Not having a lot of luck in the online-dating game? You may be sabotaging your dating chances. There are a lot of things that you can do that will make other singles pass you by. A few ways people tank their dating chances:

Copying and pasting the same intro message.

If you send the same introduction to every person you contact, you’ll probably get very few results. A message like that will inherently be more about you than it is about him, which makes you look like you are not interested in him as a person. Write a message specifically for every person, and you’ll increase your online dating success.

Filling your profile with clichés.

Don’t bother writing that you love to laugh and that you’re a great guy to be around. Everyone thinks that about themselves, so, you are not revealing anything about who you really are. Focus on your unique qualities that make you worth knowing.

Focusing on one person.

If you decide that someone is The One from the first second that you see her profile photo, you are dooming yourself to failure. Look at scores of profiles, message a  couple dozen, have a few different in-person meet-ups. It’s impossible to know whether someone will be interested in you, or whether, one you meet, you’ll like them. But exploring a few options, you increase your chances of meeting someone.

Picking bad pictures.

Don’t use photos that are obviously old. Don’t use ones that are not flattering. Do not use ones that show you with an attractive person of the opposite sex. These are all going to make eligible singles who look at your profile decide to give you a pass. Grab a friend and a camera and take some attractive photos specifically for your online dating profile.

Waiting too long to meet in person.

If you chat online for weeks or months, you risk losing out to someone who moves more quickly. You should try to meet in person as soon as you both feel comfortable. You won’t know until you are in the same place whether you are a good match. If he or she is happy enough chatting with you, chances are they will want to meet. Go ahead and take the plunge, and find out whether this person is the right one for you.