Online Dating Tips: How to Give Your Profile a Makeover

One of the most stressful things when it comes to joining an online dating destination is to find one picture that A.) actually looks like you and B.) will wow the masses. Rather than post the standard picture of you at the bar with your girlfriends Yagan says your default should act as a conversation starter. Put up a picture of you doing a random activity (skiing, skydiving) to spark interest in someone else who likes doing the same things. If you do decide to go the headshot route, don't use a flash when you take the picture (Yagan says studies prove this will make you look up to seven years older!). Instead, choose a photo taken in a natural light.

Check out our expert tips on how to look amazing in pictures from the Jennifer Miller, Cosmopolitan's photography director.

This might go against everything dating experts have taught you, but when it comes to the online world, you're better off to show off your best assets. Yagan says a study was done on the site on men and women's profile pictures to see which ones were getting the most traffic. Men who flaunted their abs and women who showed off their chests, butt, and other attributes got the most attention. This doesn't mean you have to dress up like a Hooters girl on Halloween, but don't be afraid to show off your curves.

The term "beauty" has a different meaning for everyone who hears it. Yagan says that women who try to manipulate their profile to appeal to everyone end up looking average, which attracts much less attention than someone who may look different, but unique. Play up the quirky things about you, whether you love tattoos or have wild curly hair. If you play up the unique things about your personality and looks, eight out of ten men might not be attracted to you but the two that are will think you are beautiful and spark instantly.

From the study done on which profiles get the most attention, Yagan said that 32 percent of users looked at a profile of an 18-year-old showing off their best assets, while 79 percent looked at the profile of a 39-year-old doing the same thing. This goes to show that the older you get, the more important it is to be yourself.

Find more beauty tips based on your age.

It's pretty simple, yet how many times have you messaged someone from a dating site thinking they were X and then after meeting them realized they were really Y? An easy way to get a guy to message you after reading your profile is shockingly simple. Tell the truth and most importantly - make them laugh.

While a long profile might show that you put a lot of thought into it, it's important to be concise and put your best stuff in the beginning to catch a guy's attention. "Women often put all the funny stuff at the bottom of their profile," he explains. "A lot of guys won't read your whole description, so they don't get to see that funny side of you." Let your personality shine through early and be as specific as possible. Your profile should reflect who you are and what you're about. Another tip from Yagan – steer clear from vague words like "fun" and "interesting." "If you write that, you're often neither of the two," he says.

Yagan says the easiest way to start up a conversation is to ask a question in your profile. "A question like 'I love the Office - message me with your favorite episode' gives the guy a reason to message you and start up an interaction," he says. "You're making it easy for him to make the first move."