I find that just chatting online is good. Even if you can not meet the person in real life. Communication is the best way to get things to say to people without their reaction on their face. Which tells alot about someone when you meet them in person. If you get tired of someone online you have a choice. I think we have to find what resonates with each of us the best. If you Click with someone then Click on .... Hi Chris, how ya doing today! I am just peachy

Honesty is the best approach. If you're doing something that's out of your usual comfort zone in an effort to greet and meet, just say so. The person you reach may have been wondering how best to approach you for the same reason.

Hi I saw your post/reply to a post and wanted to get to know you better. Hi I read your profile and found it fascinating. These are examples of the messaging I receive here and often respond to. Just don't ask me to text or email right away. I like to talk on phone and have direct conversation. Your voice tells me if you are who you say you are.

"The details of my life are quite inconsequential... very well, where do I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a fifteen year old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. My childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds- pretty standard really. At the age of twelve I received my first scribe. At the age of fourteen a Zoroastrian named Vilma ritualistically shaved my testicles. There really is nothing like a shorn scrotum... it's breathtaking- I highly suggest you try it."

Either way will be fine depending on what you are selling or buying

I doubt it. If I got an email or PM introduction that was polished and concise. I would suspect that it was a scam or at best from someone who does this a lot.

Just be yourself, make sure you say everything you want, and include some questions to leave an opening for a reply.