Give Good App

My flatmate's boyfriend, who asked to be referred to by his stage name, "Bruschetta Veuve Clicquot," insisted that it's all about engagement on the apps, and don't be afraid to make it weird. Clicquot explains, "Any content can be made funny or personal. Compulsively make jokes until they're so bought in, they have to go on a date. By the time you bring it up, they're having such a good time they've already said yes in their head." Perhaps he's onto something, it worked on my roommate.

In that same vein, put something unique in your profile that the other person can work with. If you love your friends and family, that's great, but what's the other person supposed to say to that? Something about you that is just a little weird provides excellent fodder for conversation. Stuff like "I go ape sh*t for a good sunset" or "I still watch Boy Meets World reruns" are just nerdy enough to also be endearing and excellent conversation starters, according to a guy I recently went on a handful of dates with.

That Second Message Tho

When it comes to back and forth exchanges, there are many reasons you might fall off someone's radar. The good news is, According to data collected from Hinge [6] sending a second message can re-engage that person more often than not. Here are a few of the highest quality re-engaging texts I've come across from the guys:

• "This is so us, me doing all the talking and you just sitting there looking cute." Flattery. If it doesn't work, at the very least the recipient of this will smile.
• "Woah weird autocorrect! I meant, 'would you like to get a drink on Thursday?'" Whatever question you asked or topic raised didn't land, so throw a Hail Mary, what have you got to lose?
• "I think I just saw you. Are you in my neighbourhood right now?" Make them wonder if they almost just met you IRL.

Dating Data Collection

"Gather as much data as you can right away," said an economist I used to work with. This brilliant advice came when I was debating bringing a new man I was dating to my work Christmas party. "It's a waste of time to wait and see how someone interacts with your friends, family, coworkers etc.," he explained over lunch. "As soon as you know you like someone, find out how they are in fancy situations, in nature, in dive bars, and anywhere else you like to go. Data collection should happen fast so you don't string someone along longer than you need to."

My friend Ryan likes to do this to the extreme by getting into the nitty-gritty topics like politics, religion, and sexuality on first dates. "Off limits? More like required discussion," says Ryan. "On a first date, I liked to bring up typically taboo subjects like religion, politics, mental illness, toilet humour, racism, drug use, periods, etc. to see how they react. Sometimes it scares women off, but sometimes you have a better connection with someone who's willing to get into things right away." To be clear, this would never ever work with me, but it did for Ryan. He's currently dating someone who was willing to talk about poo with a stranger.

Creative Date Ideas

"Do something crazy like fly fishing," said a guy I went on three dates with who asked to be referred to as, "no comment." (Not everyone is comfortable dating a writer.) His point was that you should pick something unusual that you like to do, and see if there's a stranger out there willing to do it with you. Everyone can go out for a cocktail, but suggesting something you like to do will at least ensure one of you has a good time.

"Best third date ever is finger-painting," according to someone on my trivia team. After you've done a first date drinks and second date dinner, mix it up with something that's fun, tactile, and most importantly, unexpected. Apparently, this move is a good one to repeat regularly because at worst it's a fairly inexpensive way to fill your home with original art and at best it could lead to a fourth date.

Long distance dating? Find something you can do together that you can work on separately. "My boyfriend and I trained for a half marathon together when we lived in different cities," said a longtime cohort of mine. It gave them something to talk about on the phone and a shared goal that they could feel great about completing together. When it came time for the race, I won't share who beat whom, but let's just say the boyfriend-now-husband likes to gloat about this dating tip all the time.

Be Better

You'd be surprised how low the bar is. When I asked guys for their most creative tips, it took longer than expected to gather what I just shared. When I realised it would be tough, I asked the ladies in my circle about the best things guys had ever done on dates and the responses were bleak. Here's a brief list of what the incredibly smart and talented women I surround myself with recalled as some of the "best" things from men on dates:

• Made plans and stuck to them (That's right, the best thing a guy has ever done is show up)
• Asked me about me instead of babbling about himself all night (also known as human decency)
• A subtle touch when things were going well. A brush against a shoulder after a joke or a light stroke on the hand can go a long way (note that's desired physical contact)
• Remembered something random I mentioned off-hand and then turned that into a date (so . . . listened)
• I'm drawing a blank (exactly)

The dating tip of this section is: realise how low the bar is and be man enough to rise far above it.

In general, dating isn't about finding as many people to like you as possible, it's the one with whom the interest is the most mutual. With that said, don't be afraid to be a little quirky and communicative right off the bat. And don't forget your manners. Raise that bar and good luck out there.