Happy February!

Every month in 2012, I’ll be delivering some tips, questions, and writing prompts that you can use to freshen up your dating profile and have you looking your best for the love of your life (or the love of the month, if you roll that way).

Big Tips For Every Dating Profile

Start with a bang! Folks on the internet are in a hurry and like to have things delivered to their eyes as quickly as possible, otherwise, they move on. If your first sentence or two isn’t gripping, they’re going to slip away to the next profile.

Have an interchangeable section of your profile.  If this happens to be the beginning of your profile, even better. Have parts of your profile that you can delete and replace with other information. This is where you can freshen up your profile for the month by shooting in some new words that will catch the eye of someone new.

Don’t worry about Valentine’s Day. Every single person knows that 2/14 is coming, so don’t stress about it or mention it.

A Tip for Those in New Relationships on Valentine’s Day

If you end up on a first date around V-Day, bringing a single rose is a nice gesture. Go for pink, which is generally considered to be less serious-romance than red. Or if your date has a sweet tooth, a small box of chocolates would also be cool. Sappy cards are right out.

If you’re in a new relationship (under a month), think about where you stand. If you’re in contact constantly and all lovey-dovey, then go for the traditional gift and sappy card. If you’re only seeing each other once a week or you’re not exclusive, a smaller gift is more appropriate.

Three Questions for February

Looking for inspiration to freshen up your profile so it says, “I’ve updated this recently”? Here you go!

• What do you love about Winter? Do you love warm wool sweaters, playing in the snow with your kids or dogs, going skiing, or just having an excuse to drink more hot cocoa?
• What’s your favorite way to spend a snow day?
• What are your plans for the leap year? (Hey, it’s a whole extra day!)

Three Writing Prompts

Starting a new profile or re-writing yours? Here are some questions that might get your creative juices flowing.

• What’s the biggest leap of faith you made that was totally worth it?
• If you could take a weekend class to learn something new, what would it be?
• What scent reminds you of home? (Either your childhood home or current home.)

Happy Dating, Geek Friends!

Remember that I’m here for you if you need any help with your dating profile.

Happy New Year!

Every month in 2012, I’ll be delivering some tips, questions, and writing prompts that you can use to freshen up your dating profile and have you looking your best for the love of your life (or the love of the month, if you roll that way).

Big Tips For Every Dating Profile

Start with a bang! Folks on the internet are in a hurry and like to have things delivered to their eyes as quickly as possible, otherwise, they move on. If your first sentence or two isn’t gripping, they’re going to slip away to the next profile.

Have an interchangeable section of your profile.  If this happens to be the beginning of your profile, even better. Have parts of your profile that you can delete and replace with other information. This is where you can freshen up your profile for the month by shooting in some new words that will catch the eye of someone new.

Three Questions for January

Looking for inspiration to freshen up your profile so it says, “I’ve updated this recently”? Here you go!

• What excites you about starting a new year?
• Do you have any New Year traditions? [You can do the failed resolutions angle if you make it funny, not depressing.]
• What was your favorite memory of the holidays?

Three Writing Prompts

Starting a new profile or re-writing yours? Here are some questions that might get your creative juices flowing.

• What never fails to make you smile? Is it a person, an animal, a writer, a piece of music? Describe what it’s like when you’re around this person/animal/thing.
• Everyone wants to change the world. Are you more likely to do this through volunteering your time or donating your money?
• When was the last time that you had so much fun that you lost track of time? What were you doing?

Happy Dating, Geek Friends!

Remember that I’m here for you if you need any help with your dating profile.

The holiday season is upon us! Are you about to shove your dating life to the “Do Right in 2011″ list? Don’t do it; try this first. Change just a few lines of your dating profile and you’ll be amazed at the new life it breathes into your online dating experience.

Why It Works

Most singles skimming their online dating site are doing just that – skimming. The good thing about skimming is that you can read a lot in a short amount of time. This is great for the skimmer, but not the skimmed. If the beginning few lines of your profile are lackluster, you’re outta there, buddy!

But there’s hope!

Changing the first few lines of your profile and trading out your main photo for another photo makes you look 100% new to those skimmers. You have a second chance to catch their eyes and get them to STOP on you, and then click to read more.

Take advantage of this! All sites will let you change your photo and profile and some sites will even let you change usernames when you want a total refresh of your look. Do it, do it, do it. If you’re not getting the amount of attention you want, it’s up to you to make yourself look fresh and new and eye-catching.

