Tips

Have you been online dating a while? Do you feel like you aren't getting matched with the right people? Are you sending emails that get no responses? Rest assured, it's not you. But there are a few things you can do to help garner more interest online.

Often people think if they post a couple of pictures and answer basic profile questions, and then potential dates will come running. But this isn't the case - for most of us, we have to put in some effort in order to reap the results. So how do you attract more people to you?

Following are a few tips that are often overlooked when creating a profile or sending email messages. If you take the time to do these, you'll see better results:

Tell a story. There is a phrase writers often tell each other when crafting a good story: "show, don't tell." This means, instead of just saying "I like to mountain bike," provide some detail. Talk about your trip to southern California and how you rode through treacherous canyons and encountered snakes or coyotes along the way. You get the point. Tell a story, don't just make a statement. Make it come alive - then you have a conversation starting point.

Send more emails. How many emails should you send to potential dates every week? Five, ten, or twenty? Try fifty. If you aren't getting responses, it's because you aren't reaching enough people. Not everyone is going to respond to your email, no matter how great your profile may be. Be careful to not be generic, though. If you don't have the time to craft a lot of emails, then make the few you do send really count. Read the profiles of your potential dates, and talk about something they mentioned. Make your email stand out.

Have a friend look at your profile. Sometimes we can't be objective when we're trying to sell ourselves. We either think we're bragging, or we don't see ourselves in a clear enough light. Leave it to your friends to help tell you all of your wonderful qualities, or to help steer you away from revealing too much or talking about your ex. They can give you perspective and help you to shine.

Use a catchy subject line in your emails. This is important but overlooked. "Hey what's up?" isn't going to draw attention anymore than a blank subject line. Instead, headline with something she said in her profile. "Scuba diving in Costa Rica?" or "Would love to meet a Dodgers fan" can help in getting your email read.

Avoid the negatives. Maybe you had a bad break-up, or maybe you know exactly what you want to avoid in your next relationship. But your online profile is not the place to communicate it. Focus instead on the things you DO want - your interests, your home life, what you like to do on weekends. It's a new relationship, after all.

Choosing the right picture for your online dating profile is an art form.

Wait a minute, you don't even have a profile picture? Ok, let's start right there: get one. Stat. You're gonna need it.

Here's what you need to know to choose one that brings all the boys (and girls) to the yard:

1. Do take candids. Candid shots that convey less effort tend to get a better response than professionally posed pictures. On average, candids receive 2x the messages that professionally posed photos do.
2. Don't pose in the bathroom. Please, just don't. No one has ever looked good with grout in the background.
3. Do share your passions. Show off your personality in pictures instead of words. Upload shots of you engaging in your favorite hobbies, pastimes, and passions. Action shots lead to 3x the amount of interest and higher quality conversations.
4. Don't do duck face; do do a kissy face. If your lips are parted, people are 5% more likely to be attracted to you. On top of that, women are 32% more likely to be chosen by someone when they pucker their lips into a kissing face instead of just keeping them sealed.
5. Do wear red. Both men and women find those who wear red to be more sexually appealing. Rawr.
6. Do put on a happy face. I don't need to tell you that people aren't looking for angry or sad dates. People are 12% less likely to click on you if your profile picture expresses a negative emotional state.
7. Don't post huge group shots. It just gets confusing. If it's not obvious which one is you, it's not a good choice for your dating profile.
8. Do go for natural light. It's the most flattering, and could make you look as much as 10 years younger.
9. Do remove your glasses. Online daters are 28% less likely to click on your profile if you're wearing glasses in the picture.
10. Ladies: do make eye contact. Making eye contact and flirting directly with the camera gets the best response from potential suitors. Think "Myspace angle."
11. Men: don't make eye contact. Men get better responses when they are staring at something off in the distance with a charismatic smile. Think "I'm too cool for direct camera contact."
12. Do smile! People are 45% more likely to select profile pictures when the subject is smiling.
13. Do find the sweet spot. 3 photos is the ideal number. Profiles with 3 pictures receive up to 85% more messages than profiles with more or fewer.

Good news! We no longer think online dating is reserved only for socially awkward guys who live in their parents' basements and desperate, lonely women who fear they're going to die with 75 cats. And now that it's safe to jump on the online dating bandwagon, the Millennial generation is hopping on in droves.

