It's absurd to say that most women respond or don't respond to anything.
Most women decide very quickly whether they like a guy or not. If a woman likes a guy, most of the things he says and does will be interpreted with a positive slant (with the exception of things that directly oppose her views, beliefs, and values). If a woman doesn't like a guy, most of the things he says and does will be interpreted with a negative slant.
This is why hitting on women is a numbers game. You can't control whether a woman will fall for you or not, so you have to keep approaching until you find one that does.
Are there ways to improve your chances? Of course. Dress well, groom yourself, hit the gym, and improve your body language. But these changes will only slightly improve your chances. At the end of the day, it's all still a numbers game.