Not everyone is a natural born conversationalist.  When you decide to dive into the world of online dating, those first few conversations and questions online can be challenging.  What do you ask?  How do you get to know the potential online date?

The fact of the matter is that when you're chatting with a potential online date, it's like a business interview.  I don't mean to scare you but this is the time for both parties to figure out whether it's worth taking things a step further and getting that cup of coffee or seeing a movie.  You want to make the right impression when you're chatting online, and in many ways, it's best to stick to the basics of conversation to make the other person feel comfortable and intrigued. 

Think of the chatting online as a first date at a coffee bar.  Hopefully the actual first date at the coffee bar will take place eventually, but right now you're using the same ice-breaker questions online.  When starting a conversation with someone new, you try to find shared interests that you can then talk about further.  Here are some topics that everyone shares an interest in.  Once you both hit a cord, you'll be able to elaborate on the conversation and create a connection.

Ask the other person what kind of music they listen to.  This is a great conversation starter, and sometimes you'll find someone who is truly passionate about the same kind of music you are.  That's a real plus!  Now you two have something to share.  If you get the answer "Oh, I listen to everything", then feel free to share with them what you enjoy.  Always try to let the other person share first, and then you can build upon what they say.  This tells the other person that you're listening well.

Movies are another great topic.  Sometimes movies create a more excited response than music does.  Ask them what their favorite movies are, or what genres they prefer.  You can learn a lot about a person from their favorite movies.  Do they like romantic movies?  Actions/Adventure movies?  Keep these things in mind for possible date options down the line.  Find a way to connect your conversation with the activities your date wrote on the online dating site.

What kind of books do they read, and what hobbies do they prefer?  Both of these questions will surely give you an insight into their personality.  Make sure you also share with them your hobbies and preferences.  If you can keep a nice conversation going online, you'll eventually find common interests that could lead to a potential date.  In the online dating world, start small, and let things grow from there. 

There are countless other ideas for conversations topics.  If you're a sports fan, ask them about sports.  If you're an art fan, ask them about art.  These initial conversations online are all about weeding-out the potential dates from those you wouldn't want to go on a date with.  You can judge who is worthy to take to the next step by whether or not they listen and respond to you in a natural way.  This will let you know that you can go get a cup of coffee, and not be trapped in frozen awkwardness for an hour!