Silence. Those awkward silences when you simply have absolutely nothing to say to someone and you both just feel incredibly embarrassed and powerless.

Chatting online is all about keeping the conversation flowing, but things could take on a very different picture when meeting in person.

When chatting online, a lapse in conversation could be blamed on having to take the dog out or getting a phone call, but things are different when meeting in person.

The silence of dried-up conversation could be louder than shrill sirens, so before meeting in person, have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep the chatter going.

There are certain subjects to simply steer clear of. Conversation stoppers like your ex-boyfriends or your beauty routine or health problems should be avoided.

Since you have been chatting online with this person for however long, you should have a fairly clear idea about his likes and dislikes.

So ask him about things that interest him. You would probably get a much better reaction from him if you get him talking about something he feels passionate about.

A good conversationalist would then also ask you questions back about yourself, but given the fact that guys are usually not as good at communication as we are, be sure you have some entertaining stories to dish up anyway.

If you know that the guy you are meeting has an interest in travelling, tell him about your best holiday, or if he is into music, tell him about the best festival you've been to.

Also remember to ask open-ended questions, so he couldn't get away with simply answering "yes" or "blue" or "Green Day".

And a final trick is to know that a little bit of research goes a long way. Make mental notes of the things that sparked a torrent of conversation when you were chatting online and use them when you meet in person.