In the last decade online dating has become very popular. In the past many people thought that it was a strange way to meet someone, but in today’s technology-obsessed world it is one of the most popular ways to meet someone; according to Bustle, online dating is the second most popular way to meet someone.
That isn’t to say that online dating doesn’t have its pitfalls. One of the main issues is getting a message back; lots of people complain that they feel disheartened sending out messages and not getting a reply. Thankfully this problem is easily solved by sending a memorable, positive first message.
If you’re ready to meet someone special, here is how to send the perfect first message.
1. Avoid Using Physical Compliments
It can be tempting to use a physical compliment when you find someone that you like; after all, you obviously find them attractive if you are messaging them! However it is best to avoid using words like pretty, beautiful and gorgeous, as it can make you seem overly forward. It can also make it seem like you are the kind of person who only looks at pictures, rather than actually reading profiles.
Remember that this is the first time you are talking to the other person, so it is more important to show them that you could have something in common, rather than just acknowledging that they are desirable.
2. Avoid Vague Questions
You want to get a conversation going with the other person, so it may seem counter-intuitive to avoid asking “how are you?” or “what do you do for fun?”. However you should definitely avoid these questions, as it can make it seem like you didn’t read the other person’s profile.
Instead take the time to read their profile, and then send a message that links to something that the other person is actually interested in. For example, you could say “I noticed you are from New York – I lived there for a year when I was studying!”
This strikes up a conversation, which is very handy as it will make the other person think that you could be compatible. If you read through their profile and can’t think of a message, move on to the next profile as it is unlikely that you and the first person have anything in common with each other.
3. Tell A Joke
It can be really helpful to tell a joke or make a light-hearted comment, as this will help to break the ice so that the other person feels relaxed. However it is important to avoid sexual jokes, offensive jokes or overly familiar jokes – remember that you don’t know the person yet so you should be respectful.
Do you have any other tips for writing the perfect first message? Let us know with a comment!
