Initiating a conversation online is pretty much the same as meeting someone in person. You want to be sure to make a good first impression. Read on for five simple tips to create a good first contact message.

Be Polite and Brief
Begin by introducing yourself in a polite, friendly way. Give them a few important facts about yourself. Don’t go into too much detail. When you meet someone on a first date, you don’t tell them the whole story of your life, do you? Exercise the same friendly, yet slightly reserved demeanour online. Make your introduction short and general, not too detailed.

Invite a Reply
Let your possible suitor know that you are interested by asking them a few questions. When you ask questions, this invites them to reply, and it starts a conversation. Ask them what they like to do for fun or what their ideal date would be like. Ask about the location where they grew up or general information about their educational background. Most people will feel comfortable with giving you information about these “safe” topics.

Show Your Personality
Try to reveal your sense of humour by sharing something funny that happened to you this week. This will hopefully make the reader laugh, and laughter is always a good ice breaker. Reading your message will probably cause them to reply with a similar story about an experience they had.

Don’t Come on Too Strong
Some users seem to think that the best way to get a date is to begin by talking about sex or other things that are completely inappropriate. This technique might work if you are trolling for shallow, sexual relationships. However, if you’re truly looking for a meaningful relationship, then don’t send crass or lascivious messages.

Use Spell Checker
You have to remember that the person you are messaging has never met you. They only know you based on your online profile. Sending them a personal message will give them a better idea of who you are, but make sure you take the time to compose the message correctly. Use your spell checker and read over the message several times before you send it. You don’t want to send a message that is filled with spelling errors and grammar problems. These errors might cause the reader to develop a snap judgement about your intelligence.

Valentine’s Day is a festive time for year for people of all ages and it is a day best enjoyed with the company of someone special. Many mature singles are finding that the best way to find and make new friends is by joining an online dating site. They are incredibly simple to join and you can meet more people than you could otherwise. It is easier to find other people over 50s who have similar interests this way as well because you can simply take a look at the information they have posted in their profiles to see if you would mesh well together. You can also have some conversation with them without having to meet them in person so you do not end up wasting your time with someone you know you would not relate to well.

A Valentine’s date could be a good way to thrust yourself back into the dating game if you have not dated in a long time. Many mature singles who may be long divorced or widowed are uncomfortable about the prospect of starting over with dating and this could be a ripe opportunity to face the fear head on and try something new. There are many Australians over 50s who are feeling the same way and you may be able to both find comfort in each other. Holidays can be especially lonely if you are spending them alone and online dating sites offer the perfect solution to avoid such situations.

But just because Valentine’s Day is approaching does not mean that the person you spend it with has to be a romantic interest. Many Australians spend the day with good friends just celebrating life and being festive in creative ways. By browsing through profiles of fellow members on dating sites, you can get a good idea of who would be interested in the same sort of companionship that you yourself feel ready for. You should be able to find several people who meet your criteria and then you can initiate some dialogue to see who really clicks with you and who does not. They may even offer some ideas to celebrate the day with that you would not have thought of yourself.