Relationships 

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Perfect your online dating profile

In cyberspace, no-one can hear you flirt. Nor can they see your seductive eye contact, or your subtle, sexy body language. The only weapon in your online armoury is your personal ad, so you'd better make it a good one

With half the nation's 15 million adult singletons looking for love online, you need to stand out from the crowd. But how? Here are some top tips for working that profile space.

1. Know your audience
Market research first, pick 'n' mix later. Know what kind of man you want to attract, and write your ad for him. Who wants an inbox full of men you've got nothing in common with?

Browse the profiles of guys you'd like to date and make notes about the things that catch your eye. Control the urge to contact them straight away. Writing your profile takes priority.

If you're attracted by profiles written with a dry sense of humour, write yours with a dry sense of humour. If you respond to sincerity, write sincerely. If you like ads where men list the things they love, from music to pizza toppings, make your own list. Not only will a list help cure your writer's block, but it's also a great conversation-starter.

2. Know your competition
It's also a good idea to browse profiles written by other women. This helps give you a feel for what works and what doesn't. But don't just nick lines that aren't about you. You're trying to sell yourself, not someone else.

3. Sell, sell, sell!
Now for the hard part. And, as every beer company knows, the way to a man's heart is through a great advert, so think like an advertiser.

It may feel weird to list all your good qualities and publish them for the world to see. But this is dating, and you have to like yourself before someone else can like you. More than the wittiest dash of self-deprecation sounds whiney and self-pitying. Confidence attracts.

4. Don't overdo it
No-one likes a show-off. State who you are with confidence, but know where to set your bragging limit. 'I make a spectacular picnic' is fine, but 'I'm very good-looking and no-one can understand why I'm single' is just another way of saying: 'You will never fancy me as much as I fancy myself.'

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