There’s a section on online dating profiles that allows singles to share their ideas for a first date. A number of men stick with the typical “coffee” meet up. However, some are creative in their approach. Rather than sip coffee, they suggest activities like a hike in the mountains or a scenic ride on a motorcycle.
As an ad writer and marketing expert, I say hats off for taking an approach that others don’t. However, there’s one important marketing principle that you need to follow and that is: understand your target.
Men, when it comes to making first date suggestions, remember that you’re meeting a complete stranger. More specifically, remember that the woman is meeting a complete stranger. Put yourself in her shoes (not literally!).
Unless she’s never seen a horror movie or, for that matter, picked up a newspaper there’s little chance that an emotionally-healthy female will want to risk being with you on an isolated highway or forest.
If she does, then there’s a good chance that she has the kind of naivety associated to poor self-esteem and boundaries. As sweet as that might seem, it could invite all kinds of drama.
So what’s a man to do if he wants to show how much more interesting he is than anyone else – without scaring matches away?
First tip for that first date.
Go onto your city’s tourism page and explore some of the great public events and outings that you can safely share with a skittish stranger.
What about heading to an aquarium or science center? Is there a parade coming up or a fun, free outdoor concert?
On that note, is there an art show on the horizon or, better yet, is there a street known for its great galleries? You can explore the work and then sit down for a coffee afterward.
These kinds of outings don’t have to take up much time – two hours at best. And yet, they can provide three very important benefits to you:
1) You become more interesting than the men who settle for coffee interviews.
Online dating can be a bit redundant. You meet a stranger. You sit and have awkward conversation over coffee. Then, you meet another stranger and have another awkward conversation with a stranger.
By doing something different you make your time together unique and much more memorable so that you don’t get lost in the crowd of sameness.
2) You show that you’re willing to make an effort to court a woman.
This is incredibly sexy. Online dating has made a lot of men complacent. They send “winks and likes” instead of emails and, when they do send emails, they often don’t amount to much other than “Hi”. There’s nothing like going that extra step to make you come out miles ahead of your competition.
3) Distractions help you break the ice and bond faster.
I always suggest that you not skip through the email process of online dating because it’s a valuable way of uncovering ice breakers and getting the dialogue moving naturally. Nevertheless, the first 10 or 15 minutes of meet up can still be awkward. Having an interesting activity that you can both share, coupled with a stream of emails before your first meet, can make every second a lot of un.
Whatever you choose to do on your first date, make sure that you do what all good advertisers do and that’s to consider your target. When it comes to women, that means keeping a heightened sensitivity to safety in mind. It’ll make the experience together that much more relaxed and enjoyable.
For a better understanding of women and safety, read my blog post: 10 Online Dating Safety Tips Every Woman Needs To Know.
