There are stages? How would you characterise the stages?
It’s a bit like chess, a lot view your profile knowing that you can see they’ve viewed and hope you’ll message them. If you don’t, they might add you as a favourite. This is the virtual equivalent of smiling at you across a crowded bar. If you don’t rise to that, they might send a “flirt” or just come straight out with an opener.
Then you can wow her with your acerbic witt – conversations ALWAYS follow pretty much the same format, so my patter has become rather refined – although I resist the temptation to copy/paste and always include plenty of specific references.
Then there will be the number swap – usually initiated by the lady as a ploy to get you away from that bloody website. Possibly a request to view your facebook “to see if you’re genuine”… Code for not married, a nutter, player etc.
I tend to find that once they have my mobile number, they’ll text constantly to build rapport before the first date… You have to bear in mind, whilst it’s not a big issue for a bloke to go into a bar alone and wait for a complete stranger, women have other concerns.
After that, you’re on your own! The usual rules/confusion about follow-up calls etc apply… Tis a minefield.