First impressions are important. And they are especially crucial when it comes to online dating and seeking a girlfriend internationally. Your profile will likely be the first impression you make, so optimizing it properly can make a world of difference in your results and success connecting with potential matches abroad.
To stand out in the competitive world of online international dating, it’s crucial to have high-quality photos, an engaging bio, a fully completed profile metadata, and a verified profile. A well-crafted and professional-looking profile can set you apart from others. Given that finding top-notch photos can be a challenge and are perhaps the most important, hiring a photographer is strongly advised. This approach ensures your dating profile captures attention and projects a positive first impression.
The tips outlined here aim to help you build an outstanding dating profile that attracts quality matches from around the world. By applying these best practices for photos, bios, and settings, you’ll be on your way to creating connections that can lead to exciting new international relationships.
#1 – Get Quality Profile Pictures
Pictures are often the most important aspect of a dating profile because it’s the first thing a potential match will see. If you have a bad main photo, it is highly unlikely that a woman is going to go any further spending time on your profile.
Hire a Photographer
For years I procrastinated on the advice of hiring a professional photographer to take my pictures. When I finally hired a professional photographer to take pictures for my online dating profiles, I truly regretted not doing it sooner. It made a world of difference in getting both quantity and quality matches from beautiful women overseas. Prior, for my profiles, I only had selfies or pictures that friends had randomly taken of me.
If you are already overseas, definitely consider hiring a photographer because they are often much cheaper than in your home country. For example, I live in the United States and photographers often charge $200 or more for a one-hour session. In Krakow, Poland I hired a photographer for $100 and came away with 250 photos, 50 of which I liked. By the way, it is normal for photos to not turn out great. The general rule of thumb is too take a lot and then you will surely come out with a few great ones.
Again, in Budapest, Hungary, I hired a professional photographer for about $60 and came away with another great batch of pictures that were perfect for my dating profile.
My two favorite methods of finding photographers while traveling are using AirBnB Experiences and Viator. That is how I found my photographers in Krakow and Budapest.
By the way, there is no need to feel guilty or like “less of a man” for getting some professional pictures taken. Seemingly every woman that is online has professional looking profiles pictures, and in the competitive world of online dating – you’ll really stand out compared to other men.
Photo Dos and Don’ts
Here are a few important “Do’s and Don’ts” when selecting photos for your dating profile:
Do’s:
- Have a variety of photos, including headshots, full body shots, and activity photos. Variety shows your personality.
- Smile naturally in photos. Looking happy makes you more approachable. Professional photographers help a lot with this.
- Have photos taken in good lighting. Outdoor natural lighting often looks best, with the sun in your face. Avoid dark lighting where your face can not be clearly seen.
- Wear nice, well-fitted clothing that suits your body type. I even bought specific outfits just for my photography sessions.
- Showcase your interests through activity photos (sports, hobbies, travel etc).
Don’ts:
- Avoid selfies or blurry, low-quality photos. Get high resolution photos. Only use photos taken by others.
- Don’t wear sunglasses in every photo. Show your eyes.
- Avoid inappropriate or overly sexy photos. Guys, this includes shirtless photos of yourself in the mirror!
- Don’t have photos with you and your bros. Women will have to waste time figuring out which one is you.
- Don’t use old photos that misrepresent your current appearance.
- Don’t include other women/dates in your photos.
- Don’t fake “peacock” by posting photos with expensive cars or possessions that aren’t yours.
Also see: What Countries Have The Most Beautiful Women? My Top 10
#2 – Create a Sincere and Fun Profile Bio
I recommend keeping your bio simple, straightforward, and lighthearted. However, avoid using humor or jokes that may not translate across cultures. I’ve delivered a few jokes while chatting with foreign women, only to realize that they had to use a translator to read my messages. Often times the translation loses the context of the joke, so be careful. Focus on positive attributes and interests that provide a genuine sense of who you are.
In your bio, make it easy for women to get a glimpse into who you are. You want to give them easy conversation starters by mentioning your hobbies, interests, and values.
Some elements to include:
- A brief self-introduction
- Your current location and travel plans
- Hobbies and interests
- What you enjoy doing for fun
- The type of relationship you’re looking for (short-term, long-term, marriage, etc.)
Here is an example bio from my dating profile:
Sample Bios
Here are a couple sample profile bios that showcase personality while remaining appropriate. You can use these as a blueprint, but tweak them a little bit to reflect yourself.
Simple and sincere sample profile bio:
Hi there! My name is John and I currently live in New York City. In my free time I enjoy hiking, reading historical fiction novels, and trying new cuisines. I’m looking for someone open-minded and adventurous to explore life’s simple pleasures together. I will be traveling to Cebu City, Philippines next month.
Enthusiastic and lighthearted sample profile bio:
The name’s Mike and I’m thrilled to meet you! Stationed in Germany for work but always down for a new experience. Some of my favorite activities include playing tennis, listening to live music, and traveling to learn about new cultures. Hoping to find a relationship filled with laughter, wanderlust and lasting memories!
