Should I Give My Online Date My Phone Number?

Dear Cyber-Dating Expert,

My new profile is starting to get more attention and I’m excited about it, but I’m confused about phone etiquette.

What should I do when a guy I meet online asks me for my phone number?

I’m a bit squeamish about giving my number out to someone I haven’t met. One guy, who seems nice, has asked for it so we can talk this weekend.

Another guy just gave me his number. Do I have to reciprocate and give him mine as well, or should I just let him know that I’ll call.

~Confused

Dear Confused,

As a woman, I can understand why you’d like to keep your phone number private from someone you haven’t met.

There’s no reason to give out your phone number so quickly. I always recommend signing up for a free Google Voice phone number for dating. It’s simple to do. Just go to Google.com/voice. You will be assigned a phone number that isn’t associated to your name in any phone directory. You can have the calls forwarded to your cell phone.

This way if anyone who bothers you keeps calling, you can block their number or have the option to change it to another Google Voice number for dating.

Having a Google Voice number protects your identity and should solve the problem.

Phone number exchanges are really very personal. Some women prefer to give out their number so the men can call them. Others like to take control and do the dialing.

My suggestion is to ask the man for his number and what times are convenient for him to talk. If he doesn’t answer when you call, leave a message and say you’ll call back later.

As far as reciprocating, you don’t have to give out your phone number when a man provides his. See how the conversation goes and if you’re comfortable, then yes, give him your CELL number. He doesn’t have to know it’s really a Google voice number. It’s your secret for now.

If someone asks for your number, let them know you’d be happy to call him and ask for his number.

If all goes well on your date, you’ll be happy to exchange numbers with the man who you’d like to add to your date calendar.

Happy Dating!

Do you have a question for Julie Spira?

Julie Spira is a top online dating expert and founder of CyberDatingExpert.com. She creates irresistible profiles for singles on the dating scene. For more online dating advice, sign up for the Free Weekly Flirt, follow @JulieSpira on Twitter and at Facebook.com/CyberDatingExpert.

Read Julie Spira’s bestselling book, The Perils of Cyber-Dating. Available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Dating Advice – How Do I Know if He Likes Me?

This scene may sound familiar. You meet a guy and have an instant connection. You start flirting back and forth and the next thing you know, you’re wondering, Are we in a relationship? Are the feelings mutual?

When Deb wrote to me with this familiar scenario after sending multiple flirty text messages to each the new man she had a crush on, she was concerned that things were moving too quickly. Was she becoming too attached?

Deb now wonders if her new guy is a player as he was also flirting with other women. She became anxious about the situation. Now her dream guy is sending her emails and text messages saying that he loves her. Even more confused, she called him out on his flirtatious behavior, of which he replied, “I get it.” Should she move forward with this guy? What should she do?

Well Deb, some people are born flirts. Instant chemistry is rare and when we find it, we automatically fast-forward our feelings and start thinking about our relationship, our future, marriage, children, the works. But slow down Deb. Why is this guy who’s texting you with love notes flirting with others in the same sentence as he uses the “L” word so freely. Just how many other women does he say that to? Is he waiting to hear it back to feed his ego or is he sincere?

A man who is committed to being in a relationship with you isn’t going to screw it up by making you jealous and putting himself in the position of being discarded, with his phone number permanently deleted on your iPhone and in your heart.

What should you do? Play the field. Yes. There’s no ring on your finger, and hopefully you haven’t been intimate yet. Don’t confuse love with lust. While your emotions and hormones are running at high speed, you don’t know his intentions other than he’s that instant chemistry guy, which can be dangerous. I know this first hand, as I wrote about it in my book The Perils of Cyber-Dating, when I too, had that instant chemistry with a guy I met. It turned out that he was a major player, and just like the Fleetwood Mac song, Dreams, I’ll hum the line, “Players on love you when they’re playing.” It’s a game that can leave you feeling empty and alone.

