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How to create a man-friendly personal profile

By Steve Nakamoto
Special to Yahoo! Personals

Steve Nakamoto

From personal experience and what I hear from friends and acquaintances, I've compiled some honest, but somewhat unpleasant feedback on a topic that most men wish that women were more aware of: How to write a personal profile that doesn't scare a man away instantly.

See what readers are saying about this article. Click here

Here are a man's 10 leading dating concerns:

 

  1. The physical attraction isn't high enough
  2. He may get bored easily
  3. She has too many issues
  4. She is too high-maintenance
  5. She is too serious and not enough fun
  6. She's a gold-digger
  7. He feels intimidated
  8. He can't relate to her world
  9. He could never please her
  10. She probably won't like me so why bother

When it comes to composing a more effective personal profile, here are a few things to avoid if you want plenty of men with good intentions to respond:

Bad photo

  • Poor quality picture: Is this the best you can do?
  • Funky fashions: Are you a little bit strange or odd?
  • Unflattering full-body shot.
  • Picture with cats: Oh no, a cat lover! If anything, men like dogs.
  • Picture with a baby: Do I really want the responsibility of an instant family?
  • Picture with other people partially cut out: Another -- is this the best you can do?
  • Party photos: Are you out on the town every weekend looking for guys?
  • Too much jewelry: Do you need expensive items in order to be happy?
  • Hats and dark sunglasses: Is there something wrong with your hair or eyes?
  • Photo from too far away: I can't see your face so I might not take a chance.
  • Photo is too close: Are your nose and chin really that huge?
  • Black and white photo: How old is this photo?
  • No smiles: Are you unhappy or too serious? At least I know you're not goofy!

Weak introductory line

  • Looking for a Ryan Seacrest look-alike: Sounds like a bimbo!
  • Juliet looking for Romeo: Romantic expectations too high. Just want a good time for now.
  • Goofy girl who likes to laugh: Goofy is not a highly valued quality.
  • Animal lover: Are you like Doris Day with a house full of animals or an animal rights activist?
  • Former cop: I'm guessing you're too tough for me.

Below average profile statement

More information than I want to know: Freckles, a 911 dispatcher, recently separated, I can be chatty, I love shopping, I love to pamper myself at the salon, recently laid off, and I'm sometimes sarcastic.

Unflattering characterizations: Everybody's friend, party person, professional intellectual, super-woman and very independent (may mean too independent).

In today's fast-moving dating world, first impressions are sometimes the only chance that you ever get. When you are creating your own personal online ad, one key word, sentence, or less-than-great photo can make the difference between an instant "yes" and an instant "no." If you really want to get results from this highly productive endeavor, it is worth your while to do it the right way.


Men Are Like FishSteve Nakamoto is the author of the award-winning "Men Are Like Fish: What Every Woman Needs To Know About Catching a Man." Steve is a former human relations instructor for Dale Carnegie & Associates and NLP personal development trainer for Tony Robbins. He has appeared on over 200 radio and TV talk shows including NBC's The Other Half. Steve serves as the dating/relationship expert on iVillage.com's "Ask Mr. Answer Man" online message board. Nakamoto offers "uncanny" relationship advice at: menarelikefish.com

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