Thoughtful and honest sample profile bio:
I’m James, a software engineer living in San Francisco. I value emotional intelligence, empathy and authenticity. My hobbies are yoga, volunteering at animal shelters, and learning to cook vegetarian meals. I don’t drink or party, but I am very adventurous when it comes to outdoor things. I’d love to find a partner to grow with, support each other’s dreams and build a life of compassion.
***The key is keeping it simple, positive and focused on your genuine self. Avoid inappropriate humor, excessive details, and negativity. A warm, approachable bio goes a long way in making a great first impression.
#3 – Optimize Your Profile Settings (Metadata)
Your profile settings or “metadata” are selected settings such as: height, weight, religion, education, kids/no kids, and type of relationship you are seeking. Be as honest as you can about your personal data on your dating profile, without revealing too much financial information like your salary. You want to avoid attracting women that are only interested in you for the wrong reasons.
List your real age, location, education, occupation, relationship goals, interests, and hobbies. This allows matches to get an accurate sense of who you are. If you misrepresent yourself, it could lead to awkwardness or disappointment later.
When it comes to height, be truthful within an inch. No need to exaggerate here. One thing I’ve heard women say on multiple occasions is that they hate when men are dishonest about their height online. Although it may see hypocritical, as many women lie about their weight, you don’t want to surprise them with a lie when you finally meet in person.
For income and net worth, you can select broader ranges rather than specifics if your dating site provides those options. You don’t want to broadcast your salary and assets to strangers, which could attract scammers and gold-diggers.
Profile Usernames and Tag-Lines
Some apps and websites request that you put in a username or tag line. Here are a few examples that I have used before and you are welcome to use as well:
- Man of Adventure
- Sarcasm Fluent, Romance Proficient
- Netflix & Thrill
- Culinary Casanova
- Life’s A Beach
- Coffee & Tennis?
Don’t understand the impact of a good username and tagline. I’ve seen women with usernames of Hopeless Romantic, Lost Soul, and CatLover. Unfortunately, these don’t create any excitement and give of a sense of desperation and sadness. Keep it light-hearted and positive! For a bonus, try to create a little mysteriousness.
Be thoughtful with your profile name. Don’t include your real full name for privacy reasons. But also don’t choose something offensive.
Looking for a foreign wife? Check out: How To Find A Wife Overseas (For Western Men & Expats)
Do’s and Don’ts of Your Dating Profile Bio and Settings
When creating an international dating profile bio, follow these best practices:
Do’s
- Be honest and authentic. Don’t exaggerate or make false claims.
- Write an interesting, funny, and conversational bio. Share unique details about yourself.
- Show your friendly and approachable side.
- Highlight your interests and hobbies. Give people conversation starters.
- Be positive and upbeat in tone. Avoid negativity or venting.
- Use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. Proofread at least one time.
Don’ts
- Don’t make your bio too long or wordy. Keep it simple.
- Don’t be too silly or make too many jokes. Humor often doesn’t translate well in foreign languages.
- Don’t vent about past relationships or talk about your exes.
- Don’t be negative, cynical, or bitter in tone. It’s a red flag.
- Don’t include contact info or ask people to contact you directly in your bio.
- Don’t use cliches or be boring. Share something interesting about you.
#4 – Verify Your Profile
Many dating platforms have a built-in feature to allow people to verify their profile. Other platforms even require profile verification now, which is a good thing. Verifying your profile usually consists of an extra step to ensure that a person is who they really say they are. Sometimes it entails logging in with your Gmail account, Facebook, Instagram, or taking a selfie of yourself holding your hands in a certain way. Scammers and fake profiles who are pretending to be someone they are not, are usually not able to pass the profile verification process.
This is actually a great thing and is highly recommend that you very your profile on dating platforms. This gives women more trust in speaking with you. Some women only engage in conversations with men that have verified profiles. At the same time, you ought to consider only matching with women who have verified profiles. There are many fake women – “catfish” – in the realm of international dating. Although I cannot guarantee your safety and security, here are some tips to avoid these type of risks.
#5 – Remember, You Get What You Pay For
Keep in mind that if you are serious about seeking a girlfriend online, whether in your home country or internationally, strongly consider paying for a membership to a dating platform. If you aren’t serious, no worries, feel free to join for free and do some browsing. But, most dating apps and websites encourage you to pay by limiting key features. For example, Tinder and Bumble are “free” but purchasing a membership will unlock the travel features, allowing you to find matches anywhere in the world.
Anecdotally, I’ve found that the algorithms are “nicer” to paying members. I seem to get a lot more matches on apps like Tinder and Bumble after I have bought a membership. Also, some of the high-quality international dating apps, like InternationalCupid (my favorite), require the men to purchase a membership in order to unlock messaging capabilities.
I’ve spent a lot of time traveling and dating overseas and here are my recommendations for the best international dating platforms based off my experience. Best of luck to you in your journey!