Compliment them Paying them a compliment will show that you admire certain qualities about them. Look at their profile and their pictures and be honest about what you find most appealing. Examples: “I’m not sure if anyone’s told you this before, but your eyes are absolutely captivating.” “Looking at your profile pic, your smile made me smile! What caused such a lovely grin?” Talk about shared interests Let them know that you took the time to read their full profile. Mention any shared interests to show that you’re compatible. Examples: “I’m a bookworm too, who are your top 3 favorite writers?” “Hey, I recognized Izzie Farms’ vegan beet-ball pizza in one of your photos—I’m also a huge (plant-based) foodie. Have you tried their gnocchi pomodoro?” Ask an intriguing question Open-ended questions will start a conversation, are more memorable, and far more likely to get a response than a simple “Hey” or “What’s up?” Examples: “I see you like to travel… what’s the most memorable place you’ve ever been and what about it was so special?” “How long do you think you’d last in a zombie apocalypse and what’s the first thing you’d do?” Ask either/or questions Ask a unique this-or-that question to highlight your sense of humor or show depth. Examples: “Serious question for you, which is the best discovery: avocados or Amazon?” “If you could solve a major worldwide problem, would you rather end hunger or hatred?” Crack a joke Look at their bio and photos to figure out what kind of humor they might appreciate and crack a silly/cheesy/punny joke. Examples: “You seem like you like bad boys. I’m bad at everything!” “If you were a triangle you'd be acute one.” Comment on one of their photos People’s photos on dating sites are often more telling than their profile. If they have a sparse bio section, refer to their photos and go from there. “I love wakeboarding, especially at Orchard Lake. Where was that picture taken?” “Hey there, I dig the monkey suit. Was this a casual Tuesday or a special occasion?” Suggest meeting up It’s simple and cuts right to the point. Afterall, that’s what dating sites are for! Examples: “You seem interesting and I’d like to get to know you in person. May I buy you a coffee this weekend?” “My first impression is that we’d get along really well. Want to test this theory with a date?”