Portraying yourself accurately in the online dating world means more than just being honest about age, height, and career. It means giving others a clear look into your personality and everyday life, not just the life you aspire to have. Afterall, authentic profiles attract authentic people.

Keep your photos fresh.

You’re probably already aware of how to choose solid profile photos (no filters, good lighting, no hats or sunglasses, and so on). There’s more to consider though. When and where your photos were taken, for example. We recommend keeping them within the last year to ensure they represent the current you. There’s nothing wrong with a snap of you at a black-tie event, but make sure you also have photos of what you look like every day. Lastly, opt for an image that shows off an interest. Whether it’s travel, hiking or hanging out with your four-legged friend, these make the best conversation starters.

Only select your actual interests.

It might be tempting to select every interest under the sun – we get it, you’re well-rounded – but this can actually do more harm than good. For one, you’re probably not coming across very genuine (no one has time to travel the world while volunteering every weekend, skydiving on a regular basis, and playing on every intramural team). And two, the couple of interests you are serious about will likely get overlooked.

“Our rule of thumb is if you haven’t done the activity in the last few months, don’t include it in your profile. The same can be said for seasonal interests. Once winter comes to an end, consider updating your profile with your favorite spring and summer pastimes.”

Match’s Dating Expert, Lauren

No need to write a novel.

While we never recommend one-sentence bios or one-word Topic responses, there’s no need to go overboard. Including too many details and specifics in your profile can overwhelm members. Stick to important points like what your everyday life looks like, your personality, and the kind of person you’re looking for. Everything else can be discovered later.

Be honest about what you want.

If you’re looking for a serious relationship, that should be communicated in your profile. Oftentimes, members will want something long-term but will think that’s not what others want to hear. If you’re not “just looking for someone to hit up happy hours with,” then your bio shouldn’t say so. It’s that simple.

Get a friend’s opinion.

Your perception of yourself can be slightly skewed, so it helps to get profile feedback from someone who knows you well. Friends are also great at helping you describe your best qualities if you don’t know what to write about.