I met my dominant online, I asked him to meet me at my local munch (this served as my public place as well as being full of people who would look out for me.) After this initial meeting he asked me out on another date and we saw each other regularly. It was no different to ordinary dating without the kink but we both knew we liked and wanted a dom/sub relationship.

We started by getting to know one another in a 'vanilla' sense, to know we could be friends first and making sure there were common interests etc.
Of course the conversation turned to the 'lifestyle' and we gradually shared what each of us liked, and what we didn't like.

I suggest if you are both inexperienced and looking for long term getting to know each other as you would anyone else you meet, if it is to be it will just click and work from there.

Take care.