Quotations by Laurie Davis

HowAboutWe's no-fail formula for a great first date: 1 part alcohol + 1 part activity + 1 part specific location. For example, suggest playing Ping-Pong and enjoying a craft beer at the Standard Hotel's outdoor beer garden with your match. [2013] - Laurie Davis

When I was online dating, I used to text my date when I was almost there with a description of my outfit. This typically sparked a response about his outfit and would allow us to find each other seamlessly. [2013] - Laurie Davis

Meeting for the first time can be awkward. Whether you're a lady or a gent, take the initiative and go in for a hug. It starts the vibe off on the right foot. Avoid common phrases like "Nice to meet you," unless your match says them first. Sitting next to each other will enhance the likelihood that sparks will fly, so perch on a couple of barstools, lounge on a couch, or share the same side of a booth. Try to avoid sitting across from each other at a table, if possible. [2013] - Laurie Davis

Messaging through the site after meeting can be unpredictable. It's better placement to ping his or her phone, either with a call or a text. [2013] - Laurie Davis

Once you've had your first date, singles--especially women--prefer being asked out in a more personal way. Guys, when you're ready to ask your match out again, call to show genuine interest. She'll appreciate the extended gesture. But ladies, if he doesn't make plans, don't fret. As long as he continues to communicate with you, he's interested. [2013] - Laurie Davis

Here are some innovative genres that are currently all the digi-date rage: 1) Group-dating sites. 2) Daily curations. 3) Friend of a friend. 4) Social connect. 5) Facial recognition. 6) Offline events from online sites. 7) Virtual speed-dating. 8) Calling cards. 9) Social-media-inspired layout.  [2013] - Laurie Davis

Nerve.com allows you to reply directly to "shares" (similar to Facebook status updates) for specific questions, such as "What did you do last night?" Research shows that users are 44 percent more likely to receive a response if they write to someone based on a "share" than if they had sent a message without context. [2013] - Laurie Davis

The popularity of location-based mobile dating apps--technology that allows you to find and meet matches nearby--is growing rapidly: MeetMoi is a social introduction app that auto-intros you to new matches while you go about your day. MeetMoi sees the most user activity on Wednesdays from six to seven P.M. eastern. Badoo is a social network centered around meeting new people rather than connecting with acquaintances. [2013] - Laurie Davis

Some dating sites give mobile users app-exclusive functions. For example, the HowAboutWe app connects to the Foursquare API, making it simple to search for date spots in your vicinity. [2013] - Laurie Davis