For a woman, making the first move is probably the biggest no-no. Even if men insist they’re really fine with women approaching them, most women prefer being the ones being pursued rather than being the ones pursuing. However, when it comes to online dating, the boundaries seem less rigid and women are more likely to make the first move and approach men online. But, while it does seem less intimidating online, are there any rules or guidelines women should be following when approaching men online?

Meeting Men Online – How To Do It Right

Should I? Shouldn’t I?
Honestly, offline or online, it’s really okay for a woman to approach a man. When it comes to online dating, if you are interested in someone, it’s best to go ahead and approach them because simply wishing him to contact you is unlikely to work! Creating a profile and waiting for the world to notice is not going to work. Get active on the site and contact the men you are interested in to get your dating life up and going.

Show Interest
If you are not comfortable with sending a guy an email at the first go or initiating a chat without knowing if they would interested in you, then your next best option it to “Show Interest”. This way you can let the guy know you are interested in getting to know him better and hopefully he will respond with an “Interest” or maybe even an email too.

Communicate
The advice is the same for guys and for girls – good communication is the key when starting off an online relationship. If you are writing an email for example, keep things interesting and if you need help, read through our tips for writing a good first email [link]. Write a unique and interesting introductory email and you’re likely to hook the guy at the get go. Also, if you are interacting with the guy over chat or instant messenger, make an effort to create interesting conversation that will not only help you get to know the guy better but give him an idea about your personality as well.

Be Yourself
The greatest temptation in online dating is to create a persona that isn’t really you but that’s the one thing you should never do. Remember to be yourself at all times. So if you are normally shy and reticent, don’t adopt an overly flirtatious and flamboyant online persona because you would only be giving men a false impression about you. Be confident about approaching men online but stay true to yourself so the men you chat with get to know you for who you are.

Don’t Rush Meetings
Obviously the main point of online dating is to meet someone, hopefully fall in love and even better, live happily ever after. But, don’t approach every man as though he’s “the one” and compel him to meet you after just a few weeks of knowing him. You are likely to be disappointed if you insist on meeting every man you approach online. Instead, take your time to get to know the men better and screen carefully before you set up a real life date and you will probably have a greater success ratio with your dates.

Give It Time
Women often get frustrated with online dating because it takes them time to meet someone worthwhile. Truth is, it would probably take just as long offline or maybe even longer but women sometimes tend to expect online dating to create miracles. Don’t approach men online expecting the perfect man to be waiting to make an appearance. Approach men without expecting to meet the ideal

When it comes to approaching men, whether it is online or offline, it is important to shed your inhibitions and let go of any pre-conceived notions you might have.  It is really ok to approach men so don’t worry about what anyone else has to say and simply go for it.