Ask any journalist and they’ll tell you that headline writing is an artform. Headlines are the first, and sometimes only, impression you make on a potential reader. When it comes to online dating, dating profile headlines work the same way—they’re your first impression and one way you can help yourself stand out from the crowd. So what can you say in your dating profile headline to get noticed?
We looked into the secrets behind what makes some newspaper and magazine headlines more enticing than others and found three surprising strategies that will help you write dating profile headlines that get major clicks.
1. Be Ambiguous
Studies show that readers are more attracted to headlines that are creative but somewhat uninformative. That means you want your headline to reveal a little bit about you, but not too much. One of the reasons clickbait headlines are so enticing is because they encourage people to read more without telling them what they’re going to read about. What makes clickbait headlines so compelling is that we naturally start to crave the information that’s left out and just have to click to find out more.
Examples:
You’ll Never Guess Why I Moved to San Francisco
You Might Be Surprised By What I’m Looking For
My Taste In Men Isn’t What You’d Think
I Like Italian Food But What I Really Love Is…
2. Try a List
People love lists. They’re short, easy to take in, and in a format we all recognize. Numerous studies have shown that people enjoy reading content in lists because they save time, are easy to scan, and fit in with our natural instinct to group things together. Using lists in your dating profile headlines can also pack a real punch because having a number mixed in with all that text can help you stand out.
Examples:
8 Things You’ve Never Read In a Dating Profile
5 Reasons I’m Like Nobody You’ve Ever Met Before
7 Things We Already Have In Common
12 Things You Won’t Learn from My Photo
3. Use a Quote
Sometimes other people can explain something better then you ever could. It’s one of the reasons quotes can be so effective and easy to relate to. In an online dating profile, quotes can be a good way to share more about yourself in a genuine and natural way, without having to be the world’s best writer.
Examples:
Live What You Love
When You Come to a Fork In the Road, Take It
If Not Us, Who? If Not Now, When?
Do One Thing Every Day That Scares You
When writing any part of your online dating profile, it’s always good to remember that taking a little extra time to get things right can go a long way. According to the popular dating site Zoosk, people who have more of their profile filled out get more messages than those with empty boxes and not much to say. Dating profile headlines are one way people get to know each other and decide if they’d like to know more. Think about what you’d like to see in someone else’s profile and what attracts you, then make your own profile shine.
