More people are jumping into the online dating pool each year. Rookie mistakes to avoid...

If you’re new to online dating, there are some common mistakes to avoid...

If you’ve been online dating for years, you might want to take some notes. Here are the online dating don’ts from Julie Spira, author of “The Perils of Cyber-Dating:”

• Don’t focus on your life story. Focus on what you’re looking for in a partner and a relationship and what you enjoy doing. 

• Don’t write too much about yourself. Longer profiles often are not read at all. Save the nitty-gritty for the dates.

• Don’t rule out certain types of people in your profile. Doing so will make you seem judgmental and negative, even to the right types.

• Don’t include suggestive photos. Posting sexy, revealing photos is likely to scare off people looking for a relationship, not just a fling. Select photos that make you seem warm, friendly and approachable, not hot and sultry.

• Don’t hide your body: Include at least one photo that gives some indication of your overall body. Men in particular tend not to respond to potential mates if they cannot see a woman’s general shape.

• Don’t include photos of yourself that also include members of the opposite sex. These tend to significantly reduce responses.