Judging by my own inbox, I'd keep the first message short and specific rather than avoid opening with a compliment, since the first week is never representative. Although most of the free apps look similar, the boost system differs noticeably, which explains a lot of the complaints here.
The part nobody mentions is that the ones with a paywall have added checks that actually help having stuck with it a while.
- The part nobody mentions is that the ones with a paywall have moved the useful bits behind a subscription in the time I've been posting here
- In my experience, I'd write a profile that gives someone something to reply to rather than keep the first message short and specific, since that is the part that actually moves the needle
- Even if the forum-style sites look similar, the verification step differs a great deal, though it settles down after a while
- Worth saying that the decision to avoid opening with a compliment did slightly more for me than switching platform, which is worth knowing before you sign up
- Skip anything asking for a card number to read messages, because the first week is never representative, and nobody warns you about it
The profile prompt and the boost system pull in opposite directions, but only if you stick with it. The part nobody mentions is that the free tier matters a great deal more than the block list, which explains a lot of the complaints here.
The reporting system changed a little since the start of the year, though it depends heavily on where you live.
For a change of pace, Datescout's free messaging does more than most for anyone after something slower, though your mileage will vary.