The Inquisitr sat down with Let's Date CEO Adam Huie to get his advice on dating for the under-30 set. I've already counted down the first 10 things they say 20 year olds need to know about online dating, so here's the second 10:

1. Get your friends involved. We might be the most social generation ever, so why not get our friends involved in our online dating pursuits? Have them review your profile, help you choose dates, or join you on an adventure using a group dating or wingman dating service.
2. This is not Snapchat. I love Snapchat, don't get me wrong, but it's always wise to think twice before sending a scandalous photo. Once it's out there, it's out there for good, and you have no idea where it might end up. If you're ok with that, snap away.
3. Don't give out personal information. We grew up with the Internet, Millennials - we should be well aware of this one. Any identifying information (location, place of work, phone number) does not belong on your online dating profile, and it shouldn't be readily handed out in private messages with other online daters, either.
4. Cheaters need not apply. If it's against the rules of your relationship to have an online dating profile, then don't do it. It's really simple.
5. Be patient. We're used to getting everything instantly, but that's not how relationships work (even the ones that start online). You might find a date right away, but you might not. Online dating is an investment, and if you put the time into it the date will eventually come.
6. Don't say "Hey." Please, for the love of God, do not say "Hey." I can't tell you how many messages I delete that seem to think one word will make me want them. I'll never understand it. You don't need to write a novel, but you definitely need to make some attempt at an actual conversation.
7. Plan. I'm a fan of spontaneity, but one of the nifty things about online dating is that it gives you the chance to form a game plan. Take the opportunity to craft really great messages and creative date ideas.
8. Don't be a "serial dater." You could go on multiple dates every day if you wanted to (especially now that location-based mobile dating is so popular), but please don't. Either you're fishing for free food and drinks, or you're dropping way too much cash buying other people food and drinks.
9. It's not an excuse to be an asshole. We have a bad habit of being rude online because sitting behind a computer screen makes us feel invincible. Don't do it. You are not invincible, you are just a jerk.
10. Delete the app. If you're in a serious, monogamous relationship, it's probably time to take your online dating profile down. Consider it a victory.

Related Article: 10 Things Millennials Need To Know About Online Dating

I was scrolling through my email, clearing my inbox of junk mail, when a headline caught my eye: "20 Things 20 Year Olds Need To Know About Online Dating." I'm 20-something-or-other. I'm involved in online dating. I think we're generally a pretty tech-savvy bunch, but apparently I needed to know whatever bite-sized bits of wisdom The Inquisitr had to share. So I clicked.

These are the first 10 things The Inquisitr, in partnership with Let's Date CEO Adam Huie, thinks Millennials need to know about dating online:

1. It works. Well, I can't argue with that. The percentage of relationships (and marriages) that begin online is increasing all the time, and a recent study found that the divorce/separation rate is lower for couples who meet online than for couples who meet offline.
2. It's cheaper. I guess that depends on what your idea of a date is, but yeah...it definitely can be. A month's worth of nightclub cover charges and drinks bought at bars could easily add up to more than an online dating site's monthly subscription fee.
3. It's fun. If dating - of any kind - isn't fun, you're doing something wrong, but online dating services are going the extra mile to make meeting people easy and enjoyable. "Gamification" is all the rage these days, which is making some dating services feel more like games than matchmaking.
4. The Catfish scenario is not a reality. Eh, The Inquisitr has it half right. Yes, the overwhelming majority of people you meet online are genuine folks who are looking for love just like you are. But that doesn't mean that there aren't any unscrupulous people online. Just keep your wits about you and your BS detector switched on.
5. More the merrier. It sounds like an invitation to an orgy, but what it actually means is that you should try out several dating services. Each offers something different, and you won't know which one suits your goals best until you experiment.
6. It's okay to be curious. Yes! Thanks for including this one, Inquisitr! Online dating sites can be a great place for LGBT young adults to begin exploring their sexuality if they haven't had the chance to do it offline yet.
7. Use your best photo. Is there anyone who didn't already know this? Millennials should be especially equipped to pick a killer picture (as long as we're avoiding the dreaded mirror selfie), since we grew up in the era of Facebook and Instagram.
8. Take the time to fill out your profile. This, on the other hand, we might not be as good at. We like words to come in short, 140 character bursts - a full dating profile might be too intimidating to tackle. Tough luck, Millennials. It needs to be done anyway.
9. Don't lie. I've heard some valid reasons for stretching the truth, but on the whole it's easier not to. And why go the harder route when you can choose an easier one?
10. Spelling counts. I can't emphasize this enough. Text speak is not cute anywhere outside of a text message (and it's hardly even cute there). No one wants to date someone who sounds like they didn't make it out of third grade.

