Ever felt like starting a conversation is as daunting as walking into a party wearing the wrong outfit? You’re not alone. Whether it’s a text to someone you’ve matched with or introducing yourself at a gathering, initiating a chat can bring up all sorts of anxiety. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be genuine.

Every connection starts with a small leap of faith — talking to a stranger. Of course, not all strangers will become your friends, and sometimes you might even hope for that stranger to become more-than-a-friend.

Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling truly understood and connected? Those moments of connection don’t happen by accident. Well, sometimes they do, but you can create them by developing three key skills:

Did you know people decide to swipe left or right in under 1 second? Your photos have to stop the scroll — and tell a story.

If your first photo doesn’t make someone pause mid-swipe… it’s not doing its job.

Not sold? Or your match is iffy about the idea? Humor me and read on to learn why video calls are worth it (and how to handle objections).