We are told that dating on the internet using an online dating site is the modern way of meeting a new partner and it can be a great way to meet new people but it can be a little daunting and surprisingly difficult for some men. Filling out the dating profile can be tough for many of us since we are not used to describing or promoting ourselves. You can find some dating tips for shy guys and ladies elsewhere but this page is about writing your online dating profile.

The dating profile is the description and details of yourself you put on an online dating site so that other people can learn more about you. It usually includes details about your age, height and weight together with a more general description of yourself, your hopes and your dreams for the future.

Some dating sites have very comprehensive profile features and they may make it simpler to fill out by offering tick boxes to select various options that are appropriate to you. Others expect you to fill out a lot of empty boxes with information about yourself and this can seem a little intimidating when you first view it but if you approach it in a logical fashion it should be reasonably straightforward to fill out and if it helps you meet the perfect partner it will be well worth the trouble you take.

There are several basic facts about yourself that you can start with to write your dating profile. It is all about you so don't feel squeamish about promoting yourself. The whole point about a profile is to give other people an idea about the person you really are so without being too deep and introspective tell it like it is but don't be negative and sell yourself short.

Start with a brief introduction about the person you are and what you enjoy. You could mention your field of work. You can go on to talk a little about your life experiences and how you got to where you are today but keep it general and non-specific.

Talk a little about your family situation. If you have kids living with you you might mention them but again, don't be too specific. Simply saying you have a couple of children living with you who are teenagers or whatever is perfectly fine.

If you are divorced or widowed you might wish to make some mention of how long you were married and say a little about that but again, not too specific and certainly don't allow any anger of bitterness to show through. We all have had difficult experiences but this is all about looking forward to the future, not looking back at the past. If you are still very bitter and angry it may be that you are not yet ready for dating again and it will very likely put any prospective partners off if you come across as a person full of hurt and angry.

You might then go on to say something about the sort of person you would like to meet. You can be as specific as you want here but remember that the more specific you are about certain things, the more people will think they are unsuitable. Don't say they must be taller/shorter than you of have a certain color hair if you would in reality be happy with the perfect person regardless of their height or hair color.

Remember that your profile is just the start of what could become a meaningful exchange between you and possible dating and even life partners. Keep it light and simple. A little humour always goes a long way but don't start telling jokes that some might find offensive.

Filling out your online dating profile can be a little daunting but just imagine one of your friends describing you to someone and use that as a guide. You can always go back and edit it and add more detail later on.

On some of the bigger dating websites there are thousands of potential partners and there are thousands of other people competing with you for the attention of these potential partners so somehow you need to stand out as interesting and worth getting to know.

The most obvious way to stand out is to say so. Say something along the lines of, "What makes me better than the others on here?" and answer your own question with what you think are your best features.

With so many profiles to browse through people need a little help and encouragement to spark their interest so don't just say, I'm a great guy, explain WHY you are a great guy and why they should go to the trouble of reading your profile and contacting you.

We all have to market ourselves a little and make our profiles interesting so make yours better than mine and get the attention you want.