Help on usernames for online dating

[lemons]

A couple of my widow friends are considering dating and asked me for help with their online profiles (I have NO experience with this!) What are your tips for a great username and profile? They're in their late 50's, if that helps with advice.

[lemons]

Are there any good online guides that I can read and pass along to them? I'm taking their pictures this next weekend, so any tips on that would be helpful, too.

[Deleted]

I don't think usernames really matter all that much. I do steer clear of ones that have like 69 or sexy in their names. As far as a profile I think giving a few fun specifics that are a but out of the ordinary are good. I mention my love of skee ball and 80s hair bands. It helped get a conversation going.

[lemons]

Oct 12, 2015 13:01:14 GMT -5 @pdx18 said:

I don't think usernames really matter all that much. I do steer clear of ones that have like 69 or sexy in their names. As far as a profile I think giving a few fun specifics that are a but out of the ordinary are good. I mention my love of skee ball and 80s hair bands. It helped get a conversation going.

Thanks! They've all been married 20+ years and I've never online dated. I'm looking forward to their stories!

[jigsy]

I think a great start for them would be to browse men's profiles in their area and see what makes them interested vs turned off. I think you can do that without creating a real account, but then I think it gives a feel of what they should use to attract the kind of people they are already interested in. If that makes sense.

As for the name, This was a total accident, but has actually been an interesting way for me to weed some people out. My used name is AmazingJJules...Not really, but basically, it is an adjective, my first initial, and the beginning of my last name (which happens to be a common nickname). The very fist line in my profile is "Hi, my name is Jigsy".
I have gotten a surprising amount of people saying "Hey Jules/Julie! blah blah blah"...they clearly didn't read even the first line of my profile. So I immediately next them.

[lemons]

Are there sites to avoid or is it dependent on your location? I kind feel like I'm helping my mom date again (although they're not as old as my mom) :-)

Great idea about checking thru other profiles.

[alleinesein]

Mine is a play on words in Hindi. My first name is the hindi slang version of the word "your".

[Deleted]

Oct 12, 2015 13:40:26 GMT -5 lemons said:

Are there sites to avoid or is it dependent on your location? I kind feel like I'm helping my mom date again (although they're not as old as my mom) :-)

Great idea about checking thru other profiles.

Most sites it depends on the area. I see Our Time advertised a lot. It's for people over 50. That might be a good place to start as you know the men aren't looking for young women. Hell at 33 I've aged out of what a lot of men seem to want. Haha

[glitzyglow]

ETA: This is for picking a username.

I'm going to cheat and tell you what the book I'm reading about online dating says to do in your user name.

1. Combine interests. Make up your own word if you want to combine interests.
2. Avoid any words that can misconstrued as a sexual term.
3. Avoid numbers.
4. Don't use your real name. (This one is a little strange to me, but perhaps Tinder has desensitized me to this. I think the book I'm reading was written pre-Tinder popularity.)

[glitzyglow]

For a good profile the author of the book* says:

-Know what type of audience you want to attract and make a targeted profile for that audience.

-Use key messages throughout the profile for a theme. If you think you're intelligent, be intelligent in your profile. Same for funny, sweet, etc. Don't specifically use those terms, but show the reader through the profile what your key messages are.

-Marketing uses the power of 3. Talk about 3 interests, 3 favorite movies, etc. You don't have to list them in order, but whatever you work in, marketing has shown that people gravitate and remember groups of 3s the best.

-Use a short first sentence.

-Avoid listing weak adjectives (funny, smart, kind, etc.) Be specific. You can put that you love Italian food, but you'll stand out more if you say you love a good Fettuccine Alfredo. The more specific, the more memorable you will be.

-Keep your profile in the present. No need for backstory on it.

-Don't over-elaborate on topics. You want to get emails with questions, so leave room for people to ask by giving them just enough.

-Be confident. Avoid "My friends say I'm...." Don't be cocky, but you don't need to justify your personality by saying what your friends think. Exude who you are and it will show.

-Spellcheck, spellcheck, spellcheck.

-Make sure your last line leaves a good impression of you. Don't say, "Message me for more info or if you have questions!" Make an impression!

-Avoid words like don't, never, not, unfortunately, etc. Keep it positive.

*I have not personally tried her tips yet.

[Deleted]

Names can be something or something the person likes...it can really be anything.  I'd just recommend (like @pdx18 said) staying away from words like sexy or anything that can be taken as sexual because that's all they'll get-sexual encounter emails!  
What are their hobbies, interests or jobs. Something along those lines is simple? Mine was something like "mycityisfabulous15" It obviously wasn't that, but you get it.
i think match has our time for people over 50 in order to meet more like minded people.

ETA-I should have tagged glitzyglow, not pdx, sorry!