The Dating World

You got on line, and to your surprise, you met someone special. So what’s the problem? The problem is that your online sweetheart lives three states away, or maybe on the other side of the country altogether.  You have heard about the problems with long-distance relationships, and you would like to avoid it altogether.  But love is a messy, and you think this relationship could actually go somewhere.  What do you do? Here are some tips for navigating through the messy roads of a long-term, long distance relationship.

When love sneaks up on you

Long-distance relationships are funny business.  They always come as a surprise, nobody really dreams about long-distance relationships.  They just sort of come to us, without our permission.  But if you meet an amazing person, are you really to let the fact that they live in a few hundred miles away stop you? If you feel that your relationship is destined for something greater, and it’s time to sit down and talk openly about the pros and cons of a long-distance relationship. One of the most important things about making long distance relationships work is to make sure that you are both on the same page. Often, even the most stable long distance relationships can go awry if both parties are not entirely honest about one another. Discuss the challenges the two you will likely face, and what you can do to overcome them.

Being realistic about the limitations of a long-distance relationship

One of the hardest things about managing a long-distance relationship is coming to terms with the many limitations that are inherent to the situation.  If you have decided that this relationship is worth pursuing, it’s time to talk openly with your partner about the possibility of an on line long-term relationship.  Ask your partner if they are willing to be part of an open, honest long-term relationship.  If, after talking, the two of you decide that this is something you truly want to preserve, it’s time to make a dating strategy.

Building a workable strategy for your long distance relationship

If you have decided that you are willing to work in order to make your long distance relationship work, it can help to make a workable plan. Begin by strategizing ways to stay in close touch while living far apart.  Unfortunately, these days it is easier than ever before to stay in touch.  Modern technology allows us to communicate on a daily basis, if we wish. Make a list of the best times for the two of you to call one another.  You can even set up a special date phone night.  You might even want to consider investing in a good long distance program in order to make your long distance relationship more financially feasible.

Making a long-distance relationship work

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that a good long distance relationship is only as good as the time and effort you invest in.  Thus, if the workout a schedule in which you can talk openly on a very regular basis, you have a much greater chance of sustaining a viable long-term relationship.  Here are some more ideas for making your long distance work. First, treat your phone 89 as you would a regular date night.  For example, dress up a little.  Pour yourself a glass of wine, or whatever you would drink together.  Making long distance relationships work can often be quite expensive.  Try to share the burden of the long distance relationship. And take turns visiting each other so that one person does not have to bear most of the cost of travel.  Make use of new technology, such as Web cameras, instant messaging, cell phone text messaging, and of course, e-mail.

You have been chatting on line for months now with a special someone.  You know their favorite color, their favorite animal, and their favorite song.  Maybe it feels like you know everything there is to know about them.  Online dating can certainly provide a sense of intimacy that is nearly impossible to emulate in a real life setting. In a sense, online dating is kind of old fashioned. If you think about it, online dating is a little like old-fashioned dating, when couples sent romantic letters to one another, except today, couples send romantic emails.

Why e-mail is just not enough

So you have been e-mailing for several weeks, or maybe even several months.  You feel like you could tell your online sweetheart just about everything, and email gives you the sense of privacy and confidence that you need to be intimate with your online boyfriend or girlfriend.  Or perhaps this is a new person, someone you just met on one of the Internet’s many popular dating web sites. Perhaps you have even exchanged pictures.  Still, no matter how much you think you know about your online sweetheart, you really don’t know all that much about them until you have talked to them and heard their voice. E-mail can only do so much for a relationship.  Eventually, you will have to talk, and eventually you will have to meet in person.  Here are some tips for getting to know your online love interest through the important medium of a telephone conversation.

