Meeting someone you've met online

There are many reasons to remain cautious while meeting someone. Although you can have numerous conversations with a person, it is still important to be on guard when meeting in person. There are many people in this world, looking to victimize someone they meet through online dating. I have had my fair share of dates and was very fortunate to have never run into a creep. Regardless of how often you run into weird people or not, there is still a risk factor when meeting a person for the first time. It is even smart to be cautious when meeting someone for the second and third time.

When dating online, do you feel nervous meeting?
What kind of safety precautions do you take?
Do you make sure to research the person you're going on a date with, prior to meeting?
Do you notify others of where you're going?