First thread on here, hopefully some people will find it useful.

1. TALK TO MORE THAN ONE GIRL AT A TIME.
This applies at all levels: sending openers, going through dhv routines, trying to number close or set up dates. As with all kinds of pick up, you can't get emotionally invested and start goofing around. You need to view the people you contact online as pure commodity. It doesn't matter what a girl thinks of you if you flop in real life and it matters even less on the impersonal internet. The point of speaking to more than one girl at a time (ideally 4+) means that you will learn faster, can run different games on them to see what works etc. and, probably most importantly, you won't be that AFC idiot sitting hitting refresh on your inbox waiting for an email from some girl who is speaking to about 80 other guys online.

2. DHV
Every time I write a message (or speak to a girl in real life) all that I'm thinking is DHV. To clarify, this doesn't mean be an arrogant arse. This means make it clear to her that you are busy, don't share all interests. There's nothing worse than pandering to someone and this is the antidote to that bullshit. A good example of DHV is saying that you used to be into something she likes as a kid. This works especially well if you can go on to prove that you know more about it than her (again, do NOT be arrogant). You can do this while being the nicest, friendliest guy in the world. If anything, you're being nicer than the AFCs by not lying to her and trying to schmooze her into sleeping with you. DHV = be yourself, be confident.

3. Escalate
I sometimes have trouble with this myself and have to remind myself to do it. YOU ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A PENPAL. You need to make sure that you don't land yourself in the friend zone by getting too caught up in the dhv game (although she should want you if you dhv right but this can happen). You need to be concious of escalating towards a real life hangout because honestly, meeting online is just the same as number closing in clubs but for busy people. You need to take it to a hangout. ESCALATE