The Holidays Are A Great Time To Freshen Up Your Profile

I love the holiday season because it gives you some great dating profile material. Everyone has holiday stories, holiday memories, holiday activities. These things not only say a lot about who you are, but they’re laden with emotions. Emotions that can warm the heart of that cutie across town and get them interested in getting to know you.

Questions to Consider When Writing Your Profile Intro

• What does the holiday season mean to you?
• What do you associate with the holiday season?
• What’s your favorite Christmas / Hanukkah / Yule / etc memory?
• Is there a smell that just screams HOLIDAYS to you?
• Do you have any weird holiday traditions?

Examples of Holiday-Themed Dating Profile Intros

Using prompt: What does the holiday season mean to you?

Cookies, cookies, cookies. Every December when I was little, my mom would make Hershey Kiss Cookies on Sunday night. We’d burn our tongues on them straight out of the oven, but it never stopped us. I made some yesterday, and well… let’s say things haven’t changed.

Using prompt: Is there a smell that just screams HOLIDAYS to you?

When the grocery store puts out the display of cinnamon brooms, I know the holidays are here. I buy one every year, even though it’s utterly useless as a real broom. The smell just makes me smile.

Using prompt: Do you have any weird holiday traditions?

Every year, my family does an Iron Chef Dessert contest for Christmas. Last year’s Christmas dinner plate had one piece of ham and five slivers of various pies. Totally indulgent and awesome. My friends have been known to ditch their families to come to our dessert feast.

Just Do It!

Updating your profile with timely information about the season not only gives you the second chance to catch a passing skimmer but also shows the singles on your dating site that you are recently active (and most importantly, still single!).

Invest ten minutes in freshening up your profile today and who knows, you may have a date tomorrow!

One of the most unattractive things about a dating profile (besides the usual red flags) is the stench of one that’s been neglected and left to rot.

A lot of people assume that you can just write a dating profile (or hire someone to write your dating profile for you) and just leave it be for ever and ever, amen.

That’s not exactly true.

If you want your dating profile to smell fresh and clean and attractive, you’ll want to keep it updated at least once a season to reflect what’s going on in your life and world.

A Seasonal Example

John loves to waterski.  He’s been doing it since he was a little kid growing up on a lake in Florida.  But now he lives in the north and waterskiing isn’t something he can do year-round.

If John wants to keep his profile smelling fresh and clean, he’s got four options that he can plug into his dating profile depending on the season:

1. Summer: I’m out on the lake as often as possible these days.  Nothing beats the sensation of flying across the water on my skis or board.
2. Fall: I’m a little bummed that soon the weather will be too cool for waterskiing.  Most of my summer was spent on the lake and I’m going to miss it.
3. Winter: I’ve been trying to satiate my hunger for waterskiing by learning how to downhill ski.  It’s fun, but it’s just not the same.  Are you looking forward to Spring as much as I am?
4. Spring: I’m pretty pumped about the weather warming up so quickly this year.  Really, really hoping I can break out my waterskis soon!

How much cooler and more ALIVE is his profile now that the folks reading it can see that he’s updated it recently?  It also shows that he’s passionate and excited about something – even if it is waiting for winter to be over, already!

Think About It

What can you freshen up in your profile?

• An outdoor activity you enjoy that season
• A convention or meetup you’re attending or just attended
• A movie you’re looking forward to seeing / just saw
• A book you just read
• A current political issue you feel strongly about (WARNING: Only do this if you’re prepared to deal with people who don’t agree with you. Politics are a dangerous subject.)
• A concert you’re looking forward to attending / just attended

It’s pretty easy to think up little ways to freshen up your profile.  It only takes a few minutes of your time and the results are more than worth it.

Don’t Forget!

We have two Halloween specials going on right now!  Don’t let them pass you by:

• Win a magazine of awesome monster art, courtesy of AvatarArt.com
• Get 25% off any Geek’s Dream Girl service with code HALLOWEEN (Want ideas on how to freshen up?  Get the Plastic d20 Package and we’ll have you smelling GREAT in no time.)

You update your Facebook about six times a day.  You update Twitter about six times six times.  When was the last time you changed your online dating profile headline?

Do you even remember what your profile headline is?   Go on, check it… I’ll wait…

Celebrate Summer!

