If, try as you might, you can’t get a lady interested enough to wink on match.com instead of writing messages, and there’s a special woman you’re set on contacting, I’ve got a tip for you. Nothing I’ve found works better than “the one-line hook.” This is a one-sentence question that is relevant to something in the profile that interests you, that “hooks” your target into responding.

Remember, when you are making first contact, you have one goal, and that is to get a response, which will show that she is, in fact, also interested in you (while also helping build that interest), and ready to get a follow-up message, and eventually go on a date.

Some one-line hooks that have worked for me include: Continue reading ‘Online Dating Messages: The One-Line Hook’ »

Personally, I don’t pay a great deal of attention to a screenname on an online profile, but according to one study choosing the right screenname is important. Turns out that names like “fun2bewith” or “imsweet” tended to rank highly. But watch out, guys – don’t get too cute. Women were weary of names that were too flirtatious, while names that suggested a guy was well-cultured did alright.

What’s my recommendation? One of the most important goals of your online profile is to provide little conversation nuggets for when you finally do meet your dream woman. Sure, one of the other goals is to get her interested, but these things go hand in hand. So, I recommend going with something very personal or specific, and have a story ready for that inevitable question of what it means.

For example, let’s say you choose the screenname ”tratdigiorno,” because there was a romantic trattoria that you used to walk by when you were 12 years old, and when you looked at it, you thought to yourself “some day I’d like to take a gal there.” Boom – you have a screenname that is mysterious, original, personal, and with a great story to go along with it – and ultimately memorable. Pick your own, real story and screenname, though :) Some other things that may inspire your winning screenname may be literary or movie characters, food, influential people in your life, etc.. Whatever it is, the important traits are that it is specific/personal, and that it has a good story to go along with it, and that it’s all real.

Link via: The Dating Weblog