How to Start a Conversation Through Online Dating

Learn how to start a conversation through online dating | Photo by Free-Photos on Pixabay

You might think chatting with someone on dating apps is easier than speaking to them in person. After all, you don’t have to deal with dead air, awkward silences, or even rejection. However, chatting online also has its fair share of challenges, such as sending messages with misspelled words, autocorrect messing with your sentences, and, the gravest of which, the reader misinterpreting your messages.

While this can make meeting people online more challenging, this doesn’t mean they are impossible to overcome. You simply have to adjust your methods of communication based on the platform. Besides, one of the great things about messaging online is that you can curate your conversations. You might even be surprised at how more meaningful your conversations can be.

Still, whether you’re talking to someone in person or online, thoroughly getting to know someone can still be a daunting task, especially if you are looking for a serious relationship. But that doesn’t change the fact that communication is one of the best ways to know a person. With that said, here are some tips on how to start a conversation through online dating:

1. Allow your date some time to respond

Even when sending messages online you shouldn’t hog the conversation. Give your date time to respond and give her leeway to steer the conversation to topics she’s interested in. A healthy conversation is when both parties take turns talking and listening. If you dominate the conversation, you might as well have been talking to yourself.

You should also allow the person some time to get into the rhythm of the conversation. You may also have to adjust your method of communication to accommodate your date. The important thing is both of you get time to express and reveal more about yourselves. That way you are genuinely learning more about each other, and hopefully get closer.

2. Don’t even bother with sexual innuendo

You don’t want to come across as a jerk right at outset. Even if you are looking for a fling, you still don’t want to be thought of as a creep. If you want to progress your relationship with your chatmate, better act like a gentleman—even if you are just corresponding online.

Even in this modern age, there are still women who want to be won over the old-fashioned way, and that means being on your best behaviour. Besides, there’s no harm in being polite. She might even be charmed by how considerate you are during your conversations, even if you are just communicating on sites and apps. And even though you aren’t looking for anything serious, being polite might just lead to something that lasts longer.

3. Ask engaging questions

Don’t stick to the generic queries. Sure those questions get the conversation going, but make sure you come up with others that pique her interest and allow her to open up to you.

The right questions open the doors for deeper and more meaningful conversations. It also strengthens your tentative bond between one another. Add being an active listener and she would eventually view you as someone that she can trust.

The whole point of these questions is to get to know your date on a deeper level. But in order to know the right questions to ask, make sure to pay attention to what she’s saying.

But aside from asking the right questions, you should also be conscious of how you ask them. Don’t make it seem like a job interview or interrogation. All in all, just keep them casual to put her at ease.

4. Don’t panic when you’ve run out of topics

In regular conversation, there’s always pauses in between topics. Some of them are awkward while others just signify that the discussion has drawn its natural conclusion. The same can be said when talking and meeting people online.

When you feel like you’ve run out of things to talk about, don’t worry too much about it. That doesn’t mean that the spark has run out. It just means there’s a little break in the conversation, which you might both need every now and then. After all, you don’t want to suffocate her with your presence (even if it is in an online capacity).

Besides, there’s nothing wrong with taking time to think of other things to talk about.

5. Throw some jokes in

Humor is one way to win a girl’s heart. So if you can, try to sneak in a few jokes every now and then. And if things go well between you two, you might even have your own inside jokes. When that happens, then it’s a sign that your relationship is going swimmingly.

But keep the jokes appropriate and within context. If you are dating someone from another country, make sure your jokes wouldn’t be considered offensive in her culture. One of the unspoken tips of meeting new people is to not offend them, more so if you want to establish a romantic relationship with one of them.

6. Don’t get overly familiar right away

Getting to know each other is a gradual process. Naturally, it’s going to be awkward at the start. After all, you are both testing out your connection (or at the very least trying to gauge whether you have any connection).

Pretending otherwise actually makes your interactions more awkward. It’s understandable that you want to put her at ease, but speeding up that process by coming up with nicknames or making plans right away. She might be the type of person that takes time to get along with someone.

Another way you can impress your love interest is to show her how considerate you can be. And if she sees you adjusting to her way of conversing, she’ll appreciate your efforts and even start opening up to you more.

Whether you’ve signed up for the best dating apps for men or matchmaking sites, it pays to learn how to start a conversation through online dating because it can really help you connect with potential matches. But just like any regular conversation, you just have to enjoy the process of getting to know one another and possibly strengthening your bond. If you take it too seriously, then you’re setting yourself up for failure. So enjoy chatting and getting to know your online date.