eHarmony Blog.com

(Note to regular readers: this list of strategies is “sticky-on-top” until the end of the FCW. If you’re on the blog’s front page, please find the latest article below this one.)

For Non-subscribers

1. Register on the site and finish the questionnaire a few days beforehand. Receiving matches is free but eHarmony only sends a limited number of matches a day, so give your account several days before the FCW to accumulate matches. When the events starts, you’ll have more choices than if you’ve just come in.
2. Upload your best photos. You will get more replies and less closures.
3. Never post your contact information (email or web addresses) on your profile. Or say you’re just here for the weekend. Trust me, it attracts no quality replies. Plus, it may trigger the system’s scanners which automatically takes you out of the matching pool.
4. Review all your matches and initiate communication with EVERYONE, unless his profile screams that you two aren’t compatible. Nudge those whom you communicated before and would be interested in resuming communication, if any.
5. Be prepared to visit eHarmony several times a day until the end of the Free Weekend. You will get an email when someone replies, but this email could be hours late, so return often! Some stages of the so-called Guided Commmunication requires lengthy answers, be prepared to put time into answering them.
6. Know the end of the Free Weekend. Will it end Sunday or Monday? 11:59pm PST is what time where you are?
7. Give them the easiest questions among the list. You can sort things out later. You may not want your match getting stuck answering a tough question that you sent.
8. Immediately after you sense that he is interested, in one message (a) write that you’re only in eHarmony for the free weekend, (b) give your email address (or phone number), and (c) write that you look forward to hearing from him.
9. Running out of time? Give out your email address and say you look forward to hearing from him. Then cross your fingers.
10. And the MOST IMPORTANT tip. If you’re given an email address, write! If you’re given a phone number, CALL! (You did come here to meet people, right?)

For Subscribers

1. Follow everything in the previous section. Yes, all these tips apply also to you.
2. Turn matching on as soon as possible.
3. Many profiles you receive won’t have photos and complete answers. You have to understand that typically these members have just finished the questionnaire.
4. You will receive double-digit new matches during the FCW. This article explains why.
5. Focus on those who start responding or initiate during the weekend. They will be the most responsive, because they know their free time ends soon. Next, focus on the new matches you received during the event; see the previous item why.
6. DO NOT FASTTRACK ANYONE. (FastTrack is now called “Skip to Email”.) Non-subscribers cannot accept or reject FastTrack even during free weekends. You do not want the communication stuck.
7. DO NOT PHOTO NUDGE ANYONE. Non-subscribers cannot see photos, so they will be unmotivated and confused if you ask them for photos.
8. Nudge those whom you communicated before and would be interested in resuming communication, if any. Many members use FCW for spring-cleaning. If matches don’t reply during free weekends, they say, then they won’t reply ever. Good point, but what if they were busy this weekend?
9. Give them the easiest questions among the list. Remember that many people begin their foray to online dating with eHarmony and YOU will be among the first to welcome them.
10. Aim to bring your match to full Open Communication before the weekend ends. By full OC, I mean that both have sent at least one OC message. After this stage, you see, you can send him as many messages as you want and he will still be able to read them.

Got more tips and tricks? Got stories about the free weekend? Post a comment.