My advice is simply, to take it slow. Date other men. Don’t sleep with this chemistry guy. Have fun flirting here and there, but don’t assume you’re in a relationship. Some relationships that start off hot-and-heavy, end just as quickly.

Hopefully your guy is different. Perhaps he’s just nervous. Texting can’t replace quality time in person. Take a look at my latest YourTango Experts video, where I address the texting issue in a relationship. Time will tell if your guy is for real and time is a precious gift.

Keep me posted.

Wishing you much love and happiness.

Julie

Do you have a question for Julie Spira? Send your dating and relationship questions to CyberDatingExpert.com/contact and sign up for our Weekly Flirt.

Julie Spira is an online dating expert and bestselling author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Follow her @JulieSpira on Twitter for dating advice and at Facebook.com/CyberDatingExpert.  

Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert Dating Advice

Do you have a question about online dating? Are you not sure which sites are the best for you? Are you frustrated that he hasn’t taken down his profile?

If so, send us your questions and we’ll discuss them on CyberDatingExpert.com, Facebook, and on our radio show, Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert.

With over 15 years of online dating experience, I’ll teach you how to create an irresistible online dating profile and help you with become successful at dating, love and romance in a Web 2.0 World.

Click here to submit your question.

Irresistible Valentine’s Celebration

Happy February. I always say that Valentine’s Day for women is like the Super Bowl for men. In honor of the most romantic day of the year, we’ll be celebrating in a big way and want to share the news with you.

Irresistible Online Dating Profiles

From February 1 – 6th, our irresistible private coaching and irresistible online dating profiles will be discounted by 15%. That’s right, there’s still time to find your Valentine and we’re committed to helping you by shaving off up to $120 off the price. We’ll hold your hand from creating your profile with a catchy screen name to providing a custom search exclusive to you.Your love life is really worth the investment. Contact us for a private consultation. Valid for serious minded singles only.

Single Edition Radio

Our friends at Single Edition have invited me to be a guest on their show premiere scheduled for Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 9pm/ET. We’ll be talking about how to create an irresistible online dating profile and the dos and don’ts for Internet dating. You can listen live at http://www.talkradiounlimited.com or call in at 612-293-4262 to hear my conversation with Sherri Langburt and Simone Grant.

Valentine’s Chat for Lovers and Lovers in Waiting

It’s an honor to be selected by GenConnect to host their Valentine’s Chat on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 3:30pm/ET. We’ll be talking about how you can snag a date for Valentine’s Day and how to be realistic about your expectations if you’re already in a relationship. Click here to register. All chat participants will be entered into a drawing and one lucky winner will receive a free Irresistible Online Dating Profile.

Valentine’s Edition of Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert Radio Show

Get ready for a very special edition of Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert Radio Show, where my guest will be Dr. Gian Gonzaga, Senior Director of Research and Development at eHarmony Labs.

Gian has just written a new book called, The eHarmony Guide to Dating the Second Time Around. Gian will be taking time from his busy book tour schedule to discuss his book with us just in time for Valentine’s Day.

The Perils of Cyber-Dating – Online Dating Book

We’re getting ready to celebrate our 2-year anniversary since The Perils of Cyber-Dating book was released.

I’m so proud and super-excited as my online dating book has remained on the bestseller list for 2-years! That’s right. Just last week it was a bestseller in Dating, Mate Seeking, and Computers & Internet – Humor. So purchase your copy before they sell out.

Valentine’s Day Dating Advice

There will be no shortage of Valentine’s advice this year. Remember, love is a 365 day year day topic, but check out my recent articles and feel free to comment. We’ve gone International. The Perils of Cyber-Dating book is featured in Elle Magazine this month in Chinese. If you go to Google.com/translate, and post the link, you can read the article. I’ll be updating this list as new articles are published. So stop back and visit and remember to sign up for the Weekly Flirt.

