How to build the perfect online dating profile

Kate Taylor, relationship expert for the online dating site Match.com, reveals her dos and don'ts for successful online dating

illustration showing that relationships that start online are 25% more likely to last than relationships that begin in more traditional ways

Online dating now accounts for around one in every five new relationships and one in six marriages.

But with so many potential dates now communicating online, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the abundance of choice - and there's a knack to getting it right.

From the size and angle of your photograph to mentioning video games and your mum, there are a range of dos and don'ts guaranteed to get you a date.

On the world's biggest dating site, Match.com, there are around 1.5 million British singles trying their luck.

A recent study showed that words such as "skiing", "yoga" and "the ocean" help men get dates; "sweet", "running" and "dance" help women get dates online. "Electronics", bizarrely, works well for both sexes. Liking Radiohead, Homeland, Pulp Fiction and The Great Gatsby are effective date words, and mentioning cats is fine, as long as you don't say "my cats".

Men who refer to women as "females" or "women" rather than "girls" are more likely to find a mate, as are men who use the word "whom" (31 per cent more online communication). Smiley face emojis work unexpectedly well online - indeed, according to Match's latest survey, people who use emojis end up having more sex. But make sure you use the ones with a nose :-) , rather than those without :)

Here, Kate Taylor, Match.com's relationship expert, explains her failsafe tips for meeting that special someone online.

illustration showing that 1 in 6 marriages begin online

One in six marriages now begins online

Source: match.com

DO

Use a photo

Profiles with pictures receive 16 times more responses than those without. The most successful photos are taken in daylight, using an SLR camera (not a smartphone), and show just one person, not a group. Summery photos work better than wintery shots.

Look at the camera

...but only if you're female. Women who look directly into the camera for their profile picture receive far more responses than women who look away. Interestingly, the opposite is true for men. We don't know why - could it be women prefer a more brooding, distracted man?

Include a photo of you engaged in an interesting activity

Like playing an instrument, a sport, or in an unusual location. These photos create the most conversations because they break the ice.

Include your most sociable interests in your profile

...not your solitary passions. Show someone how they can fit into your world. For example, if you love film, mention the cinema, not the fact you recently lost an entire weekend to Netflix.

Write a brief, upbeat profile

Nothing too deep or too long. Imagine you're talking to someone you've just met in a bar: how would you describe yourself and your lifestyle?

illustration showing that relationships that start online are 25% more likely to last than relationships that begin in more traditional ways

Marriages that begin online are 25% more likely to last than marriages that begin in more traditional ways

Source:

DON'T

Use a photo taken with a flash

Research shows they age your face by seven years. And don’t include alcohol, group shots of friends, or a hastily photoshopped-out ex.

Use an outdated photo

Anything over 12 months old needs updating. The biggest reason first dates don't lead to second dates is "unmet expectations".

Mention your ex in your profile

It suggests you're not ready for a new relationship. If you're divorced/separated with children, use the drop-down menu to reveal that.

Write a shopping list

"I'm looking for someone who's tall, funny, intelligent, kind, loyal, romantic, sociable..." For readers, they're both dull to read and incredibly daunting. Instead, send out a request for company. "I'd love to meet someone with whom to explore far-flung places," or "Dining alone is getting dull. Join me?"

Be intimidated by "dos and don'ts" lists like these

Just upload a brief profile and several nice photos, and get started. You can always tweak things later. In fact, regularly updating your profile keeps you active on the site and leads to more matches, so see your profile as a work in progress.

Interactive: Online love words

Find more sex, dating and relationship tips from Kate at katetellsyouhow.com or follow her on Twitter @KateT_at_match

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