wikiHow’s Ultimate Guide to Dating

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1 Stage 1: Get Yourself Ready to Date

2 Stage 2: Put Yourself Out There

3 Stage 3: Navigate a First Date

4 Stage 4: Dating and Building Intimacy

5 Stage 5: Get Serious & Enjoy Your New Romance

6 Stage 6: Build a Life Together

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Co-authored by Luis Congdon

Last Updated: March 22, 2024

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Are you looking to improve your romantic life? Whether you’re just learning to ask someone out, you want to get better at kissing, or you’d like to improve communication with your long-term partner, we’ve got you covered.

This guide will give you our best advice and articles for whatever stage of dating you’re in. Scroll down to find the stage that you’re currently at, and dive in!

Steps

Section 1 of 6:

Stage 1: Get Yourself Ready to Date

1. 1
   If you've never dated before, or if you're just getting back into the dating game, this section will help you get ready. Here you'll find our best advice for working on yourself, deciding on what you're looking for in a partner, and putting your best foot forward.
2. 2
   Work On Yourself

   • Boost Your Confidence
   • Improve Your Self-Esteem
   • Make Sure You’re Over Past Relationships
   • Boost Your Attractiveness (For Guys)
   • Boost Your Attractiveness (For Girls)
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3. 3
   Decide What You're Looking For

   • Figure Out The Type of Person You Should Date
   • Decide What You Want And Need In a Relationship
   • Consider Why You Want to Start Dating
4. 4
   Put Your Best Foot Forward

   • Learn How to Be a Good Date
   • Learn How to Be Charming
   • Brush Up On Your Conversation Skills
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Section 2 of 6:

Stage 2: Put Yourself Out There

1. 1
   If you’re hoping to meet someone new and are ready to jump into the dating pool, you need to put yourself out there. Whether you need advice for setting up your dating app profile or want to boost your texting game, we’ve got you covered.
2. 2
   Boost Your Dating App Game

   • Wondering if Someone Likes You Online? 11 Important Signs to Watch Out For
   • How to Get Verified on Dating Apps
   • How to Text a Guy on a Dating App
   • The 15 Best Ways to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself" on a Dating App
3. 3
   Master Text Conversations

   • How to Tell Your Crush You Like Him over Text
   • How to Flirt Through Text Messages
   • How to Flirt with a Girl over Text
   • How to Ask a Guy to Hook Up over Text
   • The 11 Best Ways to Respond to an "I'm Thinking About You" Text
   • How to Deal with Being Left On Read
4. 4
   Make a Good First Impression

   • How to Make a Good First Impression
   • How to Be Charismatic
   • How to Be Confident in Your Looks
   • How to Feel Confident
   • How to Be Socially Confident
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Section 3 of 6:

Stage 3: Navigate a First Date

1. 1
   First dates can seem intimidating, but they don’t have to be. Remember that you don’t have to be anything other than yourself. However, you do want to present yourself well, and you also want to be clear about what you’re looking for. We’ll help you do that while remaining confident and relaxed.
2. 2
   Prepare for a First Date Like a Pro

   • How to Get Ready for a Date
   • First Date Makeup Tutorial: Tips for a Stunning Makeup Look
   • 10 Essentials to Bring on a First Date
   • How to Dress on a First Date (for Guys)
   • Ready for Your First Kiss? How to Practice Kissing
3. 3
   How to Behave on a First Date

   • How to Act on a First Date
   • How to Make a Good Impression on a First Date
   • How to Impress Someone on a First Date
   • Already know the person you’re going on a date with? Here’s how to act
   • How to Ask a Girl for a Kiss
   • How to Kiss
4. 4
   What to Do After the First Date is Over

   • How to Act After the First Date
   • 11 Clear Signs He Likes You After Your First Date
   • How Long Should You Wait Before Going on a Second Date? Time Between Dates & When to Ask for the Second Date
   • How to Ask for a Second Date over Text (12 Examples)
   • How to Tell Someone You Don't Want to Go on Another Date
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Section 4 of 6:

Stage 4: Dating and Building Intimacy

1. 1
   The early days of dating someone are exciting, but they can also feel scary. What does it mean to date someone casually or even to date multiple people? How do you get intimate? This section will help you navigate the casual dating world and figure out what works best for you.
2. 2
   How to Know if You Like Someone You’re Newly Dating

   • What Emojis Will a Girl Use if She Likes You
   • How to Know When Someone Likes You
   • How Often Should You Text Someone You Just Started Dating
   • How to Handle Anxiety When You’re Dating Someone New
   • How to Know if You Should Continue Dating Someone
3. 3
   How to Navigate Casual Dating

   • How to Start A Friends with Benefits Relationship
   • How to Navigate Dating Multiple Women at Once
   • How to Date More than One Guy at a Time
   • How to Assess What Stage You Are At in a Relationship
4. 4
   Tips for Getting Intimate With Someone You’re Seeing

   • Tips for Having a Steamy Makeout
   • How to Turn a Girl On
   • Here’s How to Ask Someone if They Want to Have Sex
   • How to Give Someone a Hickey
   • How to Seduce a Man
   • How to Seduce a Woman
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Section 5 of 6:

Stage 5: Get Serious & Enjoy Your New Romance

1. 1
   So you’ve been dating each other for a bit, and things have heated up. Are you ready to become exclusive? We’ve got a selection of articles that will help you define your relationship and take it to the next level. Plus, we’ve collected our best advice for romantic date nights, spicing up your sex life, and building trust.
2. 2
   How to Define the Relationship

   • How to Go From Casually Dating to Being Exclusive
   • How to Know When things Are Heading Towards Exclusivity
   • How to Transition from Dating Someone to a Relationship
   • How to Define the Relationship
3. 3
   Enjoying Incredible Date Nights Together

   • How to Plan a Romantic Evening
   • 15 Unique Ideas for a Romantic Date Night at Home
   • How to Make the Perfect Dinner for Date Night
   • How to Pick a Creative Idea for a Date
   • 19 Fun & Romantic Things to Do with Your Girlfriend at Home
   • How to Be Comfortable Around That Special Someone
4. 4
   Finding Romance with Your Partner

   • How to Be Romantic with Each Other on the Phone
   • How to Spice up Your Sex Life
   • How to Enjoy Phone Sex
   • How to Make Your Man Happy, Emotionally and Sexually, in a Relationship
   • How to Build Trust in a Relationship
   • How to Have a Deep Conversation with Your Partner (and What Questions to Ask)
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Section 6 of 6:

Stage 6: Build a Life Together

1. 1
   Are you thinking you’ve found the one? Make sure you know how to keep your relationship healthy and thriving. Whether you’re trying to figure out when to say “I Love You” or working on your communication, these articles will help you stay on the right track.
2. 2
   Figuring Out if You Love Someone

   • How to Know if You Love Someone
   • How to Know if a Person Truly Loves You
   • How to Know What it Means to Love Someone
   • How to Say “I Love You” to Someone
3. 3
   Navigating a Serious Relationship

   • How to Have a Serious Conversation About Your Relationship
   • How to Make a Relationship Last
   • How to Communicate Better in a Relationship
   • How to Have a Long and Happy Relationship
4. 4
   Handling Relationship Conflict

   • How to Deal With Conflict in Relationships
   • How to Respect Your Partner
   • How to Be a Good Listener
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Learn Dating Fundamentals with this Expert Series

Are you new to dating or just looking to improve your game? These expert articles will set you up for success with the basics of dating.

1

Date

2

wikiHow’s Ultimate Guide to Dating

3

Decide if You Are Attracted to Someone

4

Tell if You Genuinely Like Someone

5

Am I Ready For A Relationship Quiz

6

Get to Know the Person You're Dating

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