Valentine’s Etiquette – Dos and Don’ts for Your Valentine – Cyber-Dating Expert

Why the Super Bowl for Men is Like Valentine’s Day for Women – Your Tango

Top 10 Valentine’s Dos and Don’ts – Top 10 Blog

5 Ways to Land a Date by Valentine’s – Yahoo! Shine

Valentine’s Events and Parties in Los Angeles – Julie’s Top Picks

Even if you don’t reside in California, I urge you to search for singles events in your home city. I’ve listed my Top 5 favorites for those in the Los Angeles area, so do a Google search for singles parties in your city and please, RSVP for at least one event. Whether you like Valentine’s Day or not, you have an opportunity to expand your social network.

Dating Community – Valentine’s Specials

Our friends at eHarmony are offering their Free Communication Weekend all month long. That’s right, if you sign up now, you can have the entire month of February to use their service at no charge.

Online dating site Lavalife has a Free Love February Special promotion. Any new user who signs up within the month of February will receive 30 days of unlimited access to their online dating site, absolutely free.

For more special offers and recommended dating sites, visit our Dating Community at CyberDatingExpert.com

There are more announcements coming in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, so check back frequently as we’re committed to helping you find love online this Valentine’s.

Top 10 of 2010 – Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert Radio Show

To remember 2010, we are pleased to share the best and highest rated show segments on Ask the Cyberdating Expert Radio Show during the calendar year.

All I can say is WOW! It’s been an amazing year filled with dating advice to help you while looking for love online. Over 37,000 loyal fans listened to the program, where we talked about dating, love and romance in a Web 2.0 World.

Here’s our Top 10 list for the year for your listening pleasure.

1. The Frisky - Amelia McDonnell-Parry, editor-in-chief

2. Cupid’s Coach – Julie Ferman, founder

3. Liar Liar List – Beth Greenfield, founder

4. David Wygant - Dating Expert

5. Your Tango – Tom Miller, General Manager and columnist, Tomfoolery

6. OkCupid – Sam Yagan, CEO

7. Match.com – Whitney Casey, Relationship Insider

8. Senior People Meet – Dr. Terri L. Ohrbuch, The Love Doctor

9. People Media – Josh Meyers

10. Weopia – Dave Wilkie

The 2010 year also included well respected relationship authors and dating experts Andrea Syrtash, Lori Gottlieb, Dr. Carole Lieberman, Alix Strauss, Marie Forleo, Tina Tessina, Debra Berndt, Kristen McGuinness, Paige Parker, Dr. Diana Kirschner, Deb and Liv from Flirtexting, Cougar Expert Lucia, Carrie Seim, and Don’t Date Him Girl’s Tasha Cuningham.

We featured online dating sites and dating advice sites including Cosmopolitan – Ky Henderson, eLove – Paul Falzone,  eHarmony – Dr. Gian Gonzaga,  The Wing Girls – Jet and Star, Brainiac Dating – Lawrence Chernin,  Cupidtino – Mel Sampat, Perfect Match – Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Speed Date – Dan Abelon, Single Edition – Sherri Langburt, True – Herb Vest, Scientific Match – Eric Holzle, Opposites Connect – Larry Wilson, Meetcha – Jeff Taylor, and SKOUT Mobile Dating – Christian Wiklund.

A special mention goes to this year’s launch of the new digital dating cards with Lori Cheek from Cheekd and Rachel DeAlto from FlipMe Dating. It was an honor to feature Harvard Professor Michael I. Norton on the subject of virtual dating.

All of the programs can be heard at blogtalkradio.com/cyberdatingexpert

We’ll resume again in 2011 and look forward to hearing more about dating, love and romance in a Web 2.0 World.

Show segments:

1. The Frisky

2. Cupid’s Coach

3. Liar Liar List

4. David Wygant

5. YourTango

6. OkCupid

7. Match.com

8. Senior People Meet

9. People Media

10. Weopia

Cheekd Dating Cards – Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert Show

Listen to Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert Radio Show where Julie Spira spoke with Lori Cheek, founder of Cheek’d dating cards.

