My mom always said that using honey will attract more flies than vinegar will — but it’ll also attract more bees, making it more likely that you’ll get stung. Today, I’m going to talk about some tips for dating guys and tips for actually attracting something other than insects.

A lot of girls (I even want to coin the term “loosely” with no pun intended) use MySpace, Facebook and other social networking sites to attract guys. Well, one of the biggest tips for dating guys that I’m sure you’re already well aware of is the fact that putting “unflattering” pictures of yourself out there with parts of yourself hanging out there is a bad idea. What’s worse is that if you think by doing that you’ll get more guys who are interested in you, you’re right. But they’re not interested in you for your face. (And what’s more is that most of them won’t be over 18, but anyway…)

I won’t tell you about any horror stories (or just plain ugly) stories about bad MySpace dating and ill-prepared Facebook pictures being spread around.

So, what’s the big point? Just don’t post stupidly nude or near-nude photos on any social networking sites, right?

It’s not that simple. If you are planning on attracting guys and, say you’re lacking those attractive facial features or Babylonian eyeshadow and makeup, then you need to know how to attract the guys! Hence why I want to give you some tips for dating guys on just about every social network.

  1. Make sure your photo is interesting but not “loose.” You need an attractive photo on your profile. Use something that makes guys want to click on your profile but not because you forgot to put your top on. You can use angles or use a professional photo. The best thing I’ve personally found is by putting a photo of you doing something interesting, like playing pool or reading a book. You get the picture. (What’s with all the puns today? Eesh.)
  2. Photos get about 80% of the views on your profile. This only applies to non-friends and non-family views, of course. When you post on an internet forum, what’s the first thing people see? Your posts or your picture? Better yet, what do you think people will remember you from? That’s right, the picture. I can’t stress enough how important an interesting photo is. This is one of the biggest tips for dating guys via social networking that I can simply give.
  3. Your picture gets the introduction, but your actual profile starts the conversation. You know that thing, that ‘profile’  that details everything about you that you were able to fill out when you registered? If you don’t remember it, I suggest that you seriously go fill it out. Right now. While a picture is worth a thousand words, a good profile with your interests and conversely disinterests is worth a good time at dinner instead of a lousy date. The more informed you make the guy who’s interested in your, the more likely you are to found a guy that you like.
  4. Lastly but not leastly, don’t  give up. As Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea taught us all, fishing sure as heck isn’t easy. The same can go for dating. You just need to be active and keep casting that lure to get your chance at the big fish. The right guy is rarely snagged on the first try. Just keep living and trying! If social networking gets you nowhere, you can always check the resources page on this website for more.

That’s it! That’s every single one of my tips for dating guys on Facebook, MySpace and every other odd social network I can come up with. The moral of the story, or rather tips, is that you can’t lower your standards if you want to get a great catch.