DENVER -- If you've ever tried online dating, you probably know that one of the first things people notice is the photo. But are you truly showing yourself at your best?

Sure, even a bad picture is better than no picture, since statistics show that both men and women are about nine times more likely to click on a profile with a photo than one without, but a bad picture might get you the wrong type of responses.

So if you're going to take some thought in writing up a profile, why not give the same amount of effort with your picture profile?

There are definitely some cardinal rules to follow when it comes to selecting which photograph to post. First, don't wear a hat or sunglasses. Men tend to do this a lot. Are they hiding their bald spot, their oddly-shaped heads or are they in the witness protection program? Both women and men like to see what they're getting, instead of the person behind door No. 2, so toss the sunglasses and your favorite baseball cap.

Also, try to avoid using pictures of you and other people. What if the other person you're pictured with is the one who is more attractive? You don't want attention drawn away from you. Even if you crop them out, or photoshop a big arrow over your head, this won't work and tends to look tacky.

When selecting a picture to post, don't use pictures that are taken from far away or are too blurry, you'll just end up looking like a blob, or at the least, a person with something to hide.

Even though it is superficial, pictures are such an important part of making first contact that there are even companies you can hire just to do head shots for online ads. Look BetterOnline.com sets you up with a professional photographer in your area.

The cost is around $130 but some of the online "testimonials" show that customers think it's worth the investment because they received better responses with better photos.

There are also sites that help you dress up your written profile too, if you need help in that department. E-Cyrano has writers that can help revise your brief essay so you can set yourself apart from the crowd. Even if you don't want to pay someone to be more clever with your words, take a look at their essay samples. That could help pump up your creative juices.

To some, this may sound like a lot of effort but if you're going to take online dating seriously, you'll have to get a bit more serious with your picture and your profile.