Tips for getting to know your online sweetheart on the telephone

What should you look for when you first speak with your online love interest over the telephone? There are several things you should make a note to of when talking to your online sweetheart before the first time. First, take the time to get to know their voice. Do you find it pleasant? Although it may not seem entirely relevant, research has shown that people are attracted to certain distinct voices. Next, the most important thing is to gauge how your conversational style matches theirs.  Do you tend to talk more? Do they dominate the conversation, or do they fail to keep up their part of the conversation? Did they use offensive speech or bad language? Does their style seem to match yours? Remember, this person is a potential partner.  You want to make sure it is someone you can truly be open with.

Conducting the informal interview

One of the most important things you should do before at the meeting and online of interest in person is to conduct a kind of informal interview over the phone.  Of course, you do not want them to know you are conducting an interview.  You are simply trying to get to know this person better.  You should spend at least twenty minutes chatting on the telephone. Confirm the personal information that you have exchanged over the Internet.  Make sure that your online interest is consistent about their personal history.  If the person appears to vary their answers considerably, you may want to be careful.  This is a warning sign that something is not right.

Considerations for scheduling your first meeting

Before you schedule your first meeting with your online interest, you will want to make sure to take certain precautions. First, make sure you meet in a public setting.  That means cafes, shopping centers, or other large open public spaces. Second, you want to make sure that you tell someone exactly where you are going and how long you will be there.  Carry a cell phone and give your number to a trusted friend.  Finally, make the plan with your online interest about the length of your date.

Let’s say that it’s your very first time going on line to date.  The first thing you will probably notice is the sheer number of other people, other singles like you, also searching for love.  Do not get intimidated; although there millions of other singles On-Line, this only bodes well for your online dating adventure.  Just remember: With so many other singles On-Line, it can definitely be a challenge to stand out from the crowd.  This will be your biggest obstacle when it comes to on-line dating: simply being able to catch someone’s eye in a world full of polished profiles and photogenic pictures.  It is not as difficult as it may seem, however, to really stand out from the rest.  Here are some tips that will help you make a lasting impression on that special online single.

Learn to flirt without overdoing it

One of the biggest challenges you will run across is learning to be flirtatious when you can’t even look at the person you’re flirting with.  This is definitely a challenge, but also a great bonus, particularly if you are a little shy.  Try to keep all of your on-line conversations, text messages, and e-mail’s and phone calls flirty, yet to try not to go overboard.  It can be a challenge to resist being flirty and silly, especially if you really like the other person.  There is something about online dating that brings out the flirt in all of us, that to recalls those seventh grade note-passing episodes from junior high.  Even if you think you are not much of a flirt, it’s time to get ready to be a little cute, sharpen your wit and sense of humor, and throw caution to the wind, even just a little bit.

Putting together an irresistible online dating profile

The first thing another person will see about you is your profile.  That’s why it’s so important that you put together a memorable profile that really shows off the person you are.  Be as honest and specific as possible in your dating profile.  This means you should include a list of your favorite hobbies, activities, interests, and passions.  Remember, it’s your goal to attract someone that shares similar interests and passions.  When you are putting together your dating profile, resist the urge to give out your life story. Instead, your goal is to give an accurate snapshot of the person you are.  Strike a light and breezy tone, and resist the urge to give away too much or make your profile too long.  Also, you should give a short description of the type of person you are attracted to, and you’re dating goals.  If you are not interested in a long-term relationship, your profile is a perfect place to tell other singles.

What your headline says about you

Most online dating websites allow you to compose a headline that accompanies your dating profile.  In many cases, this headline is the first thing other singles will see as they sort through dozens and dozens of online dating profiles.  This is why it is so important that you come up with a headline that is original, unique and hopefully, memorable. Your goal is to come up with the headline that will attract the attention of the kind of person you would like to date. One good strategy for coming up with your own personal has nine is to make it specific about you would.  For example, something like “Brown-eyed girl who loves guitar, camping and dancing” is good because, in the space of a few short words, you have described yourself and your interests. It is specific without being too long–perfect for catching someone’s eyes as they peruse profiles.

