Your internet dating success relies primarily on the strength of your profile. A well-written, carefully planned profile can get you lots of responses, where a dashed-off, careless one won't. Many people who have trouble dating online can trace their difficulties back to a poor profile.

You don't have to be a prize-winning author to produce a good profile. Just following some simple rules can get your profile moving in the right direction:

Add a good headline

Most internet daters browse through profiles, looking for something that catches their eye. That's why you need to come up with a good headline for your profile. Choose something humorous, or perhaps pose a question. Keep it tasteful, to avoid getting unwanted responses and keep it short and snappy so that browsers can read it all without having to go into your profile.

Be yourself

The majority of online daters are looking for someone with whom they can have a serious relationship. There's no point in pretending to be someone you're not, because it will backfire eventually. Instead, be brave and be yourself. Honesty is an attractive quality and there's someone out there who's looking for someone just like you.

Come up with a plan

Before you write you profile, make a list of all the things you want to say. Remember that you need to let people know what you are looking for, what you are like, your interests and hobbies, your age and anything else that you think will encourage people to get in touch. Write a couple of draft profiles and read them through or get someone else to read them so that you can be sure that what you've written makes sense. Only post your profile once you're sure it says everything you want it to.