Indicator of approaching
 Eye contact (Commons). An IOA is a cue, not a command to freeze.
| |
| Field | Pickup |
|---|---|
| Also known as | IOA, approach invitation (near) |
| Origin | Pickup jargon; cousin of approach invitation |
| Related | Approach invitation; Indicator of interest; Cold approach; Eye contact |
An indicator of approaching (IOA) is a cue that walking up will not be a total interrupt: lingering eye contact, an open stance, a comment thrown your way. It sits next to approach invitation. Later writers still wants the Newbie assignment volume — you do not wait for a engraved invitation.[1]
In practice
In practice: take the IOA when it is there. Do not build a religion of waiting for one. Cold approach is still the default training.
See also
References
- ↑ Pickup artist. Wikipedia. Retrieved 18 September 2026.