What Works On Plenty Of Fish (Images)

style="color: #ff0000;">Warning: Today’s post exceeds the ADHD reccomended total word count by about 2000 words. Take your meds before you scroll down.

Today I have with me the Professor in Plentyoffishology, Tom “Ain’t No Thang” Fang from  href="http://www.ipyxel.com/">iPyxel Creations.

Tom has been licking POF chops for the past two years. He has made this happen by taking a very structured/methodical approach to his POF campaigns.

The one mistake I see with people starting out on Plenty of Fish dating campaigns is they nearly ALWAYS go straight for plain professional images of good looking people…

Tom is about to show you what works, what doesn’t and most importantly why.

style="color: #0000ff;">Tom: Today I’m going to share a lot of dating images that I use or have used in the past on POF. As many WILL probably copy these images and run them until the cows come home, I cannot guarantee that these will be profitable for you.

style="color: #008000;">Mr Green: My readers would never do such a thing! Right guys??

style="color: #0000ff;">Tom: We will see…However, I do know,  that these concepts are tried and true. So take some notes and get some inspiration or use it as review for what you already know. Hopefully, this will give you all a solid overview of what generally works and what doesn’t on POF.

What kind of images work on POF?

style="text-decoration: underline;">Amateur Photos:

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3865" title="pof-amateur" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-amateur.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

This has probably been drilled into your head a million times, but it’s true! Amateur photos kill it on POF. Let’s face it, users of POF are on average less sophisticated than most other dating sites. If you put an amateur photo in front of them, they actually think that they might have the chance to date this person. So, find images that look like someone took the picture on their 3-megapixel camera for use as their profile picture.

style="text-decoration: underline;">People Holding Up Cameras

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3864" title="pof-cameras" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-cameras.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

This is an extension of the amateur photos theme. This type of MySpace-esque profile shots completely validates the amateur nature of the images. No, it’s not attractive that these people decide that this is the only way to get a good picture of themselves, but it makes the person undeniably real.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Calling Out Ethnicity/Religion/Other Attributes

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3863" title="pof-ethnicity" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-ethnicity.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Calling out user attributes is a tried and true tactic that still works and will continue to work. The great thing about POF is the ability to target so many niches. So in addition to calling out user attributes via your copy, you should also call them out via your images. It makes a HUGE difference when you are targeting Muslims and you have girls to match your message.

Remember that even though people have different beliefs, human nature is more or less the same. That is, Christian and non-Christian girls all want muscular dudes! Having a cross on who could be a heathen can automatically brand her as Christian (but with all the other bells and whistles).

style="text-decoration: underline;">Drawings and White space

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3862" title="pof-drawing" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-drawing.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Never underestimate the power of whitespace: another principle that’s been said a ton of times yet extremely crowded ads still run rampant. Drawings like this tend to do very well on POF. I think the main reason is that it is SO different from the other ads. Drawings are also non-threatening and friendly. People tend to trust it more. Pair this alongside copy that’s written in a similar style will yield great results.

What works specifically for females?

style="text-decoration: underline;">Muscles

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3861" title="pof-muscles" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-muscles.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Ask any woman whether they want a hunk or a fat dude. Well, don’t even ask; it’s common sense. Muscular guys generally do better than not. The key is the six-pack!

style="text-decoration: underline;">Uniforms

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3860" title="pof-uniforms" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-uniforms.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

No doubt you’ve heard of this one, probably because it works. Women are less drawn to the physical attribute of men. Yes, they like muscles, but it’s not the actual muscles that they like. It’s the vibe that the guy carries. It says something about his personality and lifestyle. Women are drawn to fantasies and ideas. When you sell them a specific idea such as a military man, you are taking advantage of all of the positive externalities that are associated with that uniform.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Tattoos

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3859" title="pof-tattoo" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-tattoo.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Tattoos often do well with the younger crowd. They do well because the tattoos designate these guys badass. Women like guys who are confident, expressive, and don’t give a shit. Tattoos say all of that and more. These guys certainly don’t look like they’re going to be finishing last.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Couples

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3858" title="pof-couples" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-couples.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Images of couples have worked great for me targeting women, whether it’s out of admiration, jealousy, familiarity, comfort, or just because it’s different from most images. These images are saying “this is what you could have.” I think they work especially well for the older crowd as serious relationships are what they look for typically. Better yet, target relationships with them.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Pets and Babies

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3857" title="pof-babies" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-babies.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Pets and babies can really increase comfort as well. It says that this guy is not a bad guy. It says that this guy has responsibilities and cares for someone other than himself. The alternative guys with babies have worked pretty well since you’re capturing both the good and badass sides of the guy.

style="color: #008000;">Mr Green: Baby pets must kill it!..Possibly pet babies (a.k.a babies on leashes)

style="text-decoration: underline;">Confidence

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3856" title="pof-confidence" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-confidence.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

This should be more common sense here: get images of guys who look like they believe in themselves and seem to have their shit together.