Making a lasting impression on other webs singles

Let’s say you have finished putting together your profile.  Now it’s just time to sit back and wait and see what kind of responses you get.  You check your in box, and find a number of responses that intrigues you.  What can you do to make a lasting impression on another single that define yourself attractive to? First, resist the urge to reply with an overly long e-mail. Begin with a short, friendly e-mail’s, and gradually progress towards longer, more involved e-mail’s.  Don’t talk too much about yourself-make sure to ask questions and pay attention.

Ask specific questions of your love target

Let’s say that you’ve zeroed in on a person that you are attracted to.  Let’s call dispersing your loved target.  How can you talk to this person in a way that makes them feel special, and that makes them remember you for a long time? One of the best ways to get to know your love target, and to make you shine in their eyes is to ask specific questions.  Avoid common, everyday questions such as where they grew up, what they do for a living, and questions about their family.  Instead, ask your love target questions that evoke specific memories, events and the like.  For instance, you can ask them about their favorite childhood vacation, their favorite restaurant for a special occasion, for their ideal of a vacation destination.  These type of specific questions and do not put a person on the spot, and will help you get to know your love target better.

For many singles nowadays, online dating is the solution to find a loved one, to find the perfect match. Flirting lines, walking up to strangers and breaking the ice is one of the hardest things to do, but online dating makes a stop to all the unwanted problematic first time approaches and helps anyone to find their match made in heaven.

One of the reasons why online dating is so popular is that one never has to meet the other until he or she is ready and is convinced that the other one is a good match and is what they are looking for in a partner. To know if one is the right match, online dating offers the possibility to get to know each other without having to physically meet. This gives dating the possibility to first go past the looks and rather to the personality instead of the other way round.

Online dating relationships have to grow closer before it will actually turn into a real world relationship. Here are a few tips on growing that online relationship closer and keeping it going.

First of all, just like with any other relationship, to keep it going to properly take care of the relationship, both parties need to make time for it. Taking time to correspond, to answer e-mails, to chat together via instant messages services and to chat in chat rooms or even to use video chats is very important to keep a good relationship. Touching base regularly and showing the other one that there is still interest is very important. Any relationship takes up a lot of time and just because it is online does not mean that it does not need to be tended to.

A second great tip is to not rush it and to keep the first face-to-face meeting off until it feels right for both partners. Of course, waiting too long can ruin the online relationship also. If one of the two partners comes off too pushy for the other or the online dating with the person does not feel right, it needs to be stated. Online dating is made to find the special someone and to get to know to the person before entering a real relationship. Therefore, honesty in these parts is crucial. Pretending to like the correspondence with the other persons is almost a waste of time because there are many more fish in the sea, as an old proverb states.

Growing an online relationship can also be done by spending fun time online together. There are many activities and things that people can do to grow closer and to have great online dating times. For example, chatting and sending e-mails back and forth to have great conversations and learn as much as possible about the other one can get people to grow closer even though they never have seen each other in person yet.

Other activities to grow closer include sending photos back and forth, building photo albums and sending different kinds of greeting cards. All these activities give the partners topics to converse about. Often people also send each other pieces from their childhood or their surrounding area to give each other as presents and also as conversational objects.

Lastly, one very important tip to grow online relationships is to not share information that one partner shares with the other with anyone else. Information shared with you online is just as private as when the person shared with you at a regular date.

There is much more to tending an online relationship then it might seem and if a little effort is put into the online dating game, the relationship might grow into a real world one with the match found online.

Often times that first phone call is a dreaded one. How to start the conversation, what to say and worst of all, how will it sound to the match? These are all legitimate questions that bounce around in ones head before getting ready for the first phone call with a person found through Internet dating services. Of course, these questions also bounce around in anyone’s head that has to make a first phone conversation with someone they just met. Some of the following tips will also be good tips for general first phone calls.

