If you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, firstly; why didn’t you document it digitally? Just imagine the likes you would’ve got! And secondly, perhaps you’ve missed the fact that we are now living in the era of the ‘personal brand’.

Yep, the proliferation of the online space has made every facet of our personal lives marketable, and it’s in the online dating world where this is most apparent. Because let’s face it, we all know the outcome of a half arsed attempt at Tinder et al; a blurred photo next to a hot friend combined with a one word bio simply won’t cut it. You’re going to be swiping more than smooching, to put it quite bluntly.

Not to worry; there are some failsafe, surefire ways to get your profile noticed and to stand out in the crowded, confusing, ever evolving world of online dating. These are those; our guide on what makes a successful dating app profile.

Don’t Define Yourself By Negativity

Yep, we accept the irony of writing this after including the word ‘don’t’ in the heading, but we’re only trying to attract readers, not suitors. So please, read on…

Too many online dating bios feel like the potential love interest is being read the riot act even before there’s been a match. ‘No one under six foot’, ‘if you don’t love dogs, swipe left’, and ‘people who live with their parents need not apply’ are just a few choice cuts we’ve seen that just start the whole process off on the wrong foot. If your profile is a breeding ground for negativity, expect to repel rather than seduce.

Instead, foster a brand of positivity, with hobbies, passions, hopes and dreams mentioned (within reason, of course) to show the dating world you’re a catch, not a carp.

Striking The Ride Pose

Along with choosing the right dating apps, it’s also crucial to pick the right photos. Because, though we’d love to say we were first attracted by someone’s personality over a dating app, we’d be called out for dishonesty pretty quickly. Of course, a person’s picture is the first thing you see when swiping mindlessly, and without a photo which catches the eye, no one’s blaming you for quickly moving on. 

Getting your first photo right is a fine balancing act between casual and curated if ever there was one. You want a flattering solo picture which shows your face clearly; anything blurry or part of a group rarely gets a second glance, we find. But, you don’t want the photo to look too forced or posed. Trying too hard is never a good look, right? If you really want to stand out and get those gorgeous looks of yours captured, make sure you strike the right balance.

Consider splashing out some money on a professional headshot photographer to get portraits for your dating profile, enabling better control of the final result than your drunk pal with half a thumb over the iPhone camera shutter, and really capturing you at your best. Moreover, getting professional, high-quality pictures from a photographer can be a powerful confidence-boosting treat for yourself.

Once you’ve cast your net, you can use your other photos to impress further…

Stand Out With Unique Details

With countless profiles on dating apps today, it’s important to stand out from the crowd. Include unique details that make you memorable and differentiate yourself from others. Share your favourite travel destinations, an interesting fact about yourself, or a quirky (though not too esoteric) hobby. These small details can spark conversations and give potential matches something to connect with.

Include Activity Pictures, But Exercise Caution

There are several dating app profile cliches that should be avoided; namely posing with exotic animals, swimwear shots, flashing inappropriate gestures and snaps with your ex clearly cropped out. That said, showing off some of the hobbies and activities you enjoy via your profile pics can be a shortcut to getting across your personality quickly and efficiently. A picture tells a thousand words, after all, and since your bio limit is likely below that, you should express your personality through your photos if you can.

According to the matchmakers over at Bumble, a sextet (no, you thought about sexting) is the magic number of photos you should have on your profile – they found that users who make the effort to upload 6 photos have a better experience, as they’re telling a story of who they are.

So, if you’re a keen concert-goer, a photo of you looking sunkissed and blissed out at Glastonbury would convey a positive message. Should you love martial arts, then a snap in your gi is pretty much obligatory. If your hobbies are shooting and fox hunting, then perhaps leave that one out of the photo album.

Semantics Matter

The way you describe yourself, especially in the adjectives, can denote so much, and carry particular, unique meaning in the dating world. As such, you should exercise caution in your bio with the ol’ personal blurb bit.

The linguistic flourishes of dating are complicated and open to broad interpretation. Resist the urge to describe yourself as ‘normal’, for instance, which can immediately be misconstrued as boring and unadventurous. Instead, how about ‘down to earth’? Consider the difference between self-defining as ‘shy’ and ‘peaceful’? The latter just sounds so much more appealing, right? 

Deploy particular restraint in the complex nature of the language of casual sex. Phrases like ‘not looking for anything serious’, ‘fun’, and ‘like to party’ will be like red flags to horny, lonely folk. If that’s what you’re looking for, great! But if you’re seeking a genuine connection, consider the subtle variations and nuances of each, and word your bio carefully. 

Be Authentic

We’ve all, to some extent, pretended to be something we’re not to make someone more attracted to us, but does it ever actually work in the long run? Past experience suggests not.

Indeed, we’ve all been there, being economical or poetic with the truth from the outset, to pique interest early and to stand out in a massively competitive field. Sooner or later, though, you’re going to be found out; so do try to be honest and true to yourself from the off. That sense of ease in your own skin and courage in your convictions can be really attractive, even if it’s only coming across via exchanged messages. By being authentic from the get go, you’re laying the groundwork for a truly meaningful connection later down the line.

