Congratulations! You posted a profile that managed to attract some interest, somebody contacted you, and you’ve exchanged a message or two. How are things going to go from here? It’s up to the two of you, but on your end, here’s some mistakes for both men and women not to make.

#1. Calling/texting too much. – Of course, if they give you their offline contact info, you’re expected to use it. Sure, drop them a line or a voice message every now and then. But buzzing them 20 times per day screams “stalker!”

#2. Herding. – “Herding” is when you have several interesting someones that you keep up contact with, trying to bring them all along at once. It’s not a cattle ranch!

#3. Talk only about yourself. – Don’t worry, the other person will ask about you anyway. When you run right over whatever they were about to say with more stories about you, you send the message that you’re vain and self-centered.

#4. Not know when to drop it. – Everybody has their own speed. Some people want to get this over with in a few days, some people want to take their time and correspond for months, and some people seem like they’re less interested in getting a date and more interested in writing a book in email installments.

#5. Not communicate enough. – On the other hand, if you’re going to send an email, do try to make it more than one line. Same on the phone; try to stretch that vocabulary a bit. If you let the conversation lapse into embarrassed silence now, what will it be like to live with you?

#6. Stalk online. – By all means, you should double-check with a dating partner to be sure they’re not scamming you. However, there’s a line between checking up on your date, and hacking into mainframes the world over to dig up every moment of their lives from early childhood on. We know you’re good at Internet, but try not to unnerve people with it!

#7. Being bitter about your ex. – Obviously, you’re single or you wouldn’t be here. And yes, some of us are recycled singles. Now can you please drop the past and focus on the now?