Mistakes to avoid when creating your personal ad profile

As a regular member of Date.com, I have some suggestions for those who have online profiles: I know it has been said to death, but again: post a photo of yourself! Let's face it: at some point we (and you) all want to know what the person we are corresponding with looks like. If you think someone will step away from you because of your looks, then do yourself a favor by sorting out those shallow people in advance by posting your photo!

It doesn't need to be your best photo, just a friendly face will do the trick. Avoid poses and be natural: the one I have in my profile was shot by a friend who was waiting until I was relaxed and had forgotten about the camera.

Are you afraid to show your face, as I was? Then try a 3/4 to full body picture: your face won't be as exposed and you'll offer potential candidates a bit of your style. Also, keep in mind that when most people see a photo of someone in a swimsuit the "Baywatch factor" gets high; so try to steer away from those pictures, unless you have a gorgeous body and/or prefer to atract men who are mainly interested in 'casual relationships' e.g.: casual sex.

Also, you should be alone in the picture (I don't want to date your friend or your family) and don't, DON'T post a photo of yourself with a baby or a child. Why? Because the first time I see you, I want to know about YOU, not your family! (That can come later). If you do have children, tell us in the written part of your profile. Even if someone doesn't have a problem with dating a single parent, the child in the photo is a warning sign: "I don't want to take risks, I'm protecting myself, you'll have to like me AND my child..." Call it a silly male thought, but that's the way it works.

Last but not least: Avoid negative phrases in your profile. We all want to meet people we can enjoy spending time with, and negative sentences play against you. Instead, try to substitute them by using positive sentences with the same meaning. For example. "I don't want players. (negative) = I want someone serious. (positive)". One of the worst lines I've seen was from a woman who wrote "I'm tired of dating the bad ones!" What does that tell you about someone? Think about it.