Looks like size really does matter: Men who are 6’2’’ and up are 17 percent more likely to be contacted for a date than guys who are average height (5’8”), according to a survey from AYI.com, an online dating site.

What’s more, for fellas on the shorter side—those below 5’5’’—the odds of drawing interest from a prospective match dropped by 55 percent compared to the tall guys.

The reason: It’s possible women’s brains are hardwired to associate tallness with good health and strong genes, says Gert Stulp, MSc., a professor of behavioral science at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Social research has also established a link between height and power, which women find attractive, Stulp adds.

If you’re coming up a little, well, short, stack the deck in your favor with these killer dating profile tips:

Don’t smile in your photo. Women rated images of men with straight-faced, proud, or even moody expressions as more attractive than shots of grinning guys, according to a study from the University of British Columbia. Smiling may be a sign of social submissiveness, which turns women off, the study authors say.

Grab a guitar. Even if you don’t actually play an instrument, just holding one in your profile pic will pique her sexual interest, shows research from Israel. Researchers say women relate musical ability with good genes and talent. As a result, men who sported guitars nearly tripled their number of interested new “friends.”

Wear a red shirt. Compared to guys sporting blue duds, women found men in red to be roughly 20 percent more sexually attractive, shows research from the University of Rochester. This color not only makes you appear more dominant—and therefore hot—in her eyes, but it also ups your own sense of self-assurance, studies have shown.

Shrink your name. It may seem ironic, but women prefer shorter names, reveals a survey from Badoo.com, an online dating site. In fact, the ladies found hewn-off handles—like “Chris” instead of “Christopher”—more alluring roughly 69 percent of the time. The justification: People with abbreviated names may seem friendlier and more approachable.

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Markham Heid Markham Heid is an experienced health reporter and writer, has contributed to outlets like TIME, Men’s Health, and Everyday Health, and has received reporting awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.

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