people you're looking for.

As certified sex therapist De-Andrea Blaylock-Solar, MSW, LCSW-S, CST tells mbg, when setting up your profile, you want to be as true to yourself as possible, and know what you're looking for from the get-go. "Get really clear, even before setting up a profile, of what you're looking for—and you can even put exactly what you're looking for on your profile, whether that's a long-term relationship or you just want to go on dates," she explains.

In terms of what to include on your profile, she adds you can do a quick assessment of what's important to you as an individual and within a relationship. Things like values, interests, and hobbies are great to work into your prompt responses, for example, because it helps people find things in common with you, opening up the door to conversation. And if you can add a touch of humor, Blaylock-Solar adds, all the better.

When picking photos, choose ones that clearly showcase what you look like, she says. Group photos are OK, she notes, but if all you have is group photos, it can be hard for people to figure out which one is you.

And remember: honesty is the best policy. If someone doesn't appreciate the fullness of who you are—they ain't the one. As licensed clinical social worker Rhonda Milrad, LCSW previously told mbg, "You don’t have time to waste sifting through mounds of overtures from subpar suitors. So, put the games aside and be honest and direct about who you are and what you’re looking for."

Who doesn't love a potential suitor with goals, whether they be personal or professional? This prompt lets people know what you're prioritizing right now, and who knows? They might just want to do the same thing, too.

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Sometimes it's the little things that mean the most, and a person's simple pleasures can tell you a lot about a person. Plus, there's something endearing about thinking of someone enjoying life's sweet little moments.

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If you're a travel lover, odds are you'll want to be with someone who loves to travel as much as you. What better way to find them than with a prompt that, well, prompts travel talk about your favorite expeditions?

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This is a great prompt if you have a hidden talent or interest, or if there's something else about you that people might not suspect based on photos alone. The options here are endless, so feel free to have fun with it.

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Are you a brunch-er? A laundry-doer? Perhaps a lay-in-bed-all-Sunday kind of person? Whether you treat Sunday as the day of rest or the day to seize what's left of the weekend, how you spend Sunday gives a good sense of how you prioritize your free time.

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This prompt is a classic choice because no can resist the challenge of a good guessing game—plus, there's plenty of opportunity for humor, while simultaneously sharing some things about yourself.

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This prompt can go a lot of ways, and in any case, it can be helpful for people to know what kind of approach works for you in terms of getting to know each other. Some people are incredibly open, after all, while others might be slower to show their cards.

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Another fun one, and a good choice if you want to find someone with the same obscure interest as you. Don't be afraid to let your geek-flag fly.

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If you want to cut right to the chase and get some dates on your calendar, consider this prompt, which also serves to help you sort out good matches. When the right person sees it, they won't be able to resist, replying that you owe them a drink.

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And last but certainly not least, as much as you'd like your profile to attract the right people, you also want to weed out those who are clearly incompatible. While it may have been a faux pas in the past to talk about politics or religion on a first date, OkCupid's chief marketing officer Melissa Hobley previously told mbg that more and more people are actually prioritizing matching with people who have similar beliefs and values.

"Get this—some of the most commented on questions of all time happen to be recent questions we added in over the last year about border control, climate change, feminism, political beliefs, and voting," she told us recently. "We know these are topics our users care about."

You can, of course, go light with this one, but don't be afraid to be honest about where you stand.

Let's be real—there's a lot of pressure to make your profile as "perfect" as possible. And yes, there are things you can do to make your profile more appealing. But your first priority should ultimately be depicting yourself in a true and honest way.

As Blaylock-Solar tells mbg, it comes down to walking the line between reflecting who you really are, while also seeming approachable and genuine. Focus less on attracting as many people as you can and more on showcasing your true self, so the right people can recognize what kind of person you are.

Along with being yourself, Blaylock-Solar also emphasizes the importance of being open to people you may have otherwise not been initially interested in. It really is so hard to get a sense of someone's energy solely online, and you may find you hit it off way more in person than over messaging. Or, she says, maybe you find a new friendship in this person, rather than a romantic connection—and that's great, too!

To that end, she also adds to let go of any timeline pressures you're putting on yourself, and try to be patient if things aren't moving as "quickly" as you'd like—which brings us to our next point.

On a good day, dating apps like Hinge can give us a huge ego boost when we get new likes and matches. On a bad day, well, not getting matched back can feel like a punch in the gut. But as dating coach Andi Forness previously wrote for mbg, "There are a million possible reasons that person didn't write back, and 99.9% of the time, that has nothing to do with your attractiveness and value as a person."

Blaylock-Solar echoes this point, saying to avoid gauging your self-worth with the number of matches you get. Long story short? The apps can be a jungle, and it's best to approach the whole swiping game with an air of detachment.