Nowadays, if you are single, you probably have at least one online dating profile. Consider some or all of these tips to increase your profile’s attractiveness.

I love your photos

Make sure your photos are beautiful because YOU are beautiful! Even if you don’t think you’re very photogenic, you don’t want your photos to sell you short.

Sign up for a photo shoot at a beautiful location near you. Sites like Living Social and Groupon always have deeply discounted shoots from professional local photographers.

If you don’t like your profile pictures, don’t be surprised when you get very few messages or replies.

Headshot is a must

Make sure that you have at least one or more images that clearly show your beautiful face. If you don’t like any of the photos you currently have, make it a priority to take some pretty ones.

updated photos

Try not to post photos from more than 2 years ago, especially if you have gained or lost weight since then. Both men and women often complain that the person featured is not the person they saw in the photos. Bait and switch can make suitors feel like any potential relationship starts with a lie.

If you don’t like the way you look today, find clothes that compliment you anyway and have someone take some great pictures of you in those clothes. Then set an intention to commit to your health from now on.

Purpose and Passion

Be sure to include lots of photos of you doing things you love and bring you joy!

If yoga is something you love, ask your friend to take some photos of you doing yoga in the nearby park.

If teaching kids to ride a horse gives you purpose, have their parents take pictures of you doing it the next time you’re out.

If you love to travel, keep in mind that you’re collecting photos of yourself from your dating profile, and have your travel buddy (or friendly strangers, if you’re traveling solo) take lots of photos of you in front of your beautiful travel backdrops.

Just like you, good potential partners look for people who enjoy life and who presumably have more to do than just work and commute every day.

Avoid selfies

You sure can do better than this! Selfies beg the question: “Does this person have no friends to take a picture of?” Anyway, we can see those tiled walls behind you… and now someone is imagining you in your bathroom… Is this how you want someone to imagine you for the first time?

be among the ones you love

If you must include a selfie, make it a selfie of you and your friends enjoying each other’s company.

Fix your syntax

This is overlooked by many. Use an editing feature to ensure all grammar, spelling, and typos are cleaned up. Then read the biography aloud to yourself.

Avoid negativity

If you’ve recently gotten cynical about all the weirdos messaging you on your profile, don’t reference them on your profile. Example: “If you’re a creepy loser, don’t bother texting me.”

Likewise, mentioning even in passing how you’ve been slighted or hurt in the past isn’t something that should be in your profile bio. Do not make future suitors pay for the mistakes of your past! Great partners will sense that insecurity and be put off by it.

keep it short

If your bio is as long as this article (676 words), then it is too long.

Put some positive observations about life on your profile, include things you’re passionate about, but leave some mystery for the first date.

one final note

Remember that everyone who looks at your profile is there for a reason: romantic interaction, and your online dating profile is the first impression that will attract them.

You want to make sure that it reflects who you are and what kind of relationship you want.