Those extra Christmas kilos, an empty wallet and the bleak weather are not a recipe for making you feel like a million dollars.  The lull that follows New Year has somehow rendered poor old January as the ‘boring’ month.  However, thanks to technology, that needn’t be the case.  ‘Sofalising’ – speaking to people via gadgets and social networks at home, instead of in person – is something that over a quarter of us do regularly.  By all accounts, we seem to enjoy nothing more than a good old flirt when we’re ‘sofalising’!

Our latest survey shows that 51% of us feel flattered when flirted with, so sofalising can be a wonderful way of getting a confidence boost.  It can also be a great way of cheering someone up too.  We’ve discovered that we flirt to make others feel good (and not just for personal gain!) – 17% of guys have the flirtee in mind when putting on the suave moves, as do 10% of the ladies.   It’s not all doom and gloom you see…

To be successful though, you’d do well to observe a little sofalising etiquette.  Here are our thoughts on what to do when flirting in cyberspace:

1. Window Shopping
The digital environment can be a difficult place to get noticed so you want to make sure you give yourself the best chance.  Upload at least three photos of yourself (smiley ones are obviously the best), 10% of people on Flirtomatic say if you don’t have a picture then they won’t talk to you. If you’re not keen to upload images of yourself, then use pictures of things you like to make it more personal.

2. Take your time
We agree that messaging these days is super convenient, and whilst we love that, to avoid any misinterpretation, we’d recommend that you pause before posting.  Have a quick glance before you press send and just check that you’re actually saying what you want to say.

3. Go for a swim
Rejection isn’t necessarily about you, it’s also about the situation of the other person. Maybe they’re not in a good mood, maybe they’re looking for something very specific, or perhaps they come from East Anglia. East Anglians are the least flirty in the country, with 40% flirting less than five times a day. Regardless, don’t take it personally. There are tons of fish in the digital sea!

4. Do you like long walks and movies?
When looking for someone to chat to, make sure you read the information on their profile and ask them questions about things you can relate to. We guarantee your response rate will double if you follow this simple rule of thumb.  In any case, it can’t hurt to try, right?

5. Knock knock…
Humour is a big turn on, we all like to laugh, so keep it light. Teasing can be a good way to incorporate banter. Don’t go overboard, but a little giggle goes a long way.

6. Keep it in perspective
It’s easy for things to get lost in translation online, the result of which can leave you obsessing about the smallest of comments.  It’s important to keep a handle on reality and remind yourself that in the grand scheme of things, sometimes a silly remark really needn’t be something you fret over for days.

7. It’s a numbers game
A great thing about flirting on your mobile is that you don’t need to chat to people you’d rather not talk to. If you don’t hit it off with one person, the chances are you’ll come across someone else you like pretty swiftly.  If you happen to be in the Emerald Isle, well then you’re in luck.  The biggest flirts are from Northern Ireland where almost 22% flirt more than 20 times per day, so start engaging with them if you want to increase your success rate!

8. Digital world meets real world
You’ve made friends with someone lovely and you’re taking in to the next level. Be smart about it; if you do meet up with anyone, make sure you’re safe. Meet in a public place and always tell a friend where and who you are meeting.

As many as 63% of us flirt at least five times a day, so sod the ‘January blues,’ instead log into Flirtomatic and start meeting people – pickings will be rich!  Good luck.  Let us know how you go…

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