The unknown: First contact

Any battle to be won should be prepared in advance

Luck may favor the bold, but the amount of attempts may discourage many on their route

This may seem like an unimportant step, but it is the first one where the chance to be with the one you want can forever be lost

Finding those that share your interests and are willing to take you are always hard to find, even if you have broad interests and a willingness to go all the way

After viewing a profile of your interest there are things that should stick to your mind

What he is searching for, what common interests you share and those you don’t share, his physical location and your ability to meet him if the opportunity arises

After taking this step it is time to start a conversation

It is preferable to try few approaches, but it is better to do something personalized than to send automatic “same-for-all” messages

I am sure you do not like spam on your mailbox, so try not to go that way

It is quite easy to spot those messages and it is a real turn off

A first message doesn’t need to be a Pulitzer prize, but should show your interest in him

If your offer does not match his (both top or into different scenes for example), you will need to supply a connection point on that conversation as soon as possible

Interest fades quickly, so it is better to hit it while hot

As a general rule, there should be reciprocity in the amount of exposure that one should do, independently of the role played

A name for a name, a face for a face, objectives for objectives

In my game, I discard any person that by the second message iteration after I present my name and face does not do the same

That just means there is no interest in proceeding

Another turn-off comes from forgetfulness

Not being able to remember the place where the conversation ended is a bad trade

The first messages should be used for presentation purposes, to build a connecting bridge between players

After that, work should be done to strengthen and widen it, step by step

Going too quickly or too slow will make the catch fly away

Being able to find that balance takes practice

But unless you take the chance you will never achieve what you proposed yourself to do.

So give it a shot when ready