There's no secret to guaranteed success with online, but a British study has shown that there are some tactics that work better than others. They include: being honest; showing a sense of humour; and opting for group photos. The results by researchers from Queen Mary University in London compared the results of 86 published studies by a variety of scientists.
Humour was one of the biggest determinants of success. A profile that shows a person can take a joke left a better impression than simply writing that one has a sense of humour.
Profile photos work best when you're smiling and slightly tilt your head. People like seeing group photos, since they give the impression the subject already has friends and gives a sense about the person's status.
Overly complicated profiles tend not to do well. People told researchers they preferred simple words that are easy to pronounce and remember. Potential surfers also don't like it when others on the service lie, noting that fibs always come back to haunt.