Safety First

Whilst it can certainly be tempting (hey, we’ve all been there!) to dive straight in, head first and arms flaying, to new romances, it’s essential to exercise caution when it comes to the world of online dating. Check out our article on staying safe when using dating apps for tips on doing just that.

Now, when might we expect a wedding invitation?

Does impulse spending regularly get the better of you and your budget? Have you ever been in a situation where you promise yourself you’ll save money for that big holiday or house deposit, but you then find yourself splurging at the last minute on something you really don’t need? 

You’re not alone.

According to Fashion Network UK, impulse buys add up to £37 billion annually. They go on to break down the top items we buy without thinking; ”56% of impulse purchasers buy clothing. Food and drink is next on 49%. Meanwhile home accessories are bought by 34% of people on impulse, with shoes being bought by 27% and jewellery by 22%”.

Hey, we’ve all been there. In fact, doing so is part of human nature; Psychology Today points to the reasons why we impulse buy, suggesting loss aversion, heuristics and a misdirected desire to ‘save’ all play a part.  

In understanding those motivations, we can adopt some precautionary measures to prevent making those unnecessary purchases that just end up gathering dust in the attic or adding to landfill.

So, for the sake of both your bank balance and the environment, here’s how to limit impulsive spending and budget better.

Think Before You Buy

Before clicking “buy it now” or taking that impulse purchase up to the counter, stop and think for a second. In fact, why not make it ten seconds? Treat yourself to a time out before every buy, counting down from ten slowly and then looking at the bigger picture regarding your purchase.

Ask yourself; do I really want or need this thing or did it just look enticing in the heat of the moment? Analyse your own reasons for picking the item up or clicking on it, and ask yourself if this is something you’re actually going to use, where it will logically fit in your house, and if your finances genuinely allow for this transaction to take place. 

Sometimes, the rush of making a frivolous purchase is better than the reality of the product you end up with. That’s down to dopamine, with an anticipatory thrill similar to that felt by drug addicts occurring in some shoppers. Once you get home with your product and the crash has begun, things might look very different; remember that.

Make It Physically Harder To Spend

If you find yourself idly perusing your favourite shopping platforms during your lunch breaks or walking past your favourite stores on the way home from work each day, it’s a good idea to address those triggers and change your habits accordingly. The more you distance yourself from your triggers, the harder it will be to spend. 

As the London-based accountants GSM so sagely suggest, it’s also a good idea to be wary of saving your cards details for retail sites like Amazon or ASOS on your computer for easy checkout. It’s all too easy to buy things with one click. However, if you have to enter your payment information, it may make you think twice before you buy.

Avoid Using Credit Cards

Credit cards are an impulse buyer’s best friend. They make you feel as if you have unlimited access to funds when in reality you’re just buying yourself into the headache of debt further down the line. 

While it’s always good to have credit cards for larger purchases (they offer protection against fraud, for one), try to keep them left at home, locked away or hidden wherever possible. Instead, consider investing in a prepaid card to curb your impulse spending habits. You can ‘upload’ a set amount to the card every month which is within your budget, and stick to it.

Budget Better

Speaking of budget, it’s time to set yourself one, and a limited one at that. Planning your finances and taking a more holistic look at your budgeting, there are plenty of apps to help you manage your precious pounds. We recommend Yolt, Emma and Money Dashboard, in particular. All of them do the hard work for you and are free to use, though there are paid options if you need a bit more help – yep, we realise the irony of that, too.

Read: 5 tips for bargain lovers to save money on Black Friday & beyond

Organise Your Wardrobe

As previously mentioned, Brits impulse buy clothes a lot. For many, it’s because we think we have nothing to wear. The answer; an organized wardrobe where you can see all of your clothes and know exactly what you own via a cursory appraisal alone.

In IDEAL’s article on curating the ideal closet (yes, we’re citing our own work), to help avoid impulse buying it was recommended to catalogue all your clothes so you know exactly what you own using the digital wardrobe app Whering. Hey, we couldn’t agree more. With. Ourselves.

Limit Late Night Access To Apps

Picture this; it’s after midnight and you know you should be asleep. Instead, you’re surfing the web, culminating in you buying a waffle maker that you’ll only use once. Regretable late-night online shopping is a problem for many of us, and we speak from experience (however good those waffles taste).

As reported by the Guardian, research suggests that “bedtime browsing by sleepless Brits in the middle of the night has resulted in a 23% increase in nocturnal spending”. The answer? Limit access to your apps at night and leave your phone in another room.

Something To Look Forward To

Finally, perhaps the best possible way to cut back on impulse spending is to give yourself one big goal to look forward to. This could be anything from saving up for a dream holiday to that car you’ve always wanted or that new kitchen you’ve been promising to get for months. Having that goal will give you something to save for and a tangible reason to cut back on your excess spending. Which is why you came here in the first place, right?