An easy way to get to know someone is by asking them lots of questions. It sounds silly, but it works, and it’s easier to go back and forth with questions rather than navigating an awkward conversation with a stranger. You can tell a lot about someone not just by how the answer a question, but by the way in which they talk.

Whatever you do, don't interrogate your match - you don’t want to scare them off. But you can ask some simple questions that establish what they’re like as a person, what their interests are, and whether you have anything in common.

Here are some good icebreaker questions:

Cats or dogs?

What’s your favourite pizza?

What’s your idea of a great first date?

Obviously you will have questions that are more important to you. It’s always better to ask them at the start, rather than wait and see a month or two down the line, when you’re more involved. 

Talk About Things That Are Important To You

Be open about who you are and the things that matter to you. Not only will your match get to know you on a deeper level but if they also share similar values to you, then this is a good indication you'll both get along.

What’s more, when you’re open and honest with someone, they can’t help but reciprocate. This builds trust, which as we all know is the foundation of a good relationship. 

Find out why you should always be honest about what you want from dating. 

Video Chat With Them

A good way to get to know someone better is through videos. You can tell what they sound like, how they speak, and get a better idea of what they look like. More importantly, video confirms whether the person you’re chatting with is genuine or not. 

Badoo offers everyone the chance to video chat with their match. This means you can meet face-to-face with your match, in the comfort of your own home. 

Not only is the feature an added layer of security, it also helps you to vet your match a little further before committing to a night out. 

When video chatting, just make sure you change out of your pyjamas before you start!

Ask Them Out On A Date

By now you should feel confident that you and your match will get along. Once you feel comfortable with them, you should ask them to meet. Letting someone know that you’re definitely interested in taking things to the next level tells them you’re serious. 

It’s always good to do this as soon as you feel up to it. If you take too long, pressure starts to build that can be difficult to deal with when it comes to finally meeting. 

Alternatively, if you end up talking for months without meeting, you can end up getting attached before you’ve had a chance to establish a genuine, organic relationship at a normal pace. This can lead to one of you overlooking certain things that might otherwise be areas for questioning, concern, or even ending the relationship. 

Having the date soon after matching means you get the most accurate picture of them as they really are, rather than colouring them with any established perceptions of them you’ve constructed while talking to them.

Suggest date ideas based on your mutual interests (or find a pub in between where you live). 

If you’ve had some proper conversations, you won’t feel so nervous when you do finally meet, since you’ll already know a bit about them. 

Want more matches? Read our 7 foolproof ways to get more matches on dating apps.