In our previous article, Top 3 Tips for Creating a Strong Adoption Profile, we discussed being genuine, using fantastic photographs and captions, and telling stories instead of listing facts. In this article we will explore some of our more subtle recommendations.
Before we jump to the suggestions, take 2 minutes and think about what you like and dislike about the following adoption profile introductory paragraph. We provide our own analysis at the end of this article.
Now that you have your own opinions about what works and what doesn’t work, let’s explore ways to strengthen an adoption profile.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. That is why you must create an outstanding adoption profile.
Our online course, The WHAT and HOW of Adoption Profiles, is a MUST for anyone who is serious about creating a profile that stands out. The suggestions below are a small sample of what you’ll learn in this course.
In addition to our course, we would also be happy to review your current profile or help you create and design it from scratch.
Do Not Use the “Dear Birthmother” Salutation
There are two main reasons for this. First, a woman is not a birth mother until she makes an adoption plan and an expectant woman who is reading your profile has not yet made that choice. Some may resent the assumption and the label, so why use it?
The second reason for using another salutation is that “Dear Birthmother” excludes the expectant father and other people who can influence the adoption decision, such as the expectant woman’s mother. Simply use “Hello” or “Welcome” or even nothing at all.
Express Common Feelings in a Unique Way
“Respect,” “Courage,” and “Admire” are overused in adoption profiles and when expectant parents are reading through several at a time, the words start to seem disingenuous. It is more powerful to SHOW your respect and admiration in your profile and avoid simply stating it.
Remember the Expectant Parents’ Perspective
The purpose of adoption for expectant parents is to find just the right family for their baby. This sounds like common sense, but many adopting parents believe that adoption is entirely about finding a child for themselves. Read Separate Your History From Their Present to better understand this point. The more you can deeply understand the expectant parents’ perspective, the stronger your profile and the better you will communicate with potential birth parents.
So putting these suggestions to use, below is the same introductory paragraph that we introduced above with our red-lined recommended changes. Notice how some of the suggestions above can manifest themselves in profiles.
Your adoption profile is incredibly important.
Do everything you can to put your best foot forward.