Why not use the new season for inspiration for a new and fun headline?  Let me give you some ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

• School’s out for summer!  (Good for teachers and students!)
• Is it back to school yet?  (Good for single parents!!)
• Going from redhead to blond, one swim at a time.
• Riding the waves, waving to the sharks
• Anybody up for beach volleyball?
• I have a moonroof and the tanline to prove it.
• When the going gets hot, the hot gets in the A/C!

All of these can stand alone as a new headline, but they can also be incorporated into your profile should you have the time to freshen that up, too.  Get that second glance from that special someone who may have passed you by!

Need help with your profile?  The D.I.Y. package is for you!  You’ll get your profile critiqued and edited.  We’ll help you find the people we think would be a great match for you and coach you on exactly what you should say to get the girl (or guy!).  Check out our services!

The best way to drive new (and old) traffic to your dating profile is to keep it fresh!   Update your pictures as often as you can, but in a pinch, a new headline is a great way to draw attention.  Here are the headline ideas from the last post and an idea on how to write each into your profile text.

• I’m not sure this is a snow “angel”…
  

Women are great at making snow angels look angelic.  Men, well, not so much.  Maybe it’s a Beer Gut Angel.

• Valentine’s Day Needs Something…
  

I think that Valentine’s Day should have some sort of fairy or other magical creature that makes sure EVERYONE gets loved, don’t you think?

• My Special Valentine’s Tradition Is…

On Valentine’s Day, I bring my mom and grandmother both bouquets of flowers.  If V-Day is about love, then these women are my true Valentines.

• SNOW DAY!
  

One of the BEST things about being a teacher is the snow day – especially if it’s an unexpected one.  Nothing like waking up at 5:30 am to an automated phone call from the boss telling you to go back to bed!

• You’d think I’d get better at skiing…
  

Every year I break out my skis and every year I look like a doofus on my first run down the mountain.  Oh well, at least nobody saw me on the bunny slope.

• Psst!  Come see my snow fort.
  

When I was a kid, my dad used to use the snow-blower to pile snow on top of our picnic table.  Then we’d tunnel in through one of the ends and hollow it out into the best fort ever.  I miss those days.

• Is it so wrong to love flannel sheets?
  

I’ve been told it’s okay to love flannel as long as it’s sheets and not lumberjack shirts.  Is that right?

• Is the talent on American Idol getting worse?
  

I used to be a big Idol fan, but lately it’s just been awful.  Don’t you agree?

• My First Floridian Winter…
  

I’m sorry, but since moving here, I have been laughing my butt off at people claiming that weather in the 40s is “frigid”.  Where I come from, 40s is t-shirt weather!

Just Do It!

Find a way to freshen up your profile – just a line or two is a quick fix that makes a big difference.

In the last Quick Fix, you read some ideas for freshening up your headline by incorporating a reference to the current season.   Let’s take that one step further and use that headline to freshen up your profile!

Here are the headline ideas from the last post and an idea on how to write each into your profile text.

• Tip-toe through the pumpkin patch!

One of my favorite things about the Fall is hunting through the pumpkin patch for the perfect jack-o-lantern pumpkin.  It’s been a tradition ever since I was a kid.

• Awaiting the arrival of the Great Pumpkin.

The best part about the Fall are the reruns of the Charlie Brown holiday specials.  I’d buy them on DVD, but there’s just something nostalgic about making the time to watch them live on TV.

• Candy and witches and pumpkins, oh my!

Halloween is so much fun!  Every year I throw a huge costume party for all of my friends.

• If you think I’m ugly, I can always put a pumpkin over my head!

Made you look!  I’m no Chippendale, but I hope you’ll let me keep the pumpkin on my porch and not over my head.

• Trying not to eat the Halloween candy before Halloween…

My method for keeping the candy for the kids is buying candy I can’t eat – ever since I chipped that tooth, I won’t eat Skittles.

• Wanna help carve a jack-o-lantern?

Is it creepy that I want you to be involved in an activity that involves many knives?  Maybe.   How about we have dinner first and break out the cutlery on date three?

• The AC is off and windows are open! I love Fall!

It has been so nice to finally open the windows and let the cool breeze in at night.  I sleep so soundly in the Fall – I would love to have this weather year round.

• New episodes of HOUSE make me happy!

I’ll admit it – I’m a House addict.  Do you think Wilson will come back?

• Do you watch The Big Bang Theory too?

