No matter what kind of relationship you want, there will be a dating site to suit your needs. This means you can look for your perfect partner at any time of the day or night.

Online dating is particularly good if you’re a little nervous about finding a love match. It’s easier to reach out to potential partners online than in real life, but it can still be slightly nerve-wracking while you get to know each other.

The good news is that you’re not the first person to find it all a little overwhelming. There are plenty of effective hacks you can use to break the ice easily and move the relationship onto the next level. Here’s what you should know.

#1: Tailored Approach

Your approach will need to mirror the kind of relationship that you’re looking for. This means that you’ll need to consider the type of dating site you’re on, and what your potential partner will be looking for.

As an example, if you’ve searched for “find a hook-up near me” you can afford to be a little cheekier and more direct. On these kinds of apps, people will be looking to make quick connections rather than spending months getting to know each other.

Conversely, if you’ve searched for “find local partners for marriage” you might want to take things a little slower, and focus on romance. For long-term love, you’re less likely to meet up quickly and will probably want to get to know each other in more depth first.

#2: Hello is Never Enough

If you’re short on time, don’t rush your first opener. It might be tempting to send a quick message that just says “hey”, but that single word could blow your chances completely.

No matter what kind of relationship people are looking for, no one wants to feel as if they’re not worth the effort. A short, generic message that could be sent to hundreds of people is likely to end up in the bin.

If you really don’t have time to craft a personal message, then you’d be better waiting until later to make contact. It’s unlikely that your dream date will suddenly become unavailable in just a few hours, so it’s better to wait until you have the time to send a thoughtful message that will make them sit up and take notice.

#3: Focus on Shared Interests

If you’re struggling to know how to approach someone, take some time to look through their dating profile. The bio of a person can be very revealing, and can help you to decide whether you’d be a good fit.

Don’t be afraid to mention any interests on their profile. It won’t seem weird or stalker-like because that’s the whole reason that bios exist! The other person will be flattered that you took the time to find out about them properly, rather than just sending out a generic greeting (see #2 above!)

If there are any local events which match your shared interests, this can be a good opener. For example, a spooky event at Halloween or a cosy Christmas experience could be an excellent first date!

#4: Ask Novelty Questions

If you find traditional dating questions boring, don’t be afraid to try something completely different. You’ll grab the attention of the person you’re messaging, and you might just get an unexpected response.

The only limit to novelty questions is your imagination, so feel free to be as creative as you like. However, make sure you consider the unspoken message you might be conveying - for example, if you’re not looking for a hook-up don’t opt for question 5 on our list below!

Possible suggestions for ice-breaker questions to use include:

1. Rank these Christmas movies from best to worst (list five Christmas movies that you’ve seen)

2. Would you rather live in the desert or in an igloo?

3. What TV show are you embarrassed to admit that you watch (maybe add yours to demonstrate it’s a two-way thing!)

4. Which animal do you wish you could talk to, and why?

5. What’s the last photo you took on your phone? (Be careful as you could receive explicit photos in response!)

6. What’s your favourite pizza topping?

#5: Use Humour

Be unique by making your match laugh with a funny ice-breaker message. You don’t need to be a stand-up comedian, but a humorous opener could get you instantly noticed.

Opt for a conventional “knock-knock” joke for a cheesy yet appealing ice-breaker, or even better, a personalised joke based on their bio.

Being funny is not the same as mocking a person, so don’t insult them or be offensive. Puns, silly questions, jokes, or gentle humour can all be very effective. Be original without trying too hard to be edgy and see what response you receive!

Get Started!

Been postponing sending that first message on the dating website? Now there’s no need to hang around! Our five tips listed above give you all the necessary tools to enjoy success on any type of dating site.

Remember, it doesn’t matter if you don’t get a reply the first time; the dating pool is huge! Keep using techniques that you know will work and the replies will quickly start to come flooding in!