When entering the world of online dating, it’s important to create an attractive profile- after all, your profile is what sells you as a person that someone would want to go out with. When you’re faced with a giant box to put text in, it can be hard to figure out what to say. What do you share? What should you keep to yourself? Is it weird to tell people that I love cheese? All of these questions can run through your head and make creating a profile daunting.

This is especially the case on BDSM dating sites, where people are interested in things that could be considered as taboo. So, if you’re creating a BDSM profile online, here are a few tips to help it be successful and welcoming.

Avoid Weird Usernames

When joining a niche dating sits like BDSM sites, people are often tempted to put their favorite activity or interest into their username. This, although common, might be hindering your profile’s success. If your username mentions something about sex, you could be putting people off of talking to you. As a rule of thumb, if your username is one that is capable of making people blush, don’t use it.

Be Honest

It’s common for people to lie about things like age or location on social networking sites, and this includes dating sites. If you’re looking for a long-term relationship on a BDSM website, remember to be honest about who are you are and what you want out of the website. Don’t trick people into messaging you under the impression that you want something else or that you’re 5 years younger or older.

Only List A Few Kinks or Fetishes

On BDSM websites, it’s tempting to want to list every fetish and interest you have. Here’s some advice, though: don’t. While it’s okay to list a few of your kinks, listing too many can put people off as it can be too much to read, and leaves nothing for you and your possible date to talk about later on. If you feel like you have too many, pick 3 to briefly mention and then move on to another topic.

Have A Good Profile Photo

On any dating site, the profile photo you use is important. It gives people something to base a first impression off of, and shows your personality. When choosing a profile photo, use one that shows you smiling and is well-lit. Also, avoid using group photos as your profile photo as this can confuse potential dates and can make people bypass your profile altogether.

Creating a BDSM profile isn’t much different than creating a standard dating profile is. The major difference comes in in the interests category of the BDSM profile, where, in a standard profile you wouldn’t usually list fetishes but in BDSM profiles, it’s acceptable and encouraged.

To be successful with your profile, remember your manners and be respectful to the people you speak to. Avoid too much sexual talk and don’t lie your way into conversing with people, and you should do okay.