I spent all last season of Big Bang Theory waiting for Leonard and Penny to start dating, and now I’m not sure it’s what I want anymore.  What do you think?

Just Do It!

Find a way to freshen up your profile – just a line or two is a quick fix that makes a big difference.

Keeping your dating profile fresh is something that will increase the amount of hits you receive!   Here’s a quick way to do that – how about a new headline?

Sure, you’re not all the kings of one-liners.   That’s okay.  One of the best ways to keep your profile fresh is to mention the latest season or event.  You know how you update your Facebook profile status?  Some of us do that religiously (I do it from my phone when I’m not at my computer; its an addiction).

Think of your headline like your status, but more broad-based as far as time.

How about these for some Fall headlines:

• Tip-toe through the pumpkin patch!
• Awaiting the arrival of the Great Pumpkin.
• Candy and witches and pumpkins, oh my!
• If you think I’m ugly, I can always put a pumpkin over my head!
  
• Trying not to eat the Halloween candy before Halloween…
• Wanna help carve a jack-o-lantern?
• The AC is off and windows are open! I love Fall!
• New episodes of HOUSE make me happy!
• Do you watch The Big Bang Theory too?

Etc, etc.

All of these can stand alone as a new headline, but they can also be incorporated into your profile should you have the time to freshen that up, too.  Get that second glance from that special someone who may have passed you by!

Do you ever take a vacation from online dating?

Is there a point where you say to yourself, “My life is too crazy right now, let me just hide my profile“?

Or do you just let things slide for a month or so while keeping the profile active?

Taking A Break – The Cons

• You’re taking yourself off the market.  You may miss “the one”!
• No dates, at least from your online dating profile.
• Sometimes you need a date to keep your sanity when things get crazy.
• If you’re paying for the service – it’s a waste of money to hide your profile!

Taking A Break – The Pros

• If you’re too busy with work (or other life-threatening activities), you’re probably too busy to be in the right frame of mind for starting a relationship.
• It’s good to take something off your plate once in a while so you have the energy to regroup and focus on your goals.
• It’s good to step away for a while and come back with a fresh set of eyes.  You may come back with a different attitude that enables you to see something different in a profile you’d once skimmed over… or she may have freshened up her profile or posted a different picture, causing you to give her a second glance!

What do you think?  Is it better to pull yourself out of the game 100% if your life is hectic or better to check into your profile sporadically?

I decided to go with the cat in the bathtub this time.  Way cuter, no?

Why should you freshen up your profile?

Why bother changing it if it’s perfect?

Why change it if you have a Geek’s Dream Girl profile already?

The reason is SECOND CHANCES.

Again, realize that I am speaking from my extensive experience on match.com.   This method does not apply to services like Chemistry or eHarmony, which close out matches permanently when someone says they’re not interested in you.   (*sniffle*  So sad, isn’t it?  Makes you want to switch to Match.com!)

After a while on match.com, you will realize that there are people in your area who are almost always active on the site.  You see the same pictures cropping up again and again in your search results.   They were not so horrible that you blocked them, but were definitely not sparkly enough to catch your eye.   There they are, again, and again, and again.

Yawn.

Girls see this too.  They may have you on the “meh” list – you look okay, but definitely not shiny enough for a date.  But you ARE!  You ARE shiny enough!  What can you do to merit a second glance?

Change your profile and your default picture once a month.  Maybe the change in the angle of your picture is more flattering to your features, maybe she just didn’t like your cowboy hat in the old picture.   Maybe your headline about baseball turned her off (and you don’t really like baseball THAT much anyway).   Either way, you have a girl who is seeing your profile in a fresh light and is reconsidering you as a possible match.

Have at least 3 good face shots that you can alternate as your default picture.

Changing your profile text does not require a lot of time.  Simply add in a line about what’s happening in your life right now:

• I just saw the new Batman movie and it was amazing!
• My favorite part of summer is sitting on my porch in the evening sipping sweet tea.
• I can’t wait for the local film festival to start – are you going?
  

Nothing difficult, but a tiny change like that is what makes a girl know that you are serious about finding someone NOW.  The biggest turn-off for me is a guy whose stats say he is 30 and profile text says, “I just turned 27…“  That just screams, “I’m lazy, and I’ll be a lazy boyfriend too!”

Invest a few moments each month to dust things off, wash a few windows, and move the furniture around a bit.  You’d be surprised how often this will bring in “new” matches!

Happy dating, geek friends.