Hints and tips on emailing a prospective date and making sure they email you back.

Use your subject line wisely

Saying 'Hi' in your subject line is not necessarily going to grab their attention in a full in-box. Try picking something from their profile and using it to respond. If they mention they like a particular film then you could make reference to one of the sub-plots, or you could talk about one of their hobbies, especially if it's something you have an interest in.

Consider your greeting and goodbyes

Just saying 'Hi' is casual and friendly and certainly not a bad way to start your email however you might like to consider something a little more adventurous if the profile you are responding to encourages it.

Witty or flattering hellos that are relevant to the picture and/or profile also work nicely. No one is going to be offended by you saying 'Hello Tom Cruise look-alike' and it may just make them smile... a sure fire winner! If they mention their love of The Tempest you could start your email by saying "Are you the beautiful Miranda?" Try not to be too cheesy though!

When saying goodbye you could continue with the theme e.g. "I'll look forward to our next tempest(uous) discussion". It's probably best to avoid relating yourself to a famous person unless you have referred to them already in the text of your message as this can just look arrogant and off-putting.

It's not wrong to research topics prospective dates mention in their profile

If you know something about a topic they express interest in, or even spend ten minutes researching it on the net then that shows an interest which most people would be flattered by.

Don't pretend to be an expert on a topic you know nothing about or express views you don't agree with just to attract someone though as this will always catch you out in the end!