You have contacted your match - that special person you met using our online dating service. You have been working towards this goal for days (maybe even weeks) and now it is finally here. We want you to be successful in your new relationship. So, here are a few points on getting ready for your date.

• Know before hand what you are going to wear. An hour before your date is not the time to be standing in front of your closet with a pile of clothes on the floor. Also, make sure that your outfit is clean. That goes for you guys--sweat does not impress.

• Know where you are going on your date. Nothing is more dull than meeting up with someone and having your first conversation in person go something like this, “Where do you want to go?”. You date replies, “Um, I don’t know, where do you want to go?”

• Get driving directions beforehand. Getting lost impresses no one. And there is no excuse with the amount of tools that are available to help you find your way.

• Have a list of conversation subjects in your mind. Silence is not golden when it is on a date.

• Make sure you have enough cash on hand. Nothing says looser like someone who can’t pay their portion of the bill.

• Make sure your apartment or house is clean. You never know what may happen at the end of the evening. You don’t want to be embarrassed by your bad housekeeping skills.

• Make sure you have all the necessities. Again, you never know what may happen at the end of the evening (enough said).

• If you are driving then make sure your automobile is clean. You don’t want your date to think that you are a slob. Or even worse, have your date say that they are afraid to get in your car because they can’t see the floor.

• Make sure you are wearing clothes appropriate for your outing (for example: do not wear high heels to an amusement park - your feet will hurt and you will look stupid).

• Turn your cell phone off. The reason why should be obvious. But in case you still don’t get it - you should be talking to your match and not your BFF.

It takes just a little care and effort to be efficient. However, it is always amazing to me how many people do not have a clue about relationships and dating.  If you are going to go through the trouble of using an online dating service and then asking someone out - you want to be prepared.   Preparing for a first date can be compared to going to a job interview. And really, they are a lot alike. In both cases you are striving to impress the person enough to make them want to see you again.