When you date online you have the benefit of taking as long a period of time as you want to get to know someone. Many people are comfortable meeting other singles within 24 hours of meeting online and other people will wait days, weeks, or even months. It is a good idea to get to know someone a bit before you meet them, as this will give you an indication if this is someone that you want to spend any time with in the future.

Communicating Online

If you come across someone online that you think is interesting, contact them by sending them a flirt or something to this effect. Or, if they send you such a gesture you should respond accordingly. It is better to start out slow with simple gestures such as this and then build up to actually talking or meeting later on.

For awhile it is a good idea to simply communicate via the online dating website. This way, the person does not actually know your email address or anything more about you than you tell them. Most online dating services offer email or private message services so you can talk this way as long as you want.

When you have built a trust with this person you can share your email and you can start communicating this way. You should be sure that you're talking about everything, the things that are important to you, what you are looking for in another person, and get all of the same information about this person.

When you feel you are ready, you can then share your phone number. If you do this, you need to be as sure as you can be that the person is who they say they are and that they have no ill intent. When you share your phone number someone could potentially track you down even if you don't want to be. You should spend some time talking on the phone and getting to know the person even more. This is the last step before you meet in person, so this is really a feeling out process.

Only when you are ready you can arrange to meet someone. You should only do this when you are really ready, and if you aren't just tell the person that you are not ready and that you would like to continue talking on the phone. If you do feel ready, be sure that you talk about where you are going and what you will do. Express your desire to meet in a very public place the first couple of times that you meet.

If you meet with any hesitation, it may not be a good idea to meet up with the person at all. Just take your time, and remember if there is something between you and someone else they will be willing to take the communication process as slowly as you need.