How to contact members

I am hoping to get some insight on how to improve my experience on this site.I have a few questions, that I would like input on from the female members or couples. 1- When messaging a member for the first time, how can I avoid seeming like a pervert, creeper, fraud, etc.? I try to provide a platonic disclaimer, avoid sensitive topics, and express my respect and sincerity, but too often, I feel like my messages are avoided because I'm a 29 year old, single male. 2- When messaging a member for the first time, should I keep my messages short and sweet or truly introduce myself and my intentions. 3- What qualities are single females interested in on this site? I will never portray myself as someone or something that I am not, but I'm not sure what qualities I should highlight and what I should save for later. 4- Is a friend request without a message a red flag if I send a full message, separately? I typically elaborate in my initial message to a member, and the character count in the friend request message is limited. 5- Is it creepy to contact females older than me , even though my intentions are platonic? Any assistance will be appreciated. Thank you.