Going on dates with people you've met on online dating sites is not quite the same as it is in real life. If you've ever been on a blind date, you’ll have some idea of what to expect, however.

In real life you would normally have met the person before, or know them reasonably well, and this gives you common ground or an interest to base a conversation on. With online dating you could know very little about the person.

The best dating advice is to make sure you know the person you're going on a date with. By this I mean make sure you have exchanged a few lengthy emails (but not too many, or they'll get bored before you set up a date!) so that you both have a rough idea of each others' interests, jobs, etc. This will give you both something to talk about, because the last thing you want is to wind up on a date with someone from a dating site and have nothing but awkward silence.

For a first date, dinner is probably not a good idea. It might seem like one, but there are too many opportunities for conflict, silences and awkwardness. Some people don't like potential partners watching them eat, some people are vegetarians or have allergies - you see where this is going.

If you both drink, suggest meeting up at a classy but quiet bar, so you can have a good conversation, and order snacks if you feel like it. Leave the dinner date for when you both know each other a bit better.

One thing to try to steer clear of is talking too much about online dating, and comparing histories of bad dates you've been on, etc. Unless you both feel quite comfortable around each other right from the start, this can lead to some awkwardness, so save the horror stories for the next date.

Source: www.drdating.com