What works specifically for males?

style="text-decoration: underline;">Curvy Women and Large Breasts

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3855" title="pof-breasts" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-breasts.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

News flash: the guys on POF only have ONE thing on their mind when they’re surfing, and that’s sex. What will get them to click the most is sex, so you must sell sex. Men are incredibly visual creatures, so what will attract their attention are butts, breasts, and a flirty look.

While these women might not be the kind of women the guys would want to date or marry, they do catch their attention because in the world of instant gratification, they are the ones they would want to take home for a night. Large breasts do particularly well. As a matter of fact, if the breasts look like they are disproportionately too big for her, you probably found a winner.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Emo Chicks

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3854" title="pof-emo" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-emo.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Images of alternative people seem to do well in general on POF. I have a few campaigns that run exclusively emo girls, and do surprisingly well. I didn’t really think people would be big fans of it since I’m not myself, but something about them makes people want to click. Of course, you need the appropriate copy to go with it.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Girls in Glasses

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3853" title="pof-glasses" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-glasses.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Everyone likes a nerdy hot gal. Something about the glasses makes them seem more easily approachable. Models also typically do not wear glasses, so the images come off as more amateurish and real.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Women in Sleepwear

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3852" title="pof-sleepwear" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-sleepwear.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Photos taken on the bed or what seems to be what the girl sleeps in or lounges in have done well for me. It has to do with the fact that it associates sleeping, with sensuality. The guys must be thinking: “Well, she’s already there. All I have to do is show up!”

style="text-decoration: underline;">Cougars

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3851" title="pof-cougers" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-cougers.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />This is a pretty common fantasy, and it works pretty well on POF. It works well enough on POF that young guys are seeing a lot of these ads already. They work well because there’s a notion that if an older woman wants to date, she obviously doesn’t want to get into a serious relationship. It really gets the younger guys going. It’s getting pretty saturated now, however.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Webcam-esque Images

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3850" title="pof-webcam" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-webcam.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Webcams are associated with amateurs. If the girl uses a webcam, then the guy might think that she will webcam with him. He can foreseeably believe that he might get to interact with her through the safety of his computer screen.

What just doesn’t work on POF?

style="text-decoration: underline;">Professional Looking Photos

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3849" title="pof-professional" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-professional.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Professional looking images just simply don’t work on POF. When the user thinks the person in the image is a model and isn’t real, they lose interest. Professional images bring people’s attention to the fact that your ad is an ad, and that you are trying to sell them something.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Cartoons

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3848" title="pof-cartoons" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-cartoons.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

I tried playful clipart and cartoons a few times, and they just completely bombed for me. I don’t think POF has that kind of innocent playfulness that you might find at Facebook. I could be targeting the wrong audience with it or wrote bad copy to accompany the images, but I just don’t see them working well at POF.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Images that Cover Up the Face

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3847" title="pof-hide-face" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-hide-face.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

This is just a general theme that I’ve found. Images that do not show, or covers up most of, the subject’s face tend to not do well. I think it makes the image more impersonal. When looking at a picture of someone, you typically look first at the eyes to connect with the person.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Losers

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3846" title="pof-losers" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-losers.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

This should really go without saying, but I see a lot of images being used of people (of men in particular) who look incredibly boring and don’t really have their shit together. Using amateur images doesn’t mean go find lowlifes! Find good looking people with something interesting about them who can pass as amateur. If it’s a picture of a guy being lazy or eating a bowl of leftovers, don’t use it. When in doubt, as yourself: “Would my friend/sister/mom/cousin date him in a MILLION years?”

style="text-decoration: underline;">Flashy Outrageous Ads

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3845" title="pof-flashy" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pof-flashy.gif" alt="" width="590" height="123" />

Some people really misconstrue what I say when I tell them their ads need to be attention grabbing. When I look at the example ad here, I’m thinking this is gotta be a joke. The point of an ad is not to annoy your target into clicking. People on POF have such short attention spans that if you hit the wrong trigger in the least bit (in this case they are immediately annoyed by your ad), they will move on in a nanosecond. If this ad looks anything close to what you’re advertising, you should seriously think about pulling the reins back on you’re outrageousness.

style="color: #008000;">Mr Green: Nice Tom! You gave me a bit of inspiration. One trend that I noticed across your images, is that a lot of them crossed over using multiple elements. For example one of your images has an amateur looking photo of a muscly guy, with a tattoo. The cool trick was that the tattoo is of a cross so it gains interest from a religious demographic as well. 

class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3876" title="plenty of fish dance" src="http://www.mrgreen.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/tumblr_lhyq9gRFba1qdpla0o1_400.gif" alt="" width="400" height="268" border="none" />

style="text-decoration: underline;">ADHD Summary:

General images that work.

• Amateur photos
• People holding cameras
• Calling out religion or ethnicity
• Drawings and white space

Let us know if we missed any!