Related Article: 10 More Things Millennials Need To Know About Online Dating (Part II)

I will always be the first to say that I have a pretty sweet gig. I get to read, write, and coach people about relationships every single day, which is exactly what I've always wanted to do. The downside is that I'm also bombarded with online dating tips from other experts and coaches every...single...day...which, if I'm being honest, can get a little boring.

Sometimes I like to mix it up a little. Sometimes I like to hear from people who aren't your average 'dating experts' and 'love coaches.' That's where Damona Hoffman and Sarah Monson come in. They may consider themselves dating experts now, but once upon a time they were toiling away in an entirely different career: Hollywood casting director.

One worked on 'some wildly popular prime-time hits' as well as a few 'pilots that never saw the light of day.' The other took what she learned as a casting director about developing a personal brand for actors and transformed it into advice for online daters.

So what did casting teach these ladies about life and love?

Lesson 1: Guys Are Never As Tall As They Say They Are

Ok, so it's not just guys. There's a lot of white lying going on online, and men and women are both at fault. Subtract a few pounds here, add a couple of inches there...what's the harm, right? There are certainly worse lies you could tell, but the truth is that it's always better to avoid the lies in the first place.

Lesson 2: A First Date Is Just Like a Reality Show Audition, Minus the Background Check

No matter what guidelines you sent out, you still might end up with someone totally different from what you expected. Maybe you'll get lucky, and it'll turn out that what you needed wasn't what you thought you were looking for. But maybe you won't. In that case, you could try ducking all the post-date phone calls, but it's better to be an adult about it. Let them down gently, but be honest and clear about your feelings.

Lesson 3: Most People Have No Idea How To Advertise Who They Are Or What They're Looking For

Think of yourself as a product. Online dating is the release of the premium version of the 'You' product after years of beta testing. Identify your strongest assets, then design a marketing plan for your profile that presents those assets to potential dates. Understand your product inside and out, so you know exactly what's going to make a casting director or future date say "Yes! That's the one!"

Is it just me, or are friends really bad at selling online dating?

First they say "Oh, you should totally try it! Online dating is a great way to meet people!" Then they follow it up with "This one time, this awful thing happened to me..."

They get you all pumped up about online dating only to tear you right back down again with a horror story of a fake profile, creepy message, or incredibly awkward date. And now we've got a constant barrage of warnings coming from the media to contend with (Scams! Con men! Catfish!), too.

With that cloud of negativity hanging in the air, it's a wonder anyone ever ventures to dip a toe in the Internet dating pool. I can't even remember what finally convinced me to do it - I'd just had enough of the crazy rumors and wasn't going to let anything scare me out of it.

I'm glad I took the plunge, because it turns out that there are a lot of totally bogus myths out there, and online dating is actually a lot of fun. If MythBusters tackled online dating, this is what the episode would say:

1. Online dating is not just for 'old people' who are divorced and lonely. Not even close. Online dating these days is an indispensable tool for meeting people from all walks of life. Young, old, middle aged...single, separated, divorced, attached...everyone is logging on to meet romantic partners, casual hookups, and new friends.
2. Online dating isn't just for weirdoes, either. Yeah, you might encounter a weirdo or two (just think of it as added entertainment value when you do), but most of the men and women on dating sites aren't. It's easier than you think to identify the nuttier profiles, and if you look hard enough you might even find someone who's the same kind of weird as you.
3. People who date online aren't just after sex. Maybe you are, and that's ok. There are plenty of sites that cater to casual encounters. But if you're not, don't let those sites scare you away. There are also plenty of people online who are looking for love and long-term relationships. Just be sure to choose a site that's designed for what you're looking for.
4. Meeting someone online isn't embarrassing. Was it cozy beneath that rock you've been living under? It's 2013, and we're totally over the online dating stigma. In fact, I have friends who lied and said they met online because they were too embarrassed by how they actually met (shh...don't tell them I told you). How's that for a switcheroo?

And this is what it looks like when you blow up a computer, because no MythBusters episode is complete without an explosion.