Just as with normal off-line relationships, online relationships have to be tended and to be allowed to grow over time. Here are some fast growing tips:
1. Take Time and Make Time: Does your online date email you often? Do you do the same? Neglecting to get in touch is considered rude, so treat each other’s time respectfully. If that respect is lacking, it might mean that it is time to move on.
2. Communication Needs to “Feel” Right For Both of You: If one of you is being too pushy about having a meeting, for instance, that can create ill feelings. So, please, don’t rush; take your time to learn more about each other and develop trust.
3. Respect Each Other’s Privacy: Don’t share the other person’s email addresses or digital photos with your friends online, for example; especially if your online date sent you the information in confidence.
4. Share Special Online and Offline Fun Times: when online: send online greeting cards; links to favourite sites to upload digital photos of your favourite pet or car; download music and video clips; post on favourite forums of interest. When offline: if you’re exchanging addresses or post office boxes, send printed greeting cards and postcards and/or small items from your area (like a key chain with your state bird).
5. Share Recipes: People get tired of talking about the weather, so a popular subject to turn to is food. Sharing information about favourite foods and recipes helps to break the ice and even helps create friendships over your culinary skills, or the lack thereof, and tastes. Search your favorite search engine for free recipes to share and take photos of your culinary creations and share them with your date as well.
6. Bidding at Auctions: Ebay auctions sell just about everything, don’t they? There you go then, surf around and enter searches like the dates you were in middle school and share nostalgic memorabilia of old games, toys and TV shows from when you were young or when your parents or grandparents were little.
Online dating can be an educational and fun experience. So, go on, take the time to learn more about each other and have fun while youre doing it! Take a cyber-stroll down ol’ memory lane together and see what’s cookin’. Look after your online friendship, water it with care and over time it can sprout and grow.