The time has finally come! After a long back and forth, chatting and flirting on Tinder, or after the lockdown break, your date is finally here. Due to the pandemic, however, it’s via video instead of outdoors. The best tips for a virtual date.

SIngles don’t have it easy these days. Meeting people is almost impossible, leading to more people signing up for online portals .

According to a survey , 13 percent more people signed up for dating platforms last year. However, many people are holding their first date virtually to be on the safe side.

First impressions count, and the virtual meeting determines whether there will be a second date. Does the idea of ​​a Zoom date feel a bit strange and unfamiliar? With these tips, the “first meeting” via video call will be a complete success.

The preparation

Good light

There are a few things you can do to prepare for a first date via FaceTime or Zoom to make sure you look your best. Make sure the lighting is right. It’s good to have a light source behind your smartphone shining on you. Don’t sit with your back to the window, as dim light is unflattering. 

Suitable background

Consider where the first date call will take place. Sure, it also depends on where you have good Wi-Fi, but your background will provide conversation material. If you’re sitting in front of a bookshelf , your date might ask you about it. Maybe there’s a movie poster behind you, and the other person might think of something. Your choice of seating can influence whether you have  a good conversation .

Hands-free

To ensure you’re relaxed on your first date, it’s worth keeping your hands free. For example, you can build a shelf out of books or use your laptop to make phone calls. This will allow you to gesture more freely and appear more confident .

Creative ideas

To keep your long-distance date from getting boring, here are a few suggestions for a virtual date. You could choose a recipe together and cook it during the date . This way, you avoid the direct face-to-face interaction, and pauses in conversation are less noticeable. You can even order meals from the same restaurant—that way, you’ll have another topic to talk about.

Maybe you could even take a virtual drawing class or a virtual museum tour—because romance works on screens, too. Want to watch a movie ? You can do that after the video date via Netflix Party , too, so you can chat and continue the date.

Your styling

Choose an outfit you feel comfortable in. Swapping your sweatpants for jeans is worth it, even if your date probably won’t see your lower half—just to make you feel confident and put together . Your outfit can be more comfortable, though; after all, one of the benefits of online dating is that it’s casual and relaxed.

Be yourself when it comes to your makeup, too. Brush your teeth or chew a piece of gum before your date to make you feel fresh and beautiful.

During the date

Small talk beautifully packaged

When we hear the word “small talk”—yawn. We’d simply like to have a passionate conversation and get along perfectly from the first glance. Small talk is usually the first step to finding topics—topics that we can then talk about for hours, at best.

It’s probably not a virtual blind date, and you’ve already chatted a bit. You already have a rough idea of ​​his interests and whether he’s into sports. Then you can tell him, for example, that you did a workout today.

Afterwards, you can ask if he’s working out and what he’s currently doing. Does he go jogging ? Where does he go jogging? Maybe you’ve been there before? Or you can talk about your favorite route. If you don’t jog, you can replace it with something else—maybe you both have a dog , maybe you cycle to the shops, maybe you’re both couch potatoes . Be creative!

Uncomfortable silence

On an outdoor date, you’re not as focused on each other as you would be on a FaceTime conversation. Pauses in conversation are noticeable—and once all the small talk has been discussed, awkward silences can ensue. Tip: Something only becomes awkward when you make it awkward. After all, you’re not an entertainer—pauses in conversation are normal. Be aware of this and don’t put yourself under pressure.

Let’s talk about you!

There’s one topic everyone loves to talk about: themselves. If you want to come across as charming , you should ask your date plenty of questions . You can think of a few questions in advance that can spark interesting conversation topics.

However, you shouldn’t bombard your date with questions; after all, you’re not conducting an interview. If you want to flirt effectively, ask appropriate questions that come up at the time, thus leaving the impression that you’ve had a very intense conversation.

Feel free to talk about yourself. Make sure you tell interesting stories from your life and avoid using a boastful tone.

Not everyone talks about deep topics , their past, or family relationships on a first date. Sometimes this can be very personal or even painful. It’s important to interpret the situation. Many people consider it a no-go to talk about exes. If the situation allows it and feels right, you can certainly bring up past relationships.

And then?

If your first video date went well and you got to know each other better, the first meeting will likely follow soon. If it didn’t go well, don’t let it get you down. A video date makes it easier to end things. You won’t feel like you wasted your precious time afterward, because at least you didn’t have to travel far.