First and most important...Be Polite! If they change their mind about you then move on and don't send further messages. Treat everyone as you would wish to be treated!
For your own comfort level, get a web email account and do not use your own ISP email for dating services. Hotmail and Yahoo have free email account which you do not need to use you real name and info. Make sure that you do not set these on a filter since you will not get your email and it will be in your JUNK box instead of your inbox. Using you ISP is not smart on the internet since you can be easily traced and found if they are not the sort you wish to really be meeting. So get a web email account for all dating purposes.
Content...simplicity, but informative. Leave your past and anything negative from your emails. You do want to meet them, don't you? Be honest though and just leave some information for the first meeting. Keep it simple! Be careful since sometimes your jokes and sarcasm may not come across every well in an email. Save them for phone conversations or instant messenger. Leave off sex talk since that can also be protrayed not the way you wish it to be and might just cost you a date.
Just think about your emails as a window into your life for them to see where they might fit in. What things you might have in common. It is safe to talk about family, your favorite things to do and see, what you like to do regularly and what you do for work. Leave religion and politics to when you are at a comfort level with each other.
Include a current photo of you, not anything or anyone else, just YOU. You should share with each other full body shots and a nice close up of your face. As you get to know each other then share pictures of family if you are at that comfort level.
Check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation with your Word program or use a email program such as Eudora which has a spell check. To the Men: women do take off points if your spelling and grammar is poor. You should know by now women are very detailed orientated. They will even remember what you wore on that first date!
To the Women: Allow the guys a break and if you are interested speak with them on the phone before you say no way. Most men are not the best with emailing and are more comfortable on instant messenger or the phone.
Talk to them, ask questions and relax be yourself. Move to the phone after 2-5 emails since a lot does get lost in emails. Plus you will be more comfortable when you actually hear them speak and then you will be ready to meet!
