plenty of fish - online dating

10 Tips For Your Online Dating Profile Picture

What kind of picture should you use in your online dating profile? It's a question that torments many online daters, but the decisions that you make will greatly impact how well your profile performs.

Research shows that profiles with pictures perform infinitely better than profiles without pictures. In most cases, people will click on a picture they find interesting before they even read the online profile. Looks are an important part of attraction, there's just no way of getting around it.

Remember one thing. Most of us don't look like models. Different people have different tastes. It's safe to assume that most people looking for a mate aren't expecting to find a super model. They're hoping to find someone they find attractive, but most importantly they're looking to find someone they have common likes and interests with.

Now that we've gone over the importance of having a picture, grab a trusted friend and a digital camera and start taking some pictures. Here are 10 Tips to follow when picking out your picture, 5 good, and 5 not so good.

5 Rules to Follow:

1. Include a headshot of yourself. Make sure it is not cropped from another photo. The shot should be 100% focused on your face. Remember it's important to be honest in everything you put in your profile, and this includes your picture.

2. Use well-lit photos with a light background. Avoid dark pictures. The purpose of the picture is to highlight you and your appearance. Don't clutter the picture with other images which would pull the attention away from you.

3. Make sure to post multiple pictures of yourself. The more pictures you post, the better. If you have interests, post a picture of yourself doing the activity. If you have a pet, make sure to include 1 picture (and only 1, you don't want people thinking you're pet obsessed) of you with your pet. These pictures will help to tell the story of who you are.

4. Make sure to show a full body picture of yourself. If you have a body that you're not so proud of, you still need to take a photo that shows off your body. You can take it from some distance, but people what to have an idea of what your body looks like. If you have a great body that you like to show off, it never hurts to take a picture of yourself in a bathing suit. Research shows this pictures always get more clicks.

5. Smile, smile, smile!!!

5 Things Not to Do

1. No pictures with an ex. The last thing a potential match wants to see is you snuggling with someone else. It's an instant turn off.

2. No lingerie or nudity. Unless you're at an adult site looking for a sex buddy, there's no reason to show yourself in a provocative pose. It sends off a message that your looking for another notch in your belt, not a long term relationship.

3. No group pictures. You may have the greatest friends in the world, but when someone is looking at your profile, they don't want to figure out which person you are among a group of people.

4. Don't show pictures of yourself out clubbing or partying. It gives the impression that you're only focused on partying and having a good time.

5. Don't use a picture that is blurred, darkened, or that appears to be hiding something in your physical appearance. Be honest and put yourself out there. Odds are if a person doesn't like the way you look in a picture, they most likely won't like the way you look in person. Save your self some time and aggravation and eliminate those people before you get involved with them.

Your picture is important, and remember to log into your account frequently. Most sites display the candidates that most recently logged in first, which means that the more often you log in, the more often your picture will be at the top of the profile list. The more exposure you get means the more opportunity you'll have to get noticed.

Jim McMenamin is the webmaster and creator of MacsDatingSite.com, a blog dedicated to the various issues of online dating. For a limited time, Jim is giving away two free eBooks, 10 Tips To Writing Your Online Dating Profile as well as 101 Steps To A Happy Relationship, when you sign up for his newsletter.

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