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.

First Date Dos and Don'ts

First dates can be hard for some people. The fear of screwing up can be paralyzing and blow our chances of there being a second date.

The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way. Here are some tips that may help you have a smooth first date.

Don't be late. Being late can give the impression that you don't care enough to make it there on time. Even worse, your date might feel embarrassed and leave, thinking you stood him/her up! If you're going to be late, make sure you let your date know, or at least have a really good excuse.

Make your date feel comfortable. Feeling anxious and nervous? Your date is feeling the same way. Have an ice breaker ready to open up the conversation and reduce the stress that you and your date are probably feeling.

The fear of making the wrong move or saying the wrong thing is what prevents many people from sharing or showing interesting aspects of their personality. This is the main reason why many first dates fail.

Be prepared with something of mutual interest for you both to have something to talk about. Be a good listener and ask questions that show that you are actually paying attention to what is being shared. Use this opportunity to learn more about your date.

Enjoy their jokes. We're not suggesting you have to fake loud laughter at every lame joke. But keep in mind that your date is looking for validation, just the way that you are. So if you hear a funny joke, have a blast. This will show your date that you are interested.

Keep the conversation alive. You know those situations where nobody can come up with anything to say, and there is an awkward silence, making you both feel uncomfortable? Here is an idea to avoid that: jot down some questions that you would like to ask your date. Learn the questions, don't actually carry the list with you. Ask one of these questions when you feel when you are entering one of those uncomfortable moments of silence.

Show interest. Remember that you are there to get to know your date, so show interest. Ask questions, and pay attention to the answers, and ask more questions. If your date tells you that they love reading, ask them about their favorite author, or any favorite titles in that genre. You get the idea... show interest in what your date is talking about, and the conversation will flow more easily.

Be creative with your date location. You don't have to go to the movies and a restaurant, you know? Be creative. There are hundreds of alternatives, original ideas that you could do when planning your date. Don't go for the obvious. (But remember that it is your first date, so choose a public location where you can both feel safe).

Be confident. A person with confidence is a lot more appealing than someone who is insecure. You are telling your date a lot when you are acting insecure. Do you really want to communicate that to your date? Show confidence, and you will both have a good time.

Going on a first date and meeting someone in real life for the first time is not the easiest thing to do, and it can be stressful for some people. Hopefully the tips in this article are helpful. Go out and have fun. If your expectations for the date are realistic and you simply make having a nice time your goal, you can't lose, even if the person you meets turns out not to be The One. If the date was fun for both of you, you have gained a nice experience and your time was not wasted. Hopefully, years from now, you'll look back at this date and laugh at how nervous you were and how fun it turned out to be.

Relax, you'll be fine.

Meeting Someone Online And Planning Real Dates

Online dating sites are a great place to meet new friends and potential romantic partners. The nice thing about an online dating site is that you don't need to dress up and pass any "visual inspection" at first. This gives you the chance for people to get to know you based on who you are, and not only on how you look.

Don't kid yourself though, the anonymity of sitting behind your computer does not give you a license to be dishonest or rude. In fact, as we suggested earlier, the more you let people see the "real you", the better chances you have of finding your other half. This is why so many friendships are formed on the forums and blogs.

How do you go from meeting people online to actually planning a real date?

Be honest
You don't like when someone is dishonest with you, do you? Well, you need to be open and honest with people up front. You don't have to share personal details with this online stranger, but don't pretend to be something or someone that you are not. Otherwise you are only going to be attracting people who are looking for the person that you are pretending to be not who you really are. This won't end well... sooner or later.

Be respectful
Be sensitive about other peoples' feelings and backgrounds, and think twice before making jokes about politics, religion or other sensitive topics. Silly jokes that you might consider innocent and funny could seriously hurt or offend people.

Don't fake photos
Misleading profile pictures are probably the most common source of disappointment in relationships that start on a dating site. We understand that you have no intentions of showing your worst photos, and that's fine. Just make sure that your picture is actually you, and that it's current and accurate of how you look today.

Develop common activities online
Think you found someone you want to go on a real date with? Don't just yet. Spend some time doing what we call "online dates", such as playing online games, chatting, or participating in the same forums. This will allow you to learn more about the person and see how s/he reacts in a variety of group and private situations.

Use this time to get to know each other better and make sure you really want to take things further and meet this person face to face. You need to feel comfortable with a person before you meet them face to face. Use caution and don't share personal information about yourself and your family early on. Use onsite features to get to know the member well first.

The meeting
So you decided that it's time to meet your online potential romantic partner. This is a big step. Always meet in a public place, somewhere that is busy, where you can feel comfortable and safe. Make sure that you let other people know where you are going to be and for how long. Ask a friend to call you during your date. This provides you with an opportunity to leave your date if you aren't feeling comfortable. If things are going well, you can still ask your friend to call you back later.

Be sure to use common sense, and take common sense precautions. We've already talked about the danger of online dating scams. It's easy to let your guard down after a few successful dates, but you can never afford to do this. Stay alert, and be safe, and enjoy meeting new people and making new friends online.