With less than two months to go before Christmas, is time running out for you to find your Mr or Mrs Right to take home to Mother? If you need to maximise your chance of teaming up with someone special before the festive season, then why not take a deep breath and give speed dating a try.

Speed dating was dreamed up by a Jewish Rabbi in the 1990s, and involves attending an organized event where you can assess a large number of potential partners through short meetings of 5-10 minutes. Contact information is only disclosed once two people have expressed a mutual interest in each another.

So how successful is it? Speed dating organizers claim a high success rate, of course, quoting pleased ex-singletons and high match statistics on their websites. One London-based company claims to match three to four couples every time they run an event.

So, do you fancy giving speed dating a go? Here are my tips for success that will be guaranteed to leave you with second dates coming out of your ears.

Plan ahead and look your best — okay, so you’ve got 10 minutes at the most to make an impression, so a shoddy appearance just won’t do — check your hair, make-up and teeth before you go in for the kill and dress to impress. Plan your image ahead and ensure that you are giving off the impression that you really want to. Remember that we often pick prospective partners of a similar level of attractiveness to ourselves, so the better your appearance, the higher your chances of bagging a looker.

Don’t hide your talents — now is not the time to be modest. You know what your talents are, so flaunt them. A word of warning though: keep it real. Your new relationship is not going to last long if you can’t deliver the goods. And although the likelihood of getting a second date is based more on attractiveness, don’t hide your intellect because a longer lasting liaison will be based on your brains as well as your looks.

Have a laugh — nothing’s more attractive than a great sense of humour, and you’ve only got the blink of an eye in which to show yours off. Be careful though, that Sly Stallone impression should remain tightly under wraps until Cupid’s arrow has done its work.

Be yourself — lasting relationships are based on honesty and integrity and you need a few shared interests too. So make it clear when you think you’ve got something in common with a potential partner, and make sure you talk about what really makes you smile.

Use positive body language. There’s no room for the shy, retiring type in speed dating. Make eye contact and let your body do the talking. If you’re interested in someone, be subtle, but mirror their behaviour and gestures — this will immediately create empathy between you. Keep your eye on the ball and don’t be tempted by other distractions in the room. Show you’re listening and ask plenty of pertinent questions.

Still interested in speed dating? Give it a try and have some fun, but remember to stay safe and organize those second dates in an open, public place. Good speed dating organisers in the UK include Original Dating and Smart Dating UK. In the U.S., try Fastlife.

Rhian Gibbings