In the age of COVID, sometimes it’s unreasonable to expect that all of our deep and meaningful conversations are going to happen in person. Instead, why don’t we commit to reinvigorating our relationship with texting? I know they’re a source of stress, but phones can facilitate new and exciting, beautiful relationships. Here’s how to step up your flirting game when you’re sending a text to a guy you like.
- Send memes. This is the easiest stage of the whole text exchange because it’s so simple. This is mostly because it’s a way to share your sense of humor with the guy you have a crush on. You can show him how witty and intelligent you are as well as demonstrate that you have compatible personalities with each other. Plus, even if it doesn’t work out, you get memes out of it, so you can’t lose. It also means that every time you send a meme to each other, you tell the other person that you were thinking of them, and that’s so cute. I’m smiling just thinking about it.
- Make the move from Facebook messenger to text message. This is a key transition. The social media that you chose to talk on says so much about the nature of your relationship. You can express how intimately you value their time and space by how you treat their notifications too. Facebook messengers are the first stage of talking and those are the messages that most often get lost, missed, or ignored because it’s full of old school friends and acquaintances. Giving someone your number is a classic gesture of affection as well as wanting them to be part of a more valued, private group of friends. Doesn’t it sound better to text a guy rather than message him on Facebook?
- Utilize Facebook tags. This might sound a little juvenile, but sometimes it’s nice to show off the honeymoon stage of a relationship by flirting in public. Facebook tags are basically the online equivalent of PDA. Everyone else will probably roll their eyes at their feeds when they see your cute interactions, but hey, being happy sometimes means that you’re a little shameless. That’s the best part of starting talking to someone too, getting to show them off.
- Don’t be scared to flirt openly. I know it’s 2021 so we might feel like it’s time to only have meaningful discussions in sophisticated dimly lit London jazz bars, but that just isn’t the reality. In order to get a guy’s attention, be clear in your interest. Send cheeky emojis when you text. Ask to Netflix and Chill. Play out all of those classic moves in order to show him you care. Once he knows that – sometimes guys can be a little obtuse – you can engage in a more nuanced, tasteful way of flirting, showing how much you know him. I know that I get a bigger thrill out of someone remembering something I’ve told them about me than when I receive a sexy proposition. Both are super valid, but it’s also worth mixing it up between them when texting.
- Make the first move. Be the first person to send a “good morning” text. It’s going to prompt the guy to send the “good night” message, and it sets the tone of the relationship by suggesting a level of marginally greater intimacy. This commitment to starting days with a text from someone you care about is a great form of flirting because it’s so easy and low-stakes, but with a high return.
- Ask him out. It’s simple. If you can’t do it in person, just keep it easy-breezy and ask him out on a casual date over text. Try coffee or cocktails and go from there. Plus, by doing it over the phone, it’s less pressure for the guy you’re flirting with. It gives him time to think about it and double-check that he’s interested, building the anticipation of the date.
- Ask him about his childhood. These are the conversations that sneak up on you. Build up to it naturally and the chat will flow for hours. You will find yourself curled up on a sofa smiling to yourself at 2 am as you’re still up, sending each other baby photos from twenty years ago. This is the cutest route to anyone’s heart. Trust me.
- Ask about his plans for the future. There’s nothing hotter than a person with ambition. See where he wants to be in five years and you might find yourself inserting yourself into that narrative too. It might seem weird to ask a guy something so serious over text, but you’d be surprised at what a great conversation starter this can be!
- Change your name in his contacts. Add all the salacious emojis that you find to be necessary. Maybe a heart, maybe a star, perhaps even an aubergine. Who knows. I’m sure he’ll get the hint, and you’ll condition him to associate you with his own heart.
These are simple tips to improve your technique of flirting over text without wasting your time or feeling creepy. It’s not always obvious how you should text a guy you like, but with a little bit of finesse, you can have him eating out of the palm of your hand in no time.
