30 Times Dating Profiles Were So Horrible, They Had To Be Shamed Online

To find out what a good online dating profile should sound like to give you real chances of finding your other half out there, as well as what mistakes to avoid in a bio, we spoke with Alex Wong. Wong is a professional copywriter and content strategist who “helps people capture more leads, traffic, and sales by 'hijacking' their prospects' minds with irresistible content.”

Among his many different copywriting services, Wong offers dating writing services for both men and women that he says will double people’s matches and dates. Whether you’re on OKCupid, Tinder, Match.com, POF, Bumble or Hinge, Wong will ghostwrite a compelling dating app profile that helps people get that coveted in-person date.

Wong told us that some of the most common mistakes people make when writing their profile are just being bland and generic. “There is nothing that sets them apart from the thousands of other profiles. It's important to find ways to stand out and present yourself in an interesting way,” he explained.

Another common faux pas is failing to spend time thinking about what you want in a partner or relationship. “Your profile should clearly show what type of person and relationship you are looking for. This helps to attract your ideal prospects and filters out those who are poor matches.”

“Another common issue I see with profiles is poor quality photos. Their photos are blurry, poorly lit, with bad angles, etc. It’s important to include a variety of interesting photos to show prospects who you are and what you have to offer,” Wong explained.

Your profile is one of the most important aspects when it comes to determining your success online, Wong argues. “Since prospects can’t see you in person, they can only rely on your profile to determine whether you're worth getting to know you better. And you only have a second to do this.”

“Besides your profile, your texting skills, getting matches engaged, setting updates, and filtering poor matches are also critical,” he added.

When it comes to the main features of a good dating profile, Wong said that it should have an engaging, well-written bio/prompts and a good collection of photos. “When writing your profile, spend some time thinking about what you have to offer and what you are looking for in a partner. Think about interesting traits, hobbies, and experiences that you can include in your bio.”

Wong also suggests having at least 4-6 great photos. “Generally, it's best to include a mix of pictures showing different aspects of yourself. Avoid putting photos together that are too similar, and save sunglasses photos for the end. It's also best to use not more than 1 selfie and 1 group photo.”

Wong also shared a couple of general rules for photos:

- Be sure to smile;

- Include your hobbies and activities;

- Minimal group shots;

- Minimal selfies;

- Minimal sunglasses photos;

- Only photos within the last 2-3 years.

Having said that, Wong also reminds everyone to remember that online dating takes time. “Although dating apps have made it easier to meet people, it has also increased the level of competition. Anyone can sign up for an account. I think people expect instant results when this isn’t the case,” he said.

Moreover, according to the professional copywriter, “users should constantly be testing and tweaking aspects of their bio, photos, texts, etc. to see what works. You can’t expect to get results if you don’t put in the work.”