When it comes to creating a free internet dating profile, there are a lot more important things than your user name and banner headline. Your photo, for instance, is the first thing that will attract potential partners to your profile. And your description of yourself and your interests will hopefully keep them there once they arrive. But the user name and banner headline you choose for your profile can also have an influence on the way people see-- and it may be a bigger one than you might think.
Think of it this way. When you choose a name, or choose a short phrase to sum you up in just a few words, you are basically telling the people who see that name or read that phrase who you are. By choosing a certain name or phrase, you are saying "this is what I consider to be the most important facet of my character." And even if there are plenty of other things on your profile that talk about who you are, everything you've written about yourself will be colored to some extent by your user name and headline.
Choosing a Great User Name
The best usernames are both anonymous and descriptive. Remember, this short little name is going to, to some extent, influence everything a potential partner reads about you on your internet dating profile. So while it may seem easiest to use a variation of your own name, it's generally a better (and more effective) idea to use something that describes you.
When deciding on an internet dating user name, start out by thinking about what element of yourself you want to highlight most. Do you have an interesting job, interest, or hobby? Then a name like FictionFanatic, SexyMathNerd, or UltimateSalsaDancer might describe you to a t. You can also choose to focus on a physical feature, like LadyLongLegs or BrightBlondChick, or a personality trait, like ShybutSweet, SarcasticSmartie, or OneFunnyDude.
Composing a Headline
Most internet dating sites, Datepad included, give you the space to compose a quick headline intended to catch the attention of potential partners. In general, you have no more than a short phrase or sentence in which to do it. So these are some important words!
One mistake a lot of people make when composing an internet dating headline is to talk about what they want from a partner rather than talking about themselves. The whole point of your internet dating profile is to sell yourself to the kind of people you'd be interested in dating (and who would be interested in dating you). The headline you choose says a lot, so it's important to keep it focused on you.
Another thing many daters do wrong when putting together their profile headline is to be rather demanding. When they do talk about what they want in a partner, they often do it in a negative way. "Looking for someone not full of BS" or "Searching for a guy who won't play games with me" might be perfectly honest, but they're not very appealing. Neither are headlines that go over the top-- even if they seem romantic. When writing it, you might think that "Looking for somebody to love me forever," "Searching for that perfect other half," or "Ready to treat my soul mate like a princess" might be romantic, but in actuality these sorts of headlines can be a little creepy.
The better dating headlines out there are the ones that inspire a quick (and almost unnoticeable) positive feeling. They tend to be light, funny, positive, enthusiastic, and fun. You want to create an instant impression that you're fun to be with; and the right headline can do just that. And it will color the way potential partner read the rest of your profile, painting everything you say in a more positive light.
