I've been reading a ton of guy's dating profiles, and it seems like most of them are exactly the same, completely boring, and give me no reason to want to message someone or answer them back. So, while I'm no expert, here's some things that stand out to me which avoid the "cookie cutter" trap:
1. You don't have to follow directions. Every site asks you to list what your hobbies are, what music you like, etc. My favorite profiles are those where the guy doesn't do that at all and instead makes a joke, parodies the site, anything. That alone will make you stand out. Break some rules
2. Don't tell me something about you, SHOW me something. Demonstrate instead of name. Example: instead of saying "I'm an adventurous, fun-loving guy", say "The best time I had this year was hiking upstate--me, my two friends, and a bear", or "my friends like to bring me canoeing because somehow I always end up in the water". It doesn't need to be exotic. Rather than saying "I'm romantic and thoughtful", write "If you are sick I will bring you tea and stay up with you until you fall asleep."
3. For goodness' sake please use spell check and/or have someone proofread. I'm not the grammar police, but if a guy can't be bothered to put enough effort in to check it, that gives me a good indication of what that guy is like. I hereby volunteer to proofread for you
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4. Write like an alpha: don't say "I'm not usually too good at describing myself, but I'll do my best." Resist the urge to downplay yourself.
4. Don't be afraid to be funny or outrageous. It's like verbal peacocking: a single sentence thrown in that maybe makes no sense but catches the eye. Some favorites of mine: "I like melty ice cream", "I think clowns are creepy".
5. If I can tell why your last relationship ended, there's a problem. For example, do not write "I want an honest, loyal girl who will stay true to me" (last girl cheated), "Seeking financially independent woman" (last girl ran up your credit cards). You don't need to say you want no baggage or no drama--no one does, and if that's in the first few lines of your profile, it tells me you're still bitter about your last relationship.
6. Do get a good photo taken. Professional photographers get good photos partially because they take a TON of them, so get a friend, a camera and tripod, or even your webcam, and take a ton, then pick the most flattering one. Action shots are good too. Of course this is a good place to use social proof and preselection. Guys who only have one or two pics, and both of them were taken in a mirror with a phone, make me nervous.
7. Give her a reason to write you: leave something unfinished. Tell a story, but only up to the interesting part, or use your photos to do this. Ask a question--this helps in two ways--one, she is curious to find out the rest of the story, or the answer, and two, it gives her a built-in first message to you--no fumbling for what to say. In my own profile I had a pic of me holding something sort of bizarre and the caption was "Bonus points to whomever can tell me what I'm holding". I was amazed at how effective that alone was.
All of the above examples, good and bad, were pulled from existing profiles. Hope this is useful, and that I'll get to read some cool new profiles
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The above is a woman's POV; may or may not represent the rest of my gender
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