It's The Headline!

You already know the importance of using a good image in your profile. Let's continue on the topic of making a good impression on potential future partners. Have you put much thought into your dating profile headline?

Many people run out of inspiration when they're writing their profile headline and simply add a silly sentence such as, "Hi, get to know me, I might be the one," or even worse, "Hello!" An uninteresting headline may turn people away from your profile.

It is important that you put some thought into your dating headline. It's your introduction. People browsing profiles are probably going to spend only a few seconds checking out your profile, and if all you gave them was a "Hello", then you are not going to hear from too many people.

You need to grab peoples' attention, show something of your personality, and spark curiosity.

Here are some pointers to keep in mind when you're writing your headline.

Avoid Common Phrases

"I may be the one", "Looking to meet new people", "Get to know me" are far too common and overused headlines. You don't want this.

Remember that there are thousands of people that you are competing with to find their other half, so you should use a little creativity if you want to really stand out in the crowd.

Of the following headlines, which one is most likely to grab your attention and make you want to find out more about the person who wrote it?

"Hello there!"
"Looking for a fresh start "
"I Would Like To Meet Fun People"
"Don't Worry: I Will Tell Your Parents We Met At College"

Three of the headlines are boring and overused. But the fourth one will definitely spark curiosity in most readers. Using humor in your headline never hurts. It's funny in a clever way.

Analyze The Cool Headlines

Just go and browse some profiles on your favorite dating website. Glance through the headlines quickly until one of them grabs your eye. Then analyze why it caught your attention. Was it funny? Funny how? Was it ironic/mysterious/poetic/philosophical?

Why did it stand out? Write down the example and your notes on a piece of paper. You can use these notes to come up with your own dating headline.

Here are a few of our favorite headlines from ConnectingSingles:

• NEXT MOOD SWING: 6 MINUTES!!...just kidding :)
• I want it all... but I'd settle for some chocolate!
  
• Single, but you are welcome to change that....
  

Filter Unwanted People

Who needs to receive a lot of messages from people you will have no interest in dating? You may be looking for someone of a specific age in the San Francisco area and have no interest in hearing from people who are older or younger from other parts of the world that don't even share a common interest with you.

You can use your headline to improve dramatically the quality and relevance of your respondents. You can use your headline as a filter. For example:

"Looking to meet 27-35 year old male within 25 miles of San Francisco."

Now you don't have to sift through all the messages, since most people aren't going to waste your time with a message. Your headline does the heavy work for you. But keep it positive. A negative headline may turn people away from reading any further.

More examples?

• Like outdoor activities: camping, fishing, snow boarding, biking. Wanna go offroad with me?
  
• Brains and beauty seeks handsome and hard working
  
• I love Red Lobster. Do you?
  

Keep It Dynamic

Rotating your headline occasionally will help keep it fresh, and also help you gauge peoples' reaction to it.

Different headlines attract different people, so it's up to you to have some fun experimenting with it, and see what kind of people get in touch with you based on the headline that you are currently using.

Remember that your headline is an important part of your dating profile, right up there with your profile photo. So spend some time on it, and you'll be happy that you did.