Since the invention of mobile phones, people have openly leaned on texting as the preferred means of personal communication. According to an online survey by Statista in 2023, the preference for texting as a means of personal communication stood at 40%, with voice calls trailing behind at 29%. In the same year, 41.6 million people sent WhatsApp Messages in a single internet minute.
The study also projected an increase in Messaging app users to 4.6 billion by 2026. Although many prefer texting over voice calls, texting can feel frustrating if you have horrible texting skills. You might discourage people from texting you or have the reputation of a bad texter. In this article, I will share with you 5 tips that will improve your texting skills and make people want to text you more.
- Be Authentic
Although texting lacks face-to-face allure, people can sense fakeness. Practice genuineness and you will open an opportunity for deeper communication, leading to genuine relationships and strong connections. You also create a healthy space for vulnerability and honesty.
Authenticity makes communication fun and natural. The engaged parties can openly share their opinions and feelings towards something, leading to an organic back-and-forth that makes the conversation fulfilling.
Texting is smooth when involved parties communicate their true personality through words. Using emojis seasons the conversation encouraging the parties to drop guard.
Put people in their right places instead of sending mixed signals. When texting a potential partner, give them relationship vibes, when texting a colleague, send colleague vibes and when communicating with your boss, do not send them parent vibes.
- Be Direct
Direct texting is effective. Be clear and concise when texting. Get straight to the point when you contact others. Direct texts communicate the intention of the contact and trigger the recipient to respond immediately. You will save time, and misunderstanding and save your reputation when you are clear about contacting a person, regardless of who they are.
People appreciate clear communication. No one wants to think about what your text means. They would probably ignore you when they do not understand what you want. Lack of direction is the reason many women ignore Dm’s. Direct texts send signals of appreciation to the receiving party.
- Stick to lighter topics
GIFs and emojis partially solved the dryness attached to texting. Texting as effective as it can be is void of nonverbal cues. You can never see the other party’s facial appearance, body movement, or tone. We can deal with this challenge by communicating light topics.
Light topics help to build a foundation for deeper and more complex issues. There is little conflict and disagreement when the conversation is easy. Light topics are also easy icebreakers and an invitation to bring out humor. Deep talks bring out a person’s true personality but light-hearted topics help to get the opinions, perspectives, and convictions of the other person.
Finally, light conversation allows a variety of topics. You can speak about anything provided you keep the conversation shallow. When you master the art of being a powerful light-hearted communicator, many people will want to text you. The efficiency of light-hearted communication is the reason many people respond to memes better than deep quotes.
- Be Respectful and Friendly
Conversations through texting have an affective presence as much as physical ones do. People are naturally drawn to those who treat them with respect. When you are respectful you will have fulfilling communication experiences because you will have created a positive impression. Showing respect lays a foundation for a genuine and lasting relationship, especially if you combine it with friendliness.
A balance of professionalism and friendliness makes you likable and increases engagement. You will hardly face disagreements or misunderstandings when you are respectful. When disagreement occurs, your respectful nature will find a middle ground without hurting the friendship.
Read: How to Argