Flirting is both a basic instinct and a part of human nature that can be conveyed in various ways including a timid grin, genuine eye contact or a flick of the hair. However, what you say and how you say it plays a big part in flirtation and it is this that can be replicated online, although the technique may not come naturally to everybody.

In the world of online dating, being able to flirt effectively can develop both interest and lift the potential relationship up a notch. Although a good icebreaker to start a conversation, it does involve more than simply sending an electronic wink to a potential match.

After that first contact, it is important to correspond in both a normal and relaxed fashion. If you begin making conversation simply for the sake of it, the person on the receiving end will know and they may be put off. Less is often more when communicating online and to that end, there is no need to compose long uninteresting paragraphs. A sound rule is to keep your correspondence down to a maximum of five brief, entertaining and upbeat sentences. Keep your phrases teasing and positive and you will be well on your way to mastering the art of flirtation.

If you are stuck for words to write, read the others persons profile and find something fascinating that you can ask them a question about. Taking a personal interest is a definite turn on that seldom fails to provoke an answer. However, make sure that you word the question properly. Asking something that can simply be replied with a yes or no is not the greatest conversation starter.

Another sure fire way to elicit an answer is to write an interesting titbit about you without actually revealing too much. By doing that, you will probably trigger the interest of the other person who will then write back needing to know more. Assuming that does happen, you are well on your way to making a good love connection.

Now that you are on a roll as far as communications are concerned, do not make it appear that you are overeager (even if you are) and bear in mind that part of the flirtation process involves playing hard to get. Rather than instantaneously responding to the person with whom you are communicating, make him or her wait a bit for your reply. Perhaps an hour or so or even a day, but not any longer, otherwise the person may think you have simply vanished or perhaps even lost interest in them. Understanding this delicate balancing act is also part of learning to flirt online.

One final tip is to listen too your instincts. If something does not feel right during your communications, knock it on the head and move on. As the expression goes - there are plenty more fish in the sea.