Rules for a Good Online Dating Profile (for Men):

• Use spell-check. Also use punctuation, capitalization, and proper grammar. You’re not writing a text message: use full words and complete sentences.

• Put up pictures of yourself. No matter how clever, intelligent, witty, or intriguing your profile is, I’m not even going to read it if you don’t show me what you look like. In more than one picture.
• Use recent pictures: I’m going to figure it out real quick when I meet you if you used a picture that doesn’t look the way you look now.
• Don’t take a picture of yourself in your bathroom mirror with your cell phone. Presumably you have friends. Get one to take your picture.

• These words and phrases, in your profile, are a dead give-away that you have some relationship issues you haven’t dealt with:
• I value honesty
• No drama
• I’m tired of games
• Any phrase referring to your dislike of cheaters and liars
  

All you’re doing is broadcasting the fact that you had a seriously messy break-up, probably recently. You’re clearly not over it. Deal with your broken heart, bruised ego, anger, jealousy, crushed self-esteem; then try dating.

**And as a side note: saying you don’t like cheaters or liars isn’t going to keep them away. (A liar can very easily lie to you about not being a liar…see how that works?) If it were that easy, I would put up a sign on my house that says, “I’m not interested in any burglars here.” **

• Don’t start out your profile with any of these phrases: “I hate talking about myself”; “I don’t know what to say”; “I’m not good at things like this.” You signed up for an online dating service – this means you have to talk about yourself. At least if you want me to read your profile and maybe go out with you at some point. No one is comfortable writing these profiles about themselves – but we suck it up and do it. You should too.

• I know, I know: You’re an easy-going, laid back, nice guy who likes to stay active (you play soccer, softball, ski, hike, mountain bike, run marathons, and rock climb), but you’re also just as comfortable hanging out at home, you enjoy nice restaurants, aren’t into the club scene, and love traveling and experiencing new things. You’re looking for a girl who can hang with you in your sporty/outdoor adventures, but will be just as happy curling up on the couch watching a movie with you. You want her to be smart, independent, funny, and sweet. You want someone you can have fun with.
  

You all sound the same. Say something that makes me laugh. Say something that shows that you know who you are and what you want.

**If you don't know who you are and what you want, dating is going to be difficult for you and you're going to end up unhappy -- figure that out first.**

• Don’t be embarrassed that you’re on the site. I’m looking at your profile because I’m on there too. You don’t have to give a disclaimer about how you’ve never done anything like this before.