When you are facing that big white area and blinking cursor that marks the space soon to be occupied by your online dating profile, it can be enough to send you into a panic.  But don’t worry; follow these simple steps and you’ll soon have a profile you can be proud of.

1.  Start the Old Fashioned Way:  Sit down with pen and paper (really!).  We usually write slower by hand, so this will give you time to think before you write.  You will create a more thoughtful, genuine profile.

2.  Get Real:  The more forthright you are, the more quality matches you will attract.  So if you haven’t been to the opera in…well…ever, don’t say “I love the opera.”  Likewise, if you spend all your free time in online role-playing games, saying “I enjoy video games” masks the truth just a tad.

3.  Clean It Up:  Dust off your dictionary, use spell check, and avoid annoying ‘text speak’ when you write your profile.  Most sites won’t allow cursing or foul language anyway, but be sure to use plain language and make your writing as clean as possible.  The easier you are to understand, the more great people you’ll attract.

4.  Take a Break: After it is written, let your profile sit for a couple of days before you post it.  Not only will this help steel your resolve, but re-reading your bio with a fresh set of eyes will help you catch glaring errors and assess your profile more critically.