No matter what kind of guy you are (except maybe an illiterate one), internet dating sites are going to be a good place for you to find love. There are all kinds of women online, and internet dating profiles offer a place for anybody to shine, whether it be with their photos or their accomplishments or their great sense of humor.
But just because dating sites are full of potential for men doesn't mean that all guys take advantage of that potential. In fact, many men do things online that completely interfere with their chances of finding a decent match on a dating site.
1. Pretending you only want friendship.
Some guys on internet dating sites are looking to settle down. Others are just online looking for a good time (i.e., looking for sex). And that's completely okay. But don't forget that women are intelligent... and they're smart enough to know you're not on a dating site looking only for friendship.
If you don't want a committed relationship, then you're on the site looking for something else: a physical relationship. Women know this. So when they see that you've listed your status as just looking for "friendship" while posting photos of your chiseled abs, they're immediately aware that you're being dishonest. Not a good way to get her on your side no matter what you might be after.
2. Being too insistent about "who you are."
One of the least effective things a guy can do on his internet dating profile is provide a grocery list, so to speak, of his qualities. "I'm funny, kind, smart, loving, clever, and totally wonderful in every way." This grocery list of virtues doesn't endear you to women-- because if you ask any man on the street, he'll say that he has these same qualities. Instead of making claims about who you are, show it. Tell a funny story, post interesting photos, and express your interest in the world around you: show it, don't tell it.
You really are all of those wonderful things, you say? That doesn't mean you need to list it off on your profile. Simply give an enticing hint of your personality on your profile, and let her see the rest of your wonderfulness when she meets you in person.
3. Act like someone's keeping score.
Winning a girl over to your side doesn't get you a trophy, a plaque, or a gigantic check delivered by mustachioed guy in a pinstriped suit. In other words, nobody's keeping score. If you're not really interested, don't try so hard to get her to like you. If she doesn't seem interested, let her go. Focus on good matches, and let the rest slide. Nobody will be tallying up your percentage at the end of the game.
4. Post stupid photos.
Both sexes have a tendency to post unwise photos on their internet dating profiles, it's true. But the difference is this: while you don't mind coming across a woman's profile featuring some nice cleavage shots or photos of a pair of legs obviously Photoshopped to perfection (it's a bit of eye candy, after all), women see your "awesome ab" or "flexing bicep" photos in a totally different light. Even if you skip the bodybuilder stuff, any photos that don't look natural are going to make her want to click away. You don't need to do anything fancier than point and click with a digital camera under natural lighting-- and you don't want to, either. If she wants physical perfection, she'll pop in a DVD of the movie "300." Your photo is simply supposed to look like, well, you.
5. Talk negatively about women's romantic choices.
How many times have I run across internet dating profiles saying things like this: "I want a girl who can appreciate how romantic I am." "I want a woman who wants a guy to treat her like a princess instead of a piece of garbage." You get the idea. Posting this kind of thing on your profile doesn't get you the kind of attention you want. Instead of looking like a decent guy with a romantic streak, you look like a bitter loser. Not exactly the thing to get women lining up to meet you.
