Email Madlibs

We’ve put together four customizable emails -- for the bashful, the bold, and everyone in between -- so you can make your introduction the right way.


by Miles Stiverson


Use these templates as a starting point, but be sure to add your own personality to the words. (Just in case the person you're emailing has read this article too!)

You want to come across: Sort of Shy

Hello [ his/her nickname ],

I happened to see your profile on GreatBoyfriends.com. I'm not a pro at this -- both the online dating thing and sending the first email -- but I figured I'd give it a chance. I think we might have a lot in common -- I also enjoy [ similar interest ], and I love [ similar interest ]. Did you [ see a recent movie, read a certain book; something relating to their interests ]? I thought it was [ your opinion ]. What did you think?

Hope to hear from you,

[ Your nickname ]

You want to come across: Reasonably Reserved

Hello [ his/her nickname ],

I'm sort of a newbie to online dating, but your listing really jumped out from the others. I felt compelled to get in touch because I'm also into [ similar interest ], and I spend a lot of my free time doing [ similar interest ]. Speaking of [ similar interest ], there's a great [ recommend a place or thing related to interest ]. By the way, have you ever [ question related to a similar interest ]?

Hope to hear from you soon,

[ Your nickname ]

You want to come across: Cool and Confident

Hi [ his/her nickname ],

I was going through the profiles on GreatBoyfriends.com and something about yours stopped me in my tracks. It wasn't just the fact that we share an interest in [ similar interest ], or that we both [ similar interest ], and it wasn't only your [ great smile, striking eyes ] that made me pause -- I felt I needed to write because you love [ one of his/her more obscure interests, like a love of karate movies or skydiving ]. Honestly, I thought I was the only person in [ your city/state ] who was interested in [ this obscure interest ]. I think we should chat, or else we'll be destined to go through life in [ your city ] alone with our [ obscure interest ], and no one deserves that fate!

Best,

[ Your nickname ]

You want to come across: Bold and Brazen

Hi [ his/her nickname ],

You probably get tons of emails from [ men/women ] saying that they share your interests, and this is another one of those, but only in part. Like you, I love [ similar interest ], and I'm completely obsessed with [ similar interest ]. But there's one thing I've got that no other [ guy/girl ] can offer you: I can [ unique talent ]. Really, have you met another [ guy/girl ] in [ your city ] who can [ unique talent ]? I doubt it, and that's why I had to get in touch. I bet you have some unique talents of your own, and I'd love to hear about them. Think you have me beat?

All the best,

[ Your nickname ]