Text for Success: A Man's Guide to Efficient Texting

In the last 15 years, the use of text messaging has grown tremendously. Originally starting as standard quotes to quickly inform people you were busy, "texting" has impacted how we communicate with each other. Gone are the days of written letters, replaced with facebook inbox messages, subtweets, and unique texts. In addition, texting carries its own language, making it even more important to understand the nuances of the urban language. This "new" technology has added a unique element to interpersonal relationship, especially romantic relationships. It is more important than ever to carefully select your words; the wrong phase could severely damage your relationship or chance at one.

Through trial and error, my friends and I have stumbled onto positive text methods and shared them with each other. As a responsible man, it is my duty to pass these techniques to other brothers (If you use them to steal girls from me, I'll beat the brakes off you.) Here are 6 techniques to text ladies effectively:

I know Bieber is a SUPERIOR texter.

1. Build A Signature Style.

Everyone should have a "signature" something. Allen Iverson had the "Crossover", Michael Jackson perfected the Moonwalk, and now you carry the "fadeaway text". I don't know if that's what you want to call it (that's on you), but all men should possess a certain type of dialect in regards to how they text. All that "Hey", "Wassup", and "Yo" is WHACK. Send a joke or romantic quip. If you're corny or uncreative, acknowledge your corniness; you may get cute points. Let a woman (or anyone you text) know it's you by reading the message, not necessarily the name. The greatest advice given to me about texting was "text in a manner that if a person loses all their phone contacts, when they see your text they know it's you."

2. One Word Answers Are NOT Your Friend.

Peep the scenario: It's deep into a text convo, and your topics are very vanilla. You're enjoying yourself, but you want to let the subject of desire know, as my friend Garvin says, "You're thicker than tension between Blacks and Whites in the Civil Rights era." (Hey sometimes you feel like that.)

Seriously, you just wanna make a move. So you send her a flirtatious text about being intimate with her. Her response? 

"LOL."

What? Lol? Wasn't no comedy in that; you think it's a game, man? You think he's jo-king? (Got that from an episode of Martin, the one with Dragonfly Jones) Fellas, understand what "lol" and similar responses mean. It's a uncontroversial reply to your advance; it's not yes, it's not no. While you can't get all sad, more participation or a deeper answer is always a better sign. Even a smiley face would serve better in this situation; keeps hope alive, like Jesse Jackson. If the "lol" is all you receive, do NOT force the issue. That is "Sweatbox" status. Throw another pitch out there later in the convo, maybe even be more direct, but don't harp on the response. Please don't do that. As Kevin Hart says, "Nooo.."

3. Write Text MESSAGES, Not Text NOVELS.

Even though my phone is what young folks would call "mad dusty", it does have a great feature. It's allows you to know when your texts are extending into multiple messages. Be cognizant of the "Two's a crowd, but three's company" rule. A message could be two texts long (don't make a habit of it) but three? No my brother, now EASE up. The longer your messages are, the more opportunity you have to say something dumb. Let's keep our messages like Rajon Rondo: quick and to the point.

4. Know The Smiley Pre- Requisites.

Leave the smileys to the ladies. 

During a down period with an attractive female, I was looking for ways to gain her attention without being "too hype". I wanted to say a lot, but not talk too much. So that day I decided to send her a text. I waited ALL DAY so I drop bombs, like Funkmaster Flex in 2001. So around 11:47 pm, I finally sent..."the text". What did it say?

:-)

Dang homie, really? You're just going to smile? You didn't even tell her why you're happy! Foolishness. Guys, don't do like me. Hov did that, so hopefully you wouldn't have to go through that. Save all them smiley faces.

There are certain times that should be used: when the female makes an aggressive move to show her interest, when she becomes your girl and you just want to make her day, or she's talking about some shoes and you need a male version of the "LOL".

5. Word Of Mouth is the Best Marketing Tool. 

Though you may possess a lot of confidence in your text ability, and may be more at ease being romantic/open through the keyboard, some things are better said in public. Every so often, you can get away with a naughty text, but many would offer that it carries more impact when you can look in the person's eyes, whisper in their ear, or even say it over the phone. The effect and personal touch is huge, and secondly it's not always good to leave your emotions up to interpretation of text. Say how you feel.

6. Texting is an Appetizer, Not an Entree. 

Take a look at the females who you talk to the most via text. How often do you call them? Do you call them? There is a correlation to only texting someone and your true level of interest. While people love to use the phrase "I'm not a phone person", you want to talk to people you enjoy. Personally, I enjoy hearing a girl say, "Can't believe you've got me on the phone like this." Gotcha lol. (Just kidding, y'all; Y'all know "I ain't...no...playuh.") It's important not to rely too heavily on the impersonal method of text or chat. Tone and facial expressions should never be underestimated, and it's hard to truly impress a person when they have nothing to tie your words to. 

Fellas take these steps and use them to improve your relationships, both current and future. Texting is a method of communication that will be tied to your love life for years to come, and we must use it to advance our situations! Do it FTW (for the win, man...you have some research to do.)