Online Dating Tip: Gettin’ Offline
By: Charles Cuninghame
OK so you’ve chatted for hours with that guy/girl with the enticing nickname, you’ve poured your soul out in dozens of emails and now you feel it’s time to kick it up a notch - that’s right, a face to face meeting. Here are a few pointers to get the best results:
Phone first, then face to face
You shouldn’t go from email flirting to dinner for two in just one step. Remember, you don’t really know this person; it’s easy to misrepresent yourself online. Test the waters with a couple of phone calls and take the opportunity to get to know them. See if the vibe’s still there when you’re chatting for real.
Safety first on your first date
For your own sake, set up your first date in a public place like a cafe or pub, where you know other people are going to be around. There’s no need to get paranoid, but if you have inadvertently picked up a bunny boiler, it’s good to have other people around if things get out of hand. Never meet at one of your homes.
Remember: no pressure
The purpose of a first date is to see if you want to go on a second date - that’s all. Don’t start fantasising about the wonderful life you two will be leading together. Just go see if you like them. It’s a good idea to plan a short first date, like meeting for a coffee. If things go well you can always extend it.
Make a good impression - but not too good
Of course you want to impress your date, but you’ve also got to be yourself. Don’t go overboard and get dressed to the nines or feel you have to impress them with a litany of all your accomplishments. Just act natural and go with the flow. The key is to have fun.
Charles Cuninghame is a website copywriter and SEO copywriter in Sydney, Australia, and an online dating advocate.