There is a well-known cliché that warns us to never judge a book by its cover. However, books come with a prologue or introduction giving us insight into what the rest of the book will be about. When it comes to people, that prologue is the first impression that we leave on someone else. Today, technological advances made it so that first impressions can be made without meeting someone face-to-face. Social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and now Instagram has made it possible to meet new people from the comforts of your own home. Even further, and more eerie, these social networking sites gives people an opportunity to watch and observe others from a distance. These sites, despite online security measures such as making your page private, have given others an open window to see what goes on in our lives – Even though we voluntarily disclose that information through our posts and updates.

Many users of these sites will argue that people do not know them and cannot figure out who they are just by following them online. However, people can learn a lot about someone through their social networking feeds. Though people may not know private information regarding your life or lifestyle, they can learn a lot about your character. Corporate companies even check your Facebook to see what your personal life is like. With that being said, anyone interested in you will follow your moves online to see what type of person you are. If you are still single, your online image might be the reason why. Here are a few things you must be aware of in regards to your online image and personality.

Your Bio

Your bio is your introduction to the citizens of the online community. It is the prologue to the book of your life and you definitely want it to be interesting. More importantly, your online bio should give insight to who you are and not who you pretend to be. If what is in your bio is misleading, someone who wants to get to know you can assume that everything else about you is misleading. Keep your bio simple by including what you do for a living, what you do for fun, what your aspirations are, and what your expectations are. By no means do you want it to sound like a dating profile but you absolutely want to introduce yourself. Refrain from saying you are “Team” anything, “Boss”, “Barbie”, “Go Getter” or any other hip-hop cliché. If you cannot come up with a bio you like, you can put up a quote you live by.

Your Photos

Pictures are worth a thousand words. Sorry for using another cliché, but the pictures you post can reflect who you are and what you want people to perceive of you. Ladies, if you want to be taken seriously, all of your pictures cannot be of you in a g-string. Gentlemen, the pic of you with your shirt off and your sweatpants hanging off your pelvic area screams “male slut”! It is okay to show off your sexy side but you have to do it in good taste.

Your Content

There is a lot information available on someone’s timeline. You can find out about their level of education, what they like, where they have been, what their hobbies are, and other interesting facts. You can learn about where they stand politically, morally, and spiritually. Furthermore, people can find out what they have in common. When it comes to choosing a mate, people want to date someone who is dynamic and who has depth. If your every tweet is about shopping, eating, “your haters”, ridiculous reality T.V. shows, and other mundane topics, people will not respect you on an intellectual level. If your feed is overly sexual, you may be perceived as a pervert. Like your photos, the content of your posts should reflect who you are. Put your best foot forward while having fun. Treat your timeline like a house party. Be courteous, polite, engaging, humorous, inviting, relevant and most of all interesting. Avoid being obnoxious, rude, disgusting, and a “Debbie Downer”. You also do not want to look desperate. Ladies, stop sharing how lonely you are and how you wish there was a “Him” to cuddle with. Gentlemen, avoid commenting on every picture she posts. When you do leave a comment, do not leave a compliment that is a paragraph long. You also do not want to ask for a “follow back”. Asking for a “follow back” is the ultimate example of desperation online. If people find your interesting or attractive enough, they will “follow back” on their own terms. Make a good first impression with your tweets and posts.

Written by Marvin Ady

Join The Conversation on Twitter @theadyproject #StillSingle

For questions or topic suggestions, email marvinady@gmail.com

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