Before attempting a first conversation, it might be a good idea to check out the profile of the conversation partner. The profile, as well as e-mail correspondence that was taken so far, should give many topics and interesting points that can be used in a first conversation. Maybe the match has told about some of her or his hobbies, family connections, work related topics or more in the e-mails or profile. These points and topics are a good choice for the first conversation.

Generally, a good advice is trying to not be nervous, trying to stay calm. When people are nervous, it often happens that they forget what they wanted to do or say and therefore come across wrong. Staying calm, since it is only a phone call and there are many other choices for partners out there, is one good way to have a first phone conversation.

The phone call itself should be started like any other phone call. It does not need to be anything specific. Dialing the number, saying, “Hi, this is….” is one great way to start a phone call. Next, it might be time to mention that in the e-mails the following points were stated and it would be interesting to know more about it. Already a great conversation will be going on with this easy and simple way to start a conversation. Trying to be a hot shot on the phone often goes wrong. The other person can only hear, not see and trying to impress in a first phone call can ruin everything else.

First phone calls do not need to be long if they are meant to set a date and time for a first face-to-face date, but sometimes they can be long. The Internet is a connection to people all over the world, which does not only mean all across the United States, but essentially everywhere, even to China. Generally, you will not find many foreigners trying to find a relationship through American online services, but the match might be found several hours if nor more away. This can mean that first phone calls can be expensive, if both or one does not have a long-distance calling plan. A good suggestion might be to buy one or two long distance phone cards, since a first call it is not even clear if a calling plan is necessary. This also means that a first face-to-face date might include long driving hours or a flight.

Since this is can be expensive sometimes, instead of phone calls, video conferences can be a good tool. Online dating means that the person is already having access to an internet connected PC and all that is necessary now to have a video conversation is a webcam, a microphone and speakers. A good quality webcam can be bought for around 50 to 100 dollars and microphone and speaker, if not built into the PC already are around 20 to 50 dollars. This investment can be a good one considering that gas prices and airline tickets are very expensive.

Breaking up and romantic rejection is hard no matter what kind of dating experience you have, good or bad. But breaking up and reduction are just part of the game. If you are new to the world of online dating, you should know that online dating, just like all other types of dating, is laced with wonders and less than wondrous things.  But the thing is back online retention is generally easier to handle conventional.  Nonetheless, it still hurts.  Here is a brief overview of the most common reasons people experienced rejection in an on-line dating environment, and we can do to get over it and get back in the saddle again.

Why rejection comes so easily in the cyber love world

Online dating is actually a lot like regular dating-both are full of his or her own ups and downs.  However, some would argue that online dating could be crueler in some respects.  The anonymity provided by online dating provide some people with a kind of dating mask.  People can be more callous and less forgiving when they think no one is looking, and when they aren’t held accountable for their actions.  The online dating world is strewn with the corpses of promising relationships gone badly due to neglect, dishonesty or simple lack of attention.  It can be easy to reject someone simply by ignoring messages, and pretending they don’t exist. The old adage: out of sight, out of mine, comes to mind.

How to avoid the cruelty of rejection

When it comes to on-line dating rejection, you can either be the bearer or receiver of such bitter news.  If you are like most people, you will one to avoid both.  In order to avoid being the bearer of rejection, you have to learn how to communicate openly and honestly.  Using tact let someone know right away if you are not interested in pursuing a relationship.  Avoiding the messages and e-mail’s is simply immature, and a waste of time.  In order to avoid being on the receiving end of rejection, be prepared to ask straight questions.  If you suspect someone is avoiding your messages, but you aren’t sure, go ahead and ask them directly whether they are interested in pursuing a relationship, or whether they would prefer to remain friends.  Go ahead and take the reins.

The process of rejection recovery

Getting back on the saddle can be difficult no matter what kind of circumstances you experienced rejection.  The important thing is to keep going.  Remember that online dating offers you the most favorable odds for finding someone truly special.  After a rejection, your urge may be to shut down, at least for a while.  Resist this urge.  Remind yourself that online dating is an adventure, and you will have both pleasant and negative experiences, but the pleasant far outweigh the negatives.  Keep looking, and move on to another dating Web site if you feel like you are ready for something new.

