So you've hit if off with someone you've met online and you've reached a stage where you're ready to meet each other in person.

First of all, make sure you really are ready, then follow our top ten tips to put your Best Foot FWD and make the right impression, as well as ensuring your safety, on your first date.

1. Always use common sense – Just as you should have done in your online correspondence with your date, you should remain cautious on your first meeting and remember that you still don't really know this person as well as you might think.

2. Take a friend - Your best friend will be dying to find out how it goes anyway, so why not take them along, or at least ask them to stay close by. They can keep an eye out for you and they may be able to give you a second opinion on your date.

3. Keep someone informed – Tell a close friend or family member where you are going and keep them up to date with how things are going if possible – either a quick phone call or a text message.

4. Go public - ALWAYS conduct your first date in very public places. This is not the time to be getting intimate, you just need somewhere you can get to know each other, safe in the knowledge that there are plenty of other people around.

5. On your own steam – Never rely on your date to transport you to or from your meeting place. Wherever possible get someone to take you along – your friend who is accompanying you perhaps – and drop you back home, or get a taxi.

6. Plan an escape – Obviously you'll be hoping everything goes well, but just in case it doesn't, make sure you've thought up a plan to get you out of the date. Perhaps ask a friend to ring you at a certain time to give you a get-out.

7. Keep it short – Try and make the first date fairly short as this puts less pressure on you both. If you're not really enjoying it you'll not have to endure it for long – although of course you can leave at any time – and if all's going well you'll be dying to arrange another!

8. Dress to impress – This will be the first time that your date will have seen you, apart from in a picture perhaps, so make sure you give a good account of yourself. Don't wear something that you don't feel comfortable in or that you wouldn't usually choose for such an occasion, but do make an effort, it's the first thing they will notice.

9. Be yourself – As with the online profile, try and convey to your date who you are, what you like and what's important to you. Make sure you listen to them as well – it's not a one-way conversation this time.

10. Enjoy yourself – That's why you're on the date, to have a good time. Obviously not every date is an enjoyable one but that should be the aim. There is always a need for caution and safety but if you're having fun, that's an excellent start!

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