Any online dating site will tell you that uploading your photo can increase your chances tenfold.

Why should you have a photo in your personal ad online?

Here are top 4 reasons:

1. You get more responses to your ad
2. People are more likely to answer your messages
3. You appear more credible
4. You can influence people's opinion about you

Now let's consider those four points in more detail.

1. YOU GET MORE RESPONSES TO YOUR AD

Most members only view ads of members who have photos in their profiles. If your profile does not have one, you are not even in the search results.

Some online dating sites also send newsletters to members with ads of new members who joined recently. If your ad does not have a photo, you may not make it.

2. PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO ANSWER YOUR MESSAGES

Good-looking people (who obviously have photos in their personal profiles) receive lots of mail. If you are writing to someone attractive and don't have a photo in your profile, your message is likely to be ignored.

3. YOU APPEAR MORE CREDIBLE

When you do not have a photo in your personal ad on the dating site, it looks like you are either hiding something or you are too lazy to have one taken. Either way, it's not good for your success on the dating site. If you are concerned about privacy, you can take a photo in sunglasses or from a distance, this will be better than having no photo at all.

4. YOU CAN INFLUENCE PEOPLE'S OPINION ABOUT YOU

This is the biggest advantage of all. When people view personal ads online, photos are the most interesting part, both for men and women. Men mostly look for physical beauty, women for personality shining through.

People try to figure out your personality by looking at your photos. If you appear happy, easygoing, open and warm, they will be naturally drawn to you. If you appear stiff, reserved, timid and insecure, they will feel repulsed. Look at your photos from this point of view, and if your photos don't flatter you, get new pictures.

You can use a webcam or take a photo of yourself with your mobile phone camera - this will only take you a couple of minutes. This is what most people do.

But if you want BETTER than average results, then consider going an extra mile - this always pays off.

Spend a day to get the right photos, and you may set up your love affair for life! Don't you think it's worth it?

Get a friend with a digital camera to take a few hundreds of photos of you in different settings. Make sure you are dressed neat and stylish, and use open body language (no crossed legs or arms, no barriers between you and the viewer, relaxed, comfortable pose, and a lovely smile).

Choose a dozen or so photos where YOU like yourself the most, and then show them to your friends of the OPPOSITE gender. Usually there will be one or two favorites: use them in your Internet personals ads.

Having the right photo in your online dating campaign is crucial. It can make a difference between choosing from dozens of people competing for your attention and not having a date for the Saturday night.

Update your photo in your Internet personals ad and check the difference - it can be staggering!

Elena Solomon
©2008

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