You rarely get a second chance to make a first impression, particularly if you are looking for love online. Others in your boat will be skimming numerous profiles looking for someone who stands out from the crowd, and it’s important that you include information that is honest, revealing some of your most attractive qualities and perhaps even poking fun at some of your worst.

Getting a second opinion on your online dating profile is an essential part of building a great profile. If you don’t have anyone around to give you their take on your profile, you might end up painting yourself in an overly favorable or unfavorable light, or putting off a vibe you did not intend to. A good friend or two will point out if you are coming across as too desperate, if your profile photo is unflattering, if you are lying about yourself to get attention, or if you are coming across bitter, jaded or otherwise negative.

Ask your friends their honest opinion about your site, specifically requesting that they point out anything that might be a turn-off to the opposite sex. Ask them to list out your most endearing qualities, and see if you can incorporate them into your profile. This may seem like a cheesy request to make of a friend, but you would be surprised how willing he or she will be to help. After all, your friends have your best interests at heart and will want to see you happy with the right match.

You might even ask for their help in taking a good profile photo or two. A best friend will be good at getting you to laugh and smile in your photo, rather than standing awkwardly or plastering a fake smile on your face. Sometimes candid photos go much further in the world of online dating than portrait-style photos that are arranged just perfectly.

Finally, get a smart friend who’s good with words to proofread your profile for bone-headed spelling and grammar errors, as well as childish “text-speak.” While you don’t want your profile to read like a history professor’s, you certainly don’t want to come across as stupid, uneducated or immature if you are looking for a relationship with an intelligent person.

This guest post is contributed by Vanessa Jones, who writes on the topics of dating sites.  She welcomes your comment