Picture this: Tim, a vibrant and optimistic man in his late twenties, nervously sits at a café, waiting for his online date to arrive. 

They had hit it off in their messages, exchanging witty banter and shared interests. But as the minutes tick by, Tim's excitement turns to disappointment when his date fails to show up.

Does this sound familiar? If you've ever dabbled in online dating, chances are you've encountered your fair share of disappointing experiences like Tim's. 

But, how you navigate this situation decides whether or not you’re fit for online dating. Here’s the first dating tip for men you shouldn’t ignore: 

Waiting for your ONLY match to act right? Swipe left!

So, you found that one match who seems like they could be 'The One' ghosted you? And you wait around for her to text you back? That’s awful!

STOP waiting, and move on! Why put all your eggs in one basket? Keep your options open, swipe left on waiting around for one person to come through, and see what else is out there!

You NEED to stop responding quickly!

Look, we get it – you're eager to keep the conversation flowing. 

Sometimes doing this makes you seem desperate in front of them. 

Take your time, craft your messages thoughtfully, and let a little anticipation build up. Trust us, a little mystery can be a good thing!

Do you even want to date someone? Think again!

Before you dive headfirst into online dating, take a moment to ask yourself: "Am I really ready for this?" It's easy to get swept up in the excitement, but make sure you're in it for the right reasons. 

Are you genuinely looking for a connection, or are you just swiping out of boredom? Take a beat to check in with yourself before you jump in.

You’re giving away your info!  

Hold up a sec! Before you start handing out your digits like candy, consider this: are you comfortable sharing your personal info just yet? 

Take your time to get to know the person a bit better before you start sharing digits. Safety first, bud!

Tell them the truth - if they’re for you or not. 

Ghosting is the worst, right? If you're not feeling the vibe after a date or two, it's okay to be honest about it. 

Instead of leaving them hanging, consider sending a polite message saying you don't see a romantic connection. 

Now, let’s see how you can respond to them politely. (I have used this one myself!)

1. “Hey, what’s up? I know you’ve been asking to meet, and I appreciate your interest in our meeting. I just want to tell you that I don’t see a romantic connection with you.” 

Although it sounds formal and somewhat awkward, respond this way to clearly define a boundary. 

At last, as time goes on, rules to online dating changes too. 

The #1 rule you need to always remember while dating online is to be adaptable. 

Adapt to the circumstance, the situation, the person, the absence, and everything else. 

Why? Because it will keep you sane and allow you to become a better partner in the future. 

Like what you read here? Check out more of our dating tips for men where we talk about do’s and don'ts for dating, check letmeanalyze.