Always resist the urge to get even

Revenge never looks pretty. Remember “Fatal Attraction”? Sour grapes, or the bitter and very real urge to get revenge is never a good idea, no matter how badly you feel you were treated.  Ask yourself: Is this person really worth all this anguish? Chances are that the answer is no.  No matter how badly you feel things went, remember that you are bound to have negative experiences in the dating world. Chalk it up to experience, and proudly move on. There is a very real chance that there is someone out there who was worth all the trouble.

So you’ve decided to finally make a big jump into online dating.  Good for you! Being can be hard, but the Internet can put you into touch with millions of other singles with the click of a mouse.  Although on-line dating has only been around for a handful of years, the idea of a third-party matchmaker is almost ancient.  Matchmaking is an art and a science, and most of the big name online dating services try to keep this in mind when matching millions of potential mates.  If you are new to this exciting world of online dating, here are some tips to keep in mind as you navigate through thousands of profile pictures.  Remember: many people have met and fallen in love through the Internet, and even if you are only looking for a casual day to, the Internet can put you in touch with dozens of potential friends and lovers.

Be choosy: navigating an increasingly crowded dating market

Before you make the plunge, keep in mind that the Internet is full of dating websites and opportunities.  There are hundreds of dating agencies out there, ranging from full-service and well regarded, too little known and just playing shoddy.  Your best bet is to sign up with a well-known dating Web site, at least to start with.  That way, you are secure in the knowledge there are potentially millions of other people who are also in the online dating market for the first time.  The good thing is that many on-line dating services offer you a free introduction period so you can browse until your heart’s content.  Take advantage of these free offers so you can get a taste of how the dating website works, whether you have easy access to it on your computer, and whether it seems like the community is lively and active.  Also, you’ll want to make sure that you have access to people in your regional area.  If it seems like there aren’t a lot of singles in your area, you may want to check out another dating website.  In short, try not to limit yourself.  Check out a lot of websites and be choosy about which ones you pay membership to.

More tips for choosing the perfect online dating service

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a good online dating service. First, you have to make sure you have easy access to the online dating service.  Is the Web site designed in a way that feels intuitive and easy to use? Does the web site feel over-burdened by banner ads or other intrusive features? Does the web site seemed have a good pool of dating applicants? In general, you should use an on-line dating service that has been around for at least three years.  Use an on-line dating service that allows free profile registrations and that allows you to get a full tour of its services for free.  Even though it may be tempting, to not use online dating services or websites that provide completely free services.  Most of the time, get top-quality service, and the dating pool may be much more limited.  Remember, predating services to not have the screening mechanisms that’s the pay dating sites do.  Thus, you may not get the best quality of applicants, or as many applicants, as you would from a well-known pay dating website.

Stays safe: strategies for safe online dating

Women in particular, be safe about your online dating strategy.  When choosing an online dating service, make sure to see what kind of safety measures the Web site has in place in order to protect its members.  Find out what kind of screening process the web site uses in order to except its members, if any.  Many of the top tier dating websites go to extensive links to make sure that other members are safe. If you happen to meet someone you truly like, began by exchanging e-mails, and then move on to telephone conversation.  After one or two telephone calls, it’s time to set up an in person date.  For your first real life meeting, choose a location that is busy and public.  A coffee bar or lunch is a good idea.  Always make sure that you tell someone where you are going.

Who knew that the Internet such hone your flirting skills? Online dating, although it may not seem like the most natural place to learn how to flirt, can be great place to practice your flirting skills.  Online dating, once a tranquil refuge for the shy and hesitant single, but has lately become a place for everyone to meet. A place for singles to converge, chat and, yes flirt.  If you are interested in practicing your dating and flirting skills, the Internet has made it easier than ever.

