1. The First Message (Do Not Just Say "Hey")

"Hey," "Hi," and "What's up?" are the fastest ways to kill a conversation before it even starts. They put all the pressure on the other person to come up with something interesting to say.

The Fix: Personalize your opening message. Look at their profile. Do they have a photo at Victoria Falls? Ask them when they went. Do they list "cooking" as a hobby? Ask them what their signature dish is. A simple, personalized question shows you paid attention and makes it easy for them to reply.

2. Keep the Momentum Going

Once the conversation starts, aim for a balanced back-and-forth. Avoid turning it into an interrogation with endless questions, but also avoid talking only about yourself.

Share brief stories, ask follow-up questions, and let your sense of humor show. If the conversation flows naturally for a few days, you are on the right track.

3. Transitioning Off the App

Do not stay on the dating app forever. If you have been having a great conversation for 3-5 days, it is time to suggest moving to WhatsApp or a phone call.

How to ask: "I'm really enjoying our conversation. I'm not on here super often—would you be open to swapping numbers and continuing on WhatsApp?"

4. Proposing the First Date

If the phone calls or WhatsApp chats are going well, ask them out within the first week or two. Waiting too long can cause the connection to fizzle out into a digital pen-pal situation.

Suggest a specific, low-pressure date. Instead of saying, "We should hang out sometime," try: "Would you like to grab coffee at [Specific Cafe] this Saturday afternoon?"