How To Write A Match Profile In 4 Easy Steps

no Match messages in your inbox

Is Your Profile Sabotaging Your Inbox?

The difference between an empty inbox and a flood of quality matches comes down to how you structure your Match.com profile. After writing thousands of successful profiles for our clients at VIDA Select—and managing their messaging through to actual dates—we've identified exactly what makes women stop scrolling and start responding: punchy sentences, a show-don't-tell approach, and the right ratio of personal details to partner preferences.

Key Takeaways

  • Ideal length and structure: Keep your "In My Own Words" section between 225-275 words, with 70% about you and 30% about your ideal partner—research shows this ratio maximizes attraction.
  • Format for readability: Use short, punchy sentences and break text into digestible paragraphs—large text blocks are visually overwhelming, especially on mobile devices.
  • Show, don't tell approach: Instead of listing adjectives, demonstrate qualities through specific stories and examples that illustrate your personality traits in action.
  • 4-part framework works best: 1) Open with an attention-grabbing story, 2) Describe your job positively, 3) Detail your hobbies with specifics rather than lists, 4) Close with your ideal partner description and a call-to-action.
  • Leverage "Topics" strategically: Choose Match.com's additional prompts that showcase attractive qualities, avoiding negative ones unless you can spin them positively.
  • Stay consistently positive: Negativity anywhere in your profile can immediately turn off potential matches—focus on value-adding content throughout.
  • Refresh periodically: Making small, regular updates to text and photos boosts your profile in Match's algorithm, increasing visibility in search results.

Nailing The “In My Own Words” Section

Your profile has two main jobs: grab her attention and keep it. Think of it like a commercial—you want to inform, intrigue, and leave her wanting more. Highlight your best features in an interesting way, and the odds are good she'll reply to your message and want to meet you in person.

The best Match.com profiles have punchy, short sentences. Using simple, easy-to-digest wording increases your likeability and makes your profile easy to skim. This matters because people tend to multitask when browsing profiles, just like you probably do. If your profile can drag her attention away from Netflix, you've won the first battle.

What happens when you get it wrong: Large blocks of text are visually daunting. Chances are not many people are going to attempt reading them—especially not on a phone screen, where most users browse.

example of a match profile that's too long

The sweet spot: Keep this section between 225-275 words. Of that, 70% should be about you and 30% should describe your ideal partner. Research has shown this ratio hits the maximum attraction sweet spot.

Algorithm hack: Make small changes to your text and profile picture lineup regularly. Match.com rewards active users by jumping their profiles to the first page of search results.

Show, Don't Tell

Anyone can list a bunch of adjectives and call it a day. But that approach is boring to read, and there's no context to back up the claims.

example of a match profile with too many adjectives

It's far more attractive to show how you embody a particular trait rather than just state that you have it. For guys, aim to highlight alpha male traits like bravery, courage, and a willingness to take risks. Studies have shown women are naturally drawn to these qualities.

Here's a two-paragraph intro that catches her interest and showcases an attractive sense of adventure:

Match profile for men example

Avoid bragging. Sounding boastful makes you seem both less attractive and less trustworthy—it's called "selective self-presentation."

Instead of writing "I'm an incredible photographer," consider including your Instagram and let her draw that conclusion on her own. Let other sources toot the horn for you.

 

Write Your Match Profile In 4 Easy Steps

Here's a foolproof process you can use right now:

Step 1: Capture her attention with an intriguing story

The first paragraph is arguably the most important. If you don't grab her attention immediately, she's going to quit reading. Lure her in with a funny story that illustrates your sense of humor, or highlight your adventurous personality by describing a trip using vivid language.

example of a good match profile intro

Step 2: Describe your job in an interesting way

This paragraph can be tricky, especially if you don't love your job. But it's important, particularly if you're looking for a serious, long-term relationship. You want to show you're ambitious, stable, and financially sound—in other words, boyfriend material.

No matter what you do, you can make it sound sexy. For example, if you work in the financial field:

great Match profile example for men

Step 3: Describe your hobbies and passions

She's going to be imagining what it's like to spend time with you as she reads your profile. Talk about what you like to do for fun, but stay away from boring lists.

Instead of: "I like to play tennis, watch football, and hit the gym."

Try: "When a 3-day weekend rolls around, I'll grab some friends and hit the slopes at Whistler" or "Sunday mornings are for farmers market runs and attempting new brunch recipes—my shakshuka game has gotten dangerously good."

Here's another example:

example of a good Match bio

Hobbies establish bonds through mutual interests and give her easy first-message material. If she's intrigued enough to reach out, she can use these details as conversation starters.

Step 4: Describe your ideal partner

Close with a description of your ideal partner. Pick a few traits from your "must have" list and let her know what you're looking for in a creative way:

example of an 'about her' paragraph for a good Match profile

Notice how this ends with a command. Not only does it exude confidence, it's literally a call to action—a marketing technique that actually works.

Dating Profile Template

This one-size-fits-all template will help you combine all 4 steps into one attractive Match.com profile:

Match fill in the blanks profile template

But taking the easy way out comes with one caveat - it’s not 100% you, and no template will ever deliver a perfect profile. So although this example will more than likely boost your results, you can do even better with a profile that’s totally customized.

 

Choose Topics That Have the Most Impact

Match Topic Tips

Match allows you to choose 3 "Topics" from a drop-down menu of 70+ options, each with a 150-character limit. Choose prompts that let you showcase attractive qualities—you want every answer to make her want to meet you even more.

Great topic answer examples:

For showcasing fitness and travel: 

good match prompt answer

For showing you're handy:

Good answer for Match prompt

For demonstrating social range: 

match prompt answer example

With just a few sentences, she knows you're physically fit, you travel, and you like to go out and socialize.

Topic tips:

  • Don't repeat what you mentioned in the main body—that's wasted space.
  • Keep everything classy. Coming on too strong makes her roll her eyes and move on.
  • Focus on positive things that add value. Negativity is a turn-off.
  • Stay away from inherently negative prompts unless you're 100% sure you can answer them in a funny or positive way.
  • Check for typos—grammatical errors in your prompt answers are mood killers.

Profile visibility hack: Complete the "My interests" section. These keywords ensure your profile shows up in her keyword-specific search results, and Match uses your interests to give you better matches.

 

The Complete Picture

Your profile is only one piece of the puzzle. You also need strong photos and compelling messages to succeed on Match. But here's the truth: turning yourself into a Match.com profile pro takes significant time and effort.

VIDA Select's professional profile writers craft magnetically attractive, ultra-compelling profiles that are 100% customized for you. And it's more than just profile writing—VIDA's experts also send messages that make the women you like best eager to meet in person. It's online dating done for you, and it's the easiest way to finally find the partner of your dreams.

Click here to get started!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should my Match.com profile be?

Keep your "In My Own Words" section between 225-275 words. This length is long enough to showcase your personality and give her conversation starters, but short enough to hold attention on mobile screens. Research shows the ideal ratio is 70% about yourself and 30% describing your ideal partner.

What's the biggest mistake men make on their Match profiles?

How often should I update my Match profile?

Should I include what I'm looking for in a partner?

What topics should I avoid on Match.com?

Do Match.com profiles really matter that much?