Dear Guy On An Internet Dating Site,

My sister recently activated an account on Match.com. I'm so proud of her for doing this because I know she's quite a catch and she deserves to find someone who thinks as much of her as we do. I don't pretend to understand how dating in your mid-late twenties is because I was basically a baby when my husband and I got together. I would call myself just a touch beyond a teenager when we got married. I applaud the men and women who put themselves out there on dating sites because I know it has to be uncomfortable. Scrolling through Emily's "Matches" with her I noticed that there were some sad and awkward patterns among them. If you know someone on a dating site, please do the world a favor and share this with them.
 

Dear Guy On An Internet Dating Site,
 

To start, I applaud you for taking the initiative to put yourself out there. I'm sure it's uncomfortable to market yourself to women on the internet, but you are putting aside that discomfort in an effort to find a companion. Good for you. You've won points with all women for just creating a profile.
 

Now that you've created your account on this site you should stop. Pick up your phone. Call or text a sister, a sister-in-law, your mom, a female friend, a female acquaintance, ANY female and ask them for their help. Once you've found a female to converse with, ask them to read through anything you post on the site. Women know women. They know what sounds ok, what sounds pervy, and what sounds like something a complete tool would put on his profile. Avoid including things like, "No fatties", "Looking for a good time", "if it becomes something more, that'd be ok", "single and ready to mingle" Things like that tell women that you're either insenstive, shallow, a total horn dog, or a complete douche. Be open to a lady who might not typically be your type. Don't count someone out just because they don't watch the same tv shows as you.
 

After you've got your profile made, it's time for what is probably the most important part of your profile, the pictures. FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS RIGHT, DO NOT POST A MIRROR SELFIE. I cannot tell you how many of you men default to a mirror selfie. It's awful. It is a huge thumbs down. Even worse than a mirror selfie, is the mirror selfie with the shirt raised to show off  the abs. Just ew. No. Don't. 8/10 profiles use mirror selfies and not one of them was a good idea. Find a friend to take pictures of you. Bring a camera or remember to snap a picture the next time you are with family and friends. I am begging you not to default to the mirror selfie. Also, you must include a photo without sunglasses and a photo of your entire body.

Lastly, don't be afraid to reach out. Email a girl you're interested in or if you just liked something about her profile. If you get an email, respond. Even if you're not interested you can still say hello. Emails aren't marriage proposals so don't be afraid of them. Everyone on the site is looking for someone. Sure it may not lead to a romantic relationship, but friends are nice too!

Sincerely,
Wanna See My Sister's Profile?