Top five online dating tips for expat women living in USA
Some things you should – and shouldn’t – do when you are living in USA and you’re dating on the internet
You’ll get the most out of online dating in USA by following these simple guidelines and taking a few precautions.
1. Give it a proper go
Once you’re on a dating website, decide you’re going to really go for it and aim to message at least three men a week and update your profile regularly. Don’t stick to your usual ‘type’, try not to make a snap decision about men based on superficial criteria (like the fact that he wears glasses or is bald) and aim to have realistic expectations – there aren’t many Brad Pitts out there.
2. You can make the first move
Don’t be shy. If you like the look of someone, don’t wait for him to message you. Instead, pluck up the courage to contact him first. If he doesn’t respond within a week, then you can send another, brief, message. People who are new to the site are often inundated with responses and he could still be working his way through them. If he doesn’t reply to the second message, don’t get despondent. It’s his loss not yours and, frankly, just plain bad manners not to even send a brief acknowledgment to a message – so just move on.
3. Be cautious
Be wary of revealing a lot of personal details about yourself until you feel sure about the person. If a man uses words like ‘intimacy’ and ‘massage’, talks about his – or your – physical attributes or makes sexual references in his initial emails, then beware: he’s probably a creep.
Revealing a little flesh in your photos (a little bit of cleavage or a shoulder for example) can work for you – but showing too much can work against and attract the wrong sort of attention.
Don’t move too fast. It’s easy when you really want to find a man and you find someone who seems to fit the bill, to want to move things to the next level very quickly. Slow down and take it easy.
4. Play the field
It’s OK to be messaging more than one man at the same time (it’s not the same as dating different men at the same time). At this stage you’re finding out about each other. You want to find someone you connect with so it makes sense to see a variety of different men at once. So don’t feel guilty – or mix them up.
5. Taking it offline
After a few emails, speak on the phone (on a mobile rather than on your home number). If you feel that there’s some chemistry between you, then arrange to meet up. Make sure that the first date is in a public place, always tell a friend where you’re going – and don’t forget to take your mobile phone. If the date doesn’t work out, don’t let it get you down – get back online.