Online dating is the best thing to happen to men since Viagra so if you’re online and you’re not scoring big, you’re playing by the wrong rules.

Here are 7 reasons you’re screwing it up and how to overcome your online dating mistakes to find a great girl before your subscription runs out.

1. Form Letters

One of my clients said that he got so few responses that he didn’t see the point in sending personalized messages to women.  He would send out about 20 messages a week and got 1 or 2 replies back.

He was an attractive, successful guy so his response rate should have been easily triple that.

We instead created a template for him to write emails that had more specifics and more personality without reinventing the wheel every time. The next week he sent 10 messages and got 3 responses from great women.

Sometimes less really is more, as long as it’s also of higher quality.

2. Only Looking at Pictures

We know men fall in love using their eyes and women fall in love using their ears but if a woman gets the sense that you’ve only looked at her pictures and have not read her profile, you’re dead in the water.

If her look intrigues you, take the time to read the profile and see what else makes her unique and attractive, and make sure to mention that in your message to her.

3. Searching Too Specific

Throw the restrictions you have about age, height, and weight out the window.  Ultimately they don’t matter if you find her attractive and have common values and interests.  Widen your search criteria and see who catches your eye.

4. The Wait and See Approach

The less active you are online, the less visible you will be to dates.  If you wait to login until you’re notified that you have messages in your inbox rather than being proactive about searching and sending messages on a near daily basis, you are reducing your chances of finding love.

Online dating is an active medium and the more momentum you build, the more dates you will have. Don’t be afraid to start the conversation.

5. Forgetting to Write Back

This is one of the newest online dating mistakes thanks to mobile dating. If you use a mobile app, you might see a profile or message on-the-go that you like but then you let a couple of days go by and it gets buried in your inbox.  The expected response time to a message is 48 hours or less.

If you wait too long to decide to reply, or move the communication to the next level, she may lose interest or be snatched up by another guy.

6. Seeking a Fantasy

Many online daters get the idea that just because the super-hot girl is online she might date you.  By all means, write to the Maxim babe, but don’t overlook the sweet, quirky girl who is more likely to write you back.

7. The Generic Message

The hottest women online get inundated with emails so your message needs to cut through the clutter. Use a clever subject line that makes her think or makes her laugh.  Most women are more turned on by a strong mind and a good sense of humor than a bulging bicep.