Most dating profiles fail the same way. They're a list of adjectives anyone could claim. Easy going, love to laugh, looking for my partner in crime.

None of that tells anyone anything. Here's what does.

Be specific, not impressive

Specific beats impressive every time, because specific gives people something to reply to.

  • Not "I love music" but "I will defend the second album by almost any band."
  • Not "foodie" but "I make an unreasonably good chilli and I'd like the chance to prove it."
  • Not "love to travel" but "I've got a list of places and a slowly improving plan to get through it."

Each of those is a conversation opener. The vague version is a dead end.

The disability line

If you're putting it in, one line does it. You're stating a fact, not making a case.

Wheelchair user. Been one for twelve years, so I've got the logistics down. Ask me about the accessible venue map I'm building.

That works because it's matter of fact, it's got personality in it, and it hands over something to talk about that isn't medical.

Compare it to the two versions that don't work as well. The apology version: "I hope my disability isn't a problem for you." And the challenge version: "If you can't handle my disability, swipe left." Both hand the other person a lot of emotional weight before hello.

A man in a park, arms folded, wheelchair user, looking at the camera
One line about the disability, several about the person.

Photos

Three to five, and they should look like the same person on a normal week.

  • One clear face photo. No sunglasses, no group shot where nobody can tell which one you are.
  • One doing something you actually do.
  • One full length if you're comfortable with it.
  • Whether your mobility aid or prosthetic is in shot is your call. Some people include it deliberately so there's no surprise later. Some don't. Neither is wrong.

What to leave out

  • Lists of what you don't want. It reads as a warning sign even when it's fair.
  • Anything that starts "I'm probably not like other..."
  • Your full medical history. That's not a profile, it's a chart.
  • Height requirements. It's a dating profile, not a recruitment ad.

A quick test

Read it out loud. If you'd never say it out loud to a friend, rewrite it. That single test fixes most profiles.

Then stop editing it

Profiles get worse after the fourth rewrite. Get it honest, get it specific, put it live, and let it do its job.

Common questions

How long should a dating profile be?

Short. Three or four sentences with real detail in them beats a page of adjectives. People are deciding whether to say hello, not reading a CV.

Should my mobility aid be in my photos?

Entirely your call. Including it means nobody's surprised later and some people find that a relief. Leaving it out is equally fine. Neither choice needs defending.

What if I'm not good at writing about myself?

Almost nobody is. Answer one question instead: what would a friend say you're good company for? Write that down. That's your opening line.

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