So, you’re into online dating? That’s cool! Whether you are looking for a date through online sites like Match.com, OkCupid, Eharmony, or mobile applications like Bumble, Tinder, or The Inner Circle, meeting people online has a lot of benefits in contrast to traditional dating. For one, you get to choose the one who appeals to you the most.

Also, you can be picky and date someone who shares a lot of things that you like, which is a great starting point when you want to establish a strong relationship. Most importantly, you can do it at your own pace, no pressure. When you and your date didn’t hit it, there’s really no attachment involved.

However, you should always be on guard when dating someone you met online, especially when you’re meeting him or her for the first time. Poser accounts abound the internet, and there’s no way of telling whether they have malicious intent or not. You, yourself, should take the necessary precautions.

If done the right way, online dating is enjoyable. And who knows, you might meet “THE” one using one of the most popular dating apps out there.

To make the most out of your online dating experience, here are three helpful guides that you should take into account.

Validate if Your Date is a Real Person Before You Meet Personally

Every online date starts with selecting a prospect. All dating apps show you the profile of the person you want to meet, or at the least get in touch and talk to. If you want to meet someone online, check first if you’re interested in the person by checking his/her profile pic, browsing through his/her interests, and looking into his/her hobbies. If you feel like you’re going to have fun with that person, then go ahead and invite him/her for a chat.

After some time of talking and when you feel like the acquaintance has gotten into a deeper level, decide if you want to meet that person to have a more intimate relationship. But before you do that, you must know if your online date is real or not. As mentioned earlier, many people use dating apps to create poser accounts and scam people. To validate, you can do a little research of your own. Look for signs that you can trust your online date.

The easiest thing to do is to ask for his/her social media account. If you he/she gave you the link, go ahead and check his/her activities. If you see a lot of photos with friends and family, then that’s a good sign that the person is real. Or if his/her posts are aligned to the hobbies and interests he declared If, on the other hand, the person is reluctant in giving away personal information, then that’s a sign that he/she might be hiding something.

Setup a Perfect Time and Place for the Real Date

Moving on to the real dating is the next big step for you and your online partner. That is, of course, after you’ve verified that you’re dating a real person.

As they say, first impression lasts. The same is true for a first date. Make sure that you and your partner will have an unforgettable moment by choosing the best time and place for a date. Choosing the best time and place of date is not something that you should decide alone. After all, the date will be for the both of you, so be sure to consider what your partner would want and prefer.

It’s best to search the internet for places to meet someone you met online. You’ll be surprised by the many romantic places out there which could be the perfect setup for a real date. While you’re at it, go ahead and look for creative date ideas as well. It could be something that you could do to make your partner feel special. Doing something sweet for him/her is sure to add points for you.

Learn the Proper Etiquette of Dating

Dating is fun when everything you do is spontaneous. Sure, you’re free to do whatever you want, in hopes of making the atmosphere light and fun. But there are rules and date etiquette that you must follow when your online dating has turned into a real one. For instance, your first date conversation should not solely focus on yourself or your partner. It’s not about you. It’s a two-way street where both need to contribute to the conversation. Other do’s and don’ts on a first date are:

1. ● Don’t be extra cheesy
   ● If you’re a guy, offer to pay the bill
   ● Be honest
   ● Make eye-contact
   ● Don’t be perfect and all-knowing
   ● Ask for more questions
   ● Dress appropriately
   ● Do listen to what your partner is saying
   ● Don’t ruin the date by constantly checking your phone
   ● Be interesting as much as possible
   ● Always be on time

If you want to know more about how you can turn your real date into the most unforgettable one, check out this link out. The page has a great selection of mobile apps that you can use to plan a perfect date.

Best Apps To Help Plan a Perfect Real-Life Date

If you’ve come up to this point, that means you’re seriously considering online dating right at this very moment. We hope that what we’ve outlined here helped you to some extent. Now that you have a primer of what to do when online dating, it’s now time to find a date. Go set up your dating profile on some of the most popular dating apps out there.