I'm turning today's column over to Matt because he has such sound, practical advice for men who're having trouble meeting and connecting with women.

Take it away, Matt ...

First, work on yourself. If you don't find yourself physically attractive, you better believe most women won't either. Join a gym, get a haircut, get yourself some new clothes — do what it takes. Almost all women like a confident man. Boost your self-esteem.

Second, you need to meet a woman to have a chance of having sex and a relationship. There are a variety of online dating website. But I want to be clear about one thing: Date within your status. If on a scale from 1-10 you're a 4 or 5 right now, don't expect to get a woman who's above a 5. Look for women based on their personalities, not their appearance. That way, hopefully you'll find someone you're comfortable with.

Third, you need to morph from the nice guy into the relationship guy. The reason you're the nice guy is because fear has stopped you from the flirting necessary to get you to the next level.

Once you're on a date, you need to make some moves. At dinner, order some wine. Women love to talk, so ask questions. Share your thoughts, but keep the emphasis on getting to know your date. After a couple glasses of wine and some food, it's time for the next step.

Go to a nice bar or club that has some live music and dancing. The music will relax both of you. Then signal your intention to be more than friends by subtle physical movements such as touching her back or shoulder. If she likes you, she may be looking for this to see if you like her, too.

If the conversation is going well and she seems to like you, step it up. I'd suggest some flirting or teasing. Even though we're adults, when it comes to dating we're like grade school kids. This creates a playful atmosphere.

Keep the signals coming. Help her put on her jacket when you're leaving. If you feel she's into you, try and get a kiss before you say goodnight. Start with a big hug goodbye. As the hug ends, let your hands linger around her back and tell her you had a good time. If it seems she's ready for that kiss, go for it.

This might not happen on your first date. Don't get discouraged. If it takes 10 bad dates for one great one, then it's all worth it. Every date will help build your skills.

Kissing leads to more kissing. Let her know that you want to take things slowly when it comes to intercourse. Then you can be relaxed and intimate at the same time. You can kiss and caress each other and give each other massages.

Be a caring lover and find out what pleases her. When you're ready to have intercourse, suggest you both get tested for STDs. Even if you're a virgin, you can't expect her to put her physical safety at risk based on your word.

If she's already on the pill and the test results are negative, then just continue the whole intimacy thing. Eventually it will feel right and it will naturally happen.

Amen, Matt!

Got a problem? Send it, along with your questions and rants to cheryllavinrapp@gmail.com. And check out my ebook, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front."