Tips For New Members

Tips for New Members
It's been a busy few weeks here at mysinglefriend.com central and the site is heaving with new members, which obviously means it's ideal time for finding dates! 

To make sure all of our newest members get the most out of MSF I've compiled a quick reference round-up of all my tips to date.
 
Don't forget you can always ask me for more personal one-to-one advice by contacting the MSFer. 

Photo Do's and Dont's
Primary photo's are the number one attention grabbing tool to your profile for potential dates, so its important to choose the right picture.

-Do smile! 
-Do think about the entire photo, we want to see you, close up and smiley, not your bathroom, ironing board, computer, lampshade or your beloved car.
-Do practise - keep changing your photo until you find one that works.
-Don't use a dark, grey or brown photo. Add colour and light to your profile.
-Don't forget to add some fun secondaries; holiday snaps, picnics in the park or nights out are ideal.
-Don't take the photo yourself (we can tell!). Ask a mate to take some shots for you; the second opinion will be helpful too. 

Good photos:

 Bright & outdoors, great!     A talking point is ideal      Colour is eye-catching

Bad photos:

          Billy no mates                Dull wall, dull face, dull date?         Awful background

Writing Your Profile
When writing your response it's important to avoid generic sentences, as they often devalue what could be an otherwise great profile.

Some examples:

"I like going out and I like staying in."
You are either in or out, surely?

"Well, what can I say"
Please, just say it.

"The cheque's in the post!"
But it isn't, is it.

"I'm happy on the sofa with a DVD and a bottle of wine."
Tell us some other things you like doing. Breathing?

Be original with your response as it's your personality on show and have fun with it!

The Dreaded First Message
Its never easy to be spontaneous, humorous and interesting when you're put on the spot but with these few pointers you'll be well on your way.

-Energy, pace and humour are key when wanting to grab someone's attention.

-Let the recipient know that you've read their profile, this shows you've made an effort and seem genuinely interested. 

-The most important thing is for you to enjoy writing these messages, then the recipient will enjoy reading them. For example: 

Good line:
"I've always been intrigued by a man with a beard. Is it a permanent feature? My mum told me never to trust bearded men, but I've always been a bit of a rebel."

Who could resist replying?

Bad line:
"Bit new to this whole internet dating thing but saw your profile and thought you looked great. Would be great to hear back from you."

Dull.Dull Dull.

Remember, if you don't get a reply to a first message, there is only one antidote... send more mail!

Getting Attention
How do I get more people to send me mail? Well...
- One needs to send mail to receive mail. How else will someone find you?
- I guarantee that sending 10 messages, to 10 members for 10 days will improve your experience. This will get you used to 'throwing' yourself out there, flex your writing muscles and liven up your inbox activity.

Remember to have fun when sending mail, being attentive and enthusiastic will work wonders for your inbox! 

For more dating advice visit www.mysinglefriend.com/blog/tag_advice and to talk to me directly click here.