The first conversation

Even if you're feeling shy, there's no need to be tongue-tied during that first chat. Follow our dos and don'ts and you may even get that date.

DO

• Introduce yourself first, before asking their name
• Make brief eye contact from time to time, and smile
• Ask them about themselves
• Ask open questions, in other words ones that can't be answered with just a 'yes' or a 'no'
• Ask about their interests, find out if you share any
• Show interest in their answers
• Strike a balance when answering their questions so you appear interesting, but still fairly modest
• Lean towards them a little more if things seem to be going well
• Try mirroring their body language
• Leave them wanting to know a bit more about you
• Act relaxed and confident, but not arrogant
• Have a sense of humour
• It's OK to tell them they are attractive if you like them, in case they start thinking of you as 'just a friend'
• If it goes well, say you'd like to meet them again and ask if they'd like to swap numbers
• Be honest if you don't want to take it any further
• Keep your cool if they tell you they're not interested

DON'T

• Call someone 'babe' or 'darlin', and forget to ask their name
• Stare or leer at them
• Put up with any crap if someone is being creepy
• Use tacky lines and expect them to work
• Hound someone who is obviously not interested
• Insult them, or make them the butt of nasty jokes
• Demand someone's entire life story
• Talk about yourself incessantly, not letting them get a word in
• Try too hard to make yourself sound important
• Go on at length about miserable things from your past
• Ignore their answers when you've asked them a question
• Boast about how good you are in bed
• Boast about how many other lovers you've had
• Get pressured into giving your number to someone you don't like or find scary
• Ask for their number if you know you won't be calling them