Flirting on line 101: getting started

If you are not a natural flirt, it’s time to start thinking of yourself as one.  Many people simply don’t think they had it in them to flirt.  This is not true.  Most people, even if it is hidden deep down inside, have a natural ability to flirt.  Flirting is a way of talking that demonstrates to someone that you are interested in him or her romantically.  Flirting can consist of chatting, laughing, joking, and yes, teasing. Here are some easy ways to get started flirting.

Ask questions, even if you already know the answer

One thing to remember a few do not consider yourself a masterful flirter, is that flirting does not necessarily have to make sense all of the time.  Learning can often consist of questions, even questions that you already know the answer to.  Ask questions that seem innocent enough.  If you seem to share common interests, ask your flitting target questions about their hobbies, interests and work.  If you find that you’ve already exhausted these questions early on, ask your flirting target about recent on goings in their life.  For instance, he announced on what date did over the weekend, or what they planned to do next weekend.  These seemingly innocent questions are a good way to gauge what the person’s life is like, what the schedule looks like, etc., which can then help you later on when you are trying to plan a date.

Make yourself a mystery

Without taking it too far, one of the great things about flirting is that you can become someone else’s object of fascination.  That is, make yourself interesting to the other person.  Obviously, they already finding interesting if they are taking the time to pursue a relationship, but many people make the mistake of telling their life story right off the bat.  This is not a good idea for many reasons, and one of these reasons is that you simply will run out of interesting conversational matter of right away.  Or you might end up dwelling on one topic for the length of your conversations.  Instead, give the object of your interest a reason to ask questions.  Perhaps you might mention that you needed to work late because the plan to leave town over the weekend.  Hopefully, your object will take the bait and ask you about your weekend plans.  In other words, give the other person a chance to ask questions and find out more about you.

How do you know that you are being flirted with?

Many of us less experienced flitters can be a little dance when it comes to this fund method of communication.  How’d you know that you are being flirted with? Here are some clues. First, does the other person seem to respond to your e-mail quickly? Do they seem to seek you out to? Do they make a lot of jokes, or at least attempt to make you laugh? These are classic signs that you are being flirted with.  If you are interested in the person, your job is simply to reciprocate in like matter.

Keep your e-mails nice and short

One easy way to flirt via e-mail is to avoid long e-mails.  Short, flirty e-mails go a long way.  The kind and sharpen your sense of humor, and don’t forget that complements go a long way. An easy way to show attraction and interest via e-mail and instant messaging is the use of emoticons. Although you definitely don’t want to overdo it, emoticons can show interest and a good sense of humor.

Online dating has opened up a world of opportunity for singles everywhere.  However, no matter how much dating is experience you have, if you have never dated on line before, there’s a good chance that you may fall victim to one of the many on-line dating pitfalls that eventually befall us all. Online dating faux pas can happen to even the most experienced and savvy single.  Here are some crucial dos and don’ts of the online dating universe.

Making a first impression with your online profile and emails

Making a first impression in the virtual world is quite different from making a good first impression in person. Your high-school English teacher was right when she said that good grammar matters.  Maybe it isn’t so important in a face-to-face situation, but words become a lot more obvious when someone is relying on a written profile to get to know you.  This is worse spelling and grammar suddenly become key.  Would you want to date someone who can’t spell, someone who can’t organize his or her thoughts on paper, or who otherwise does not make a good impression on line? Chances are that no matter how nice their picture, a very badly written profile is a major turn-off despite how photogenic they may be. Making a good first impression on line means writing a good, or original and well-written profile.  The same rules apply to your e-mail conversations.  An e-mail courtship relies on the written word. Make sure you proofread your e-mail is before clicking send.

Avoid the urge to send e-mail every five minutes

When you really like someone, especially during that frantic and flirty first phase of an online relationship, it can be very hard to resist the urge to send him or her e-mail every five minutes. Although there are no hard and set rules, you will probably get more out of your first e-mail encounters if you keep some things in mind. First, keep your first e-mail short and friendly.  Although you should never lie, you’d definitely to not want to open up too much during first e-mail, or even your second e-mail, for that matter. Many people feel the urge to tell someone their life story right away.  You should resist this urge.

