Thinking about trying this new speed dating craze? Its a fast, surprisingly fun way to meet other single people. While you might not find a match the first time out, the more often you attend, the better your chances of finding someone who is worth getting to know. And if nothing else, its a great venue to practice flirting with minimal risk.

The time allotted for getting to know each date varies depending on the group sponsoring the speed dating. Hurry Date offers just three minutes, while 8 Minute Dating obviously allows 8 minutes, and there are more variations as well. With such a short amount of time, what should you talk about?

Lets talk strategy first. With just minutes to connect with a prospective date, whats the best way to spend that time? To make a good impression, create a fun and comfortable exchange. Ask questions that will help determine if the two of you can carry a conversation. No matter how curious you are to discover if your speed date meets your datable criteria, save those interview questions for later. If you dont manage to enjoy the time, youll never get a chance to find out anything else.

Start off with a smile. People often decide if they like you or not within the first 15 seconds, so do your best to appear confident and look like you are having a good time. When you smile, you put the other person at ease. Thats always a good strategy for getting to know someone.

What topics are good for these mini-dates? Heres a list of conversation starters to get the ball rolling easily. These are opened ended questions that require a person to provide real information. Avoid yes/no questions which tend to create dead ends. And, dont forget that if you use these questions, be prepared with your own answers in case the tables are turned and you get asked the same thing!