thanks for all the responses. My account on AW is brand new so I have no ratings etc and I guess I will avoid the direct messaging system.
This is what I am putting in my message:
"Hi,
Hope you’re well. I’m looking for some relaxed company this weekend, ideally morning or afternoon on Sat or Sun (though I’m fairly flexible and could do late evening).
I’m 40, trim, very good hygiene, respectful and easy-going. I have cash ready in hand. Could you let me know if you’re available for 60 minutes? Also interested in any costs for extras."
I guess maybe I just need to start calling directly rather than using any form of message. I did find that quite a few of the mobile phone numbers for the SP's does not work at all. I just get message not sent warning, or number does not exist in whatsapp. Is that normal? I did try sending message from my punting phone to my personal one and was getting message back and forth just fine?
I guess this is just a numbers game! Is booking in advance recommended - I would assume so?
I am still fairly new to this, under a year. When i started, i decided that i was not going to bother with AW bookings, did not see the point as you can book most (but not all) without it. WhatsApp is my preferred method of contact. The AW mobile site (viewable on desktop) usually shows if the SP uses WA, but it is not always accurate. Putting the number into WA will show you if it is active and 80% of SPs usually have a picture as well. If it is not active on WA, then SMS is the way to go. A lot of SPs tend to specify which method they prefer to be contacted on. Also, if you can find reviews on here, they usually specify if contact was made via WA/SMS/phone call. Can check a few and use the most common one.
I use a very simple message to start (and most of my punts are made on the day). For example:
"Hi <SP name>. How are you?/I trust you are well. Are you available today for a <duration> appointment at <time>?"If they have said they want extra details i add them like so:
"Hi <SP name>. How are you?/I trust you are well. My name is <name>. I am <age>. Are you available today for a <duration> appointment at <time>?"
I don't usually specify what I am looking for in the initial message (unless the SP has asked for it), as I have checked their profile/likes/UKP reviews and if they do not have what I want, I don't reach out and I think that most SPs feel the same way. IMHO, your inital message is too wordy (like this post, ironically) and better suited to AW mail when an SP usually requires more detail then WA/SMS. Think of it like a CV. If your CV is too long, companies just chuck it in the bin. You need to convey as much relevant detail as possible as succintly as you can. Most SPs get hundreds of messages every single day. Would you want to read all that, or would you just skip to the next one? Sometimes, less is more.
The inital message usually leads to a response with their menu of services/rates/extras as well as statement of availability in 95% of cases. I then repeat the duration, time, cost (and extras if needed), and ask the SP to confirm booking.
"OK, so <duration> at <time> with DFK/RO/OWO for £150. Does that work for you?"or
"OK, so <duration> at <time> with anal extra for £190. Does that work for you?"SP then confirms. And i finish off with
"Great/Perfect. I'll see you/Looking forward to seeing you later today at <time>".If the SP does not send me a menu. Or responds with just "Yes" or "I am available", i sigh and and send a followup:
"Great! Please could you confirm your rates and inclusive services? Do you have any extras?"This prompt will then have the desired effect and I can resume my usual flow as above.
Over time i have modified my responses slightly based on what the SP says on her profile or what her initial response is but the first messages is always the same. My phone actually auto-predicts this sentence now.
I have a fairly high response rate, but i attribute this more to the fact that i tend to select my punts based on the reviews i see here, rather than finding an SP first and then looking for reviews.
After a few months i found some SPs that i wanted to see who won't see you if you have no feedback. Some other SPs will see you if you have no feedback, but insist on a AW booking, so I started there to build up a few. Now i have enough good feedback to see most SPs. You don't need to have loads. The first SP i wanted to see i think insisted on at least 3 so that was my initial goal. I have been quite lucky because a lot of SPs use the same feedback for multiple punters, but my first few were not C+P jobs and were very complimentary, which helped with future requests and piqued the interest of new SPs.
Finally, some SPs do not provide any contact details and want to you message them on AW first. Generally I only need to use AW mail for advance bookings. I use the same inital message, easily modified for a future date and time and go from there.
Regarding advance bookings, it depends on the SP. Some only take advance bookings, some only take bookings on the day. Some do both. They will usually say which is their preference on their profile.
Hope you find some of this useful. Welcome to UKP and happy punting!
