Can you imagine if men came with nutritional facts? If you could look across a crowded bar and see not only handsome faces, but a brief ingredients list letting you know whether someone was a healthy choice or just empty calories. Think of your profile as the chance to let people know not just how delicious you look or how cool your packaging appears, but what wholesome goodness you really contain. Even though some people never read labels, just ask yourself whether you want to attract a junk food junkie or someone with a truly healthy appetite.

Now, decide on your market. What are you actually looking for in making a connection: friendship, romance or casual dating? Then decide what is most important to achieving this kind of connection with someone. Having things in common? Having similar life experiences and goals? Being attracted physically? Whatever you think counts should be the focus of your words. Be real, otherwise the meeting will be awkward when you can’t express yourself verbally as well as you did online.

See your product realistically. Most people see themselves either too positively or too negatively. It’s better to qualify what you say, rather than outright lie. Looking 30 when you’re 40 is not the same as being 30. If you’re content with yourself then other people will be too, even if it’s a minority. Getting more responses by misrepresenting yourself is pretty meaningless, unless you’re basing your self-worth on anonymous responses to a personals ad. If the phone company tells me a new plan will save me $20 and instead the first bill is $10 extra, it won’t matter how it’s fixed in the end, I’ll be angry. Trust may be eternally compromised and I may even take my business elsewhere. Rarer still, but also misleading, are those who are too self-denigrating. People won’t trust them either. It’s like a house selling for half-price; you kind of wonder what skeletons are in those closets to warrant the discount.

Quality not quantity counts here. Guys complain to me that they don’t meet honest men online, but I can see why when I read their ads. It’s not that they’re dishonest on purpose, but too many aren’t open and lies of omittance are still lies. Flashy cars gain flush customers with disposable income. Good mileage, low maintenance vehicles attract long-term customers. Are you looking for a man with loads of disposable emotions who wants someone good looking to improve his status or someone who is thinking long-term? Promote yourself accordingly.

Never sell yourself short and always know that worthwhile products sell themselves with facts not fancy wrappers.