Hi Adrian,
You have to show your intent from the get-go if you want to be successful in making more than just “friends” on dating sites.
If you play it too safe, you give the girl the impression that you aren’t serious about romance or even hooking up, and they put you in the friendship category in their minds.
Once you are there, it is very hard to get out of, even if you suddenly start flirting or asking to meet up.
Always start your conversations with girls on dating sites with intent. Be playful. Tease. Flirt. Don’t spend forever building up the courage to ask her to meet up.
If you are more aggressive in your approach to online dating, you won’t have to keep getting relegated to the role of “friend.”