Throw away the email rulebook

There are some e-mail dating rules floating around out there that are not really helpful.  These are the kinds of rules that tell you how long you should go between e-mail’s, how long you should wait to respond to any mail, etc. You should write to when you feel like it, but that doesn’t mean you should keep someone waiting.  A good guideline is to not let more than two days passed before returning someone’s e-mail.

Making that first e-mail contact

Let’s say that you spot an online dating profile that really catches your eye.  This is the exciting moment in online dating, the first point of contact.  Feel free to be the one to initiate contact.  If you are a woman and to spot a profile, feel free to initiate contact.  Although men are often still expected to be the ones to make contact, the world of online dating has gladly made it easier than ever for women initiate first contact. As a general rule of thumb, keep your first e-mail short and friendly.  Of Wade giving too much information, especially things like where you work and where you live with.  This is a safety precaution to use as you get to know someone better.  Some people feel compelled to give their life story.  Avoid this impulse if you have it to.  Although you certainly don’t want to play games, a small air of mystery never hurts.  Tell the person what drew you to their profile.  Perhaps you seem to share a common interest.  Let them know that you to enjoy it water skiing, bowling, movies, or what ever is maybe.

OK, guys, you’ve got the date – now what? If you think you want that first date to turn into a second one, it is all about getting this one right. Sound like a lot of pressure? Well, you can relax. There eight tips will help you sweep your date off her feet with ease, so you can enjoy your date and feel about getting date number two.

First things first: sorry to break this to you, but hygiene counts. It counts a lot, actually. Don’t head over for your date after a game of b-ball with the guys without cleaning up in between. It doesn’t matter if your date is going to be casual. It doesn’t matter that she seems like a down to earth kind of girl. It doesn’t matter that if she falls in love with you, she will love you even when you are sweaty. These are examples of you reaching for an excuse not to take a shower. There is no such good excuse, and if you want to see a girl again, don’t even think about skipping the cleanliness stage.

Tip number two involves fitting that shower into your schedule wisely. In other words, don’t be late. If you need extra time to condition, plan it in there, but do not, under any circumstances, come rolling up to your date fashionably late. Unless of course your intention is to let your date know that you plan to treat her badly on date one, and it’s all downhill from there, in which case, show up whenever you want. She might not be waiting, but maybe that’s for the best.

Tip number three might again involve you suspending your impressions of what your date wants. She may seem completely un-materialistic and into the intangible things in life over flashy cars and big accounts. That may all be true – but she’ll still be thrilled if you bring her a little gift to your date. You don’t have to go overboard, but a gift will show her that you’ve been looking forward to spending time with her.

The fourth tip is to mind your manners. Are you treating your date in a way your mother would be proud of? In other words, are being gentlemanly. If your mother would swat you on the head and correct your behavior, you’re doing something wrong. In this day and age, women may not care of you get out of the car and rush over to open their door – but trying gets you brownie points.

Number five on the tip list is to button your lip and listen up. Some people are nervous talkers – guys especially – and you may find yourself running off at the mouth on your first date. Don’t do it. Conversations have at least two players, so give her a shot. If you want to talk to yourself, you can do that at home. If you’re worried that you won’t be able to reign in the nervous babble, think of tip six – plan your conversation. You don’t need to write a script, but get a few general ideas of conversation starters in mind so you can weather those silent moments without going on and on about you. Looking for something to say? Think tip number sever – compliment your date. Don’t make it insincere, but there must be something you like about her, right? After all, you asked her out. Let her know what you think makes her great.

The last tip, number eight, is to be honest. If you have gone through all of these steps and have decided date number two isn’t so high on your list after all, don’t tell her that you’ll call her soon. Thank her for a nice time and move on. False hope is a bad move.