My friend Marcia believes in the old adage, "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." That's why, every second date she has, she prepares a meal that would impress a gourmet chef. So, this made me think about what men do to make an impression on women. What is the road map to a woman's heart?

In the movies it's easy, you beat up the bad guy, save the kitty, dance the tango, and always remember to bring flowers. But in the real world, there are no body doubles in the bar, dance doubles in the club, cats never go outside and flowers are always something you save for when you show up late. So, what's a guy suppose to do to make a great impression?

• Laugh out loud
  Well, if you ask most women, they'll tell you it's not that complicated. In fact, it's very simple — all you have to do is make them laugh. If you ask a thousand women what quality they're looking for in a guy, 90% of them will say "a sense of humor."
  
  "A man's sense of humor is like a window into his personality," said Joanne, a 31-year-old reporter. "It can tell you if he's smart, clever, twisted, obscene, or dark. It's very telling about the person behind the 'club façade.'" Another female friend of mine (a beautiful model who gets hit on constantly) put it this way, "Get me to smile, you've got a chance. Get me to giggle and you've got a foot in the door. But if you can get me to laugh, you'll get the one thing I don't give out very easily — my undivided attention." That speaks volumes about the importance of a sense of humor.
  
  
• One joke, two shoes
  Being able to make a woman to laugh is the "X" factor for a lot of guys. It's the one thing that separates them from everybody else. My friend Mike tells me there are two things he relies on when he goes out: a great joke and a nice pair of shoes. Most women will look at a guy's shoes because they believe it is a telling sign of his sense of style. But it's a guys jokes and comebacks that really separate him from the rest of the pack.
  
  So does this mean that a guy that can't tell a good joke or is having a bad shoe day is never going to get a date? Of course not. But men who are looking for love should know how to make a great first impression. And with more and more people turning to online dating services, having a sense of humor is something you might want to list as one of your personality traits. After all, that's what women are really looking for.
  
  

Post a free profile on Match.com today and show off your sense of humor!