You’ve decided that you’ve talked to the walls long enough and it is time to try the big mystery of on-line dating.  Should be simple – write a quick blurb about what I am and you need to be.  Well, the rules have changed.  Before you post that quick little personal profile, there are many things to consider.  First, what kind of relationship?  Friends only?  Pretty serious?  Marriage minded?

Next, start to list your own traits and interests.  Be honest in giving your real age, marital status, whether your children live with you, smoker or not, alcohol or not, race, education and interests.  Help the person who is searching find someone with whom they can connect.  Everyone deserves honesty in their relationships.  If you post a photo, you will at least double your chances of getting responses.  Sad as it is, many seekers won’t even both to contact you without a photo.  When you post a picture, make sure it is really you and that it is recent; say within the last year unless you have had major physical changes since the photo was taken.  For example, if you have gained 50 pounds, dyed your blonde hair green and gotten a nose ring, make sure your photo shows those changes.

Think about the activities that you like.  If your interest is football and beer, don’t say that you prefer cocktails and ballet.  Are you an outdoor or indoor person?  If “roughing it” is a three-star hotel with only one bathroom, don’t enthuse about primitive camping! Although sometimes opposites attract, it is wise to have some interests in common.  Likewise if you list reading as a hobby, you should have at least a nodding acquaintance with bookstores and/or libraries.

Finally, consider the person you want to spend time with.  Be realistic and don’t ask for that perfect person.  Those folks who expect model perfect may well be hard to please and would get more pleasing, honest responses if they stated “weight and height proportionate.”  You may state preferences, but don’t make your wishes into demands.  Preferences are polite exclusions, as in “prefer redheads” rather than “redheads only need apply.”