Cheekd flirting cards combines connecting with someone offline and engaging with them online. It’s a romantic way of meeting someone in real life with an online dating digital twist. Each deck has 43 sayings to pick from in a 50 card deck.

From “Act natural. We can get awkward later” to “Emotionally available”  and “I couldn’t find a napkin” to “I just put all my drinks on your tab,” you’ll hear about which cards are the most popular in the deck.

Plus! We’ll be giving away 5 Free decks of cards with a one-month membership on our Facebook page. Like us at Facebook.com/cyberdatingexpert for more details.

Listen to learn more about dating, love and romance in a Web 2.0 World.

Online Dating Sites for African-American Singles

Online dating sites based on religion, race, professions, and hobbies are becoming more popular every day. We call them niche Internet dating sites.

In this week’s Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert question, a very attractive and successful African-American woman named Veronica asked me on our Facebook page to help her while looking for love online. I know Veronica and she deserves to find love in the crowded digital playing field.

Dear Julie,

Any advice for us African-American women who are looking for mates? Many of us are equal-opportunity daters. Can we get more opportunities from high caliber guys?

Veronica

Dear Veronica,

I’m glad you reached out for help in finding a mate online. The good news is you can date within your ethnicity or reach out beyond.

If you are looking for quality African-American men, I recommend signing up for sites such as BlackPeopleMeet.com and SoulSingles.com.

At the same time, I’d check out the many traditional online dating sites which allow you to search in a variety of ethnicities. I suggest you take the time and reach out to men that you find attractive, rather than waiting for them to find you. More often than not, a man will be flattered when he sees your email in his Inbox.

Best of luck with your search and keep us posted on your results.

Julie Spira

Do you have a questions for Cyber Dating Expert Julie Spira? Send us your questions to CyberDatingExpert.com/contact

Harvard’s Michael I. Norton on Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert Radio Show

Have you ever tried virtual dating?

In this episode of Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert Radio Show, host Julie Spira spoke with Michael I. Norton, Associate Professor at Harvard Business School about research that shows that going on a virtual date increases your chance for success when you meet in real life.

So what exactly is a virtual date?

Learn how you can go on a simulated date with avatars to benefit and help improve your online dating search. You’ll also hear about how social networking sites can improve your chances of finding love online.

Listen  for dating advice and to hear more about dating, love and romance in a Web 2.0 World.

Ask the Cyber Dating Expert Radio Show Featuring Virtual Dating

Get ready to learn about virtual dating as we’ll be devoting an entire segment on the topic on this week’s Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert Radio Show.

It’s with great pleasure to announce that Harvard Business School Associate Professor Michael I. Norton will be our featured guest on October 30, 2010.

Norton has been featured in the Economist, Financial Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. He will be discussing his study, “People are Experience Goods: Improving Online Dating With Virtual Dates” from the Journal of Interactive Marketing.

You’ll find out why going on a virtual date before meeting for the first time will result in a better experience.

Call in at 646-929-0012 on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 2pm/ET, 12 noon/CT, 11am/PT to learn more about dating, love and romance in a Web 2.0 World.

Listen to internet radio with Cyberdating Expert on Blog Talk Radio

A Conversation with Cupidtino – Online Dating for Apple Fans

Listen to Ask the Cyber Dating Expert Radio Show where Julie Spira spoke with Mel Sampat, one of the founders of Cupidtino, a new online dating site for Apple enthusiasts and fans.

The site, not created or endorsed by Apple, drew attention by the Techcrunch during its beta launch earlier this year.

“It started when I brought my iPad to the dinner table while looking for a job,” said Sampat. He added, “All I wanted to do was talk about the iPad and apps and my girlfriend said,  No, it’s our US time.”

Sampat thought it would be good to have dinner with someone who liked the iPad and Apple products much as he did and it inspired him to create the Internet dating site.

Apple Fanboys and Fangirls can sign up for free and write emails at no charge. Members answer for simple questions including, “Why did you get a Mac?”

Their iPhone app should be available in the near future.

Now, let’s hear from Mel about Cupidtino.

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