Choosing a username: 5 dos and don'ts
As a woman named Randy, I've nursed a lifelong mix of resentment and bewilderment at my parents' inept choice of moniker for their firstborn. I'm not alone; lots of us would be going by a different name if we'd had a voice in the process. And yet on Match.com, where we finally do get a chance to name ourselves, our imaginations too often get caught napping.
Here we have a perfectly good chance to show off some aspect of ourselves that makes us particularly attractive matches — and too often, we blow it. To spice your profile up a bit, consider these tips for choosing a more alluring username:
1. Don't go by the numbers
With millions of singles dating online, combinations of your real first name and your birthday or zip code won't set you apart. They may even lead to mismatches when, say, the person who got a wink from Sam10023 accidentally checks out the profile of Sam11023.
2. Do play on your personality
Got a passion? Play it up! Or work some endearing characteristic of yours into your name. True, you won't be the only person to reference skiing, music, classic films, foreign travel or motorcycles in your username — but your name will spark a sense of instant identification for anyone who is keyword searching for members with common interests.
3. Don't oversell yourself
This is especially true when you're talking about your physical attractiveness. A username (or free profile) that is overloaded with talk about how phenomenally gorgeous or sexy you are is less apt to attract interest than it is to come across as a display of egotism or deceit. The idea here is to find people to date, not to be so intimidating that no one will ever want to ask you out.
4. Do remember the rules
Match.com reviews all usernames for approval. The guidelines for profile content, including usernames, prohibit abusive language, vulgarity, any direct contact information and more. Those rules are in place for your protection, so don't mess with them. Besides, savvy online daters know the advantages of maintaining anonymity until it's appropriate to reveal your identity.
5. Don't give up
If the name you really want is taken, be creative. It's easy to change "DatingDiva" to "DivaOfDating." Finding the perfect name is like finding your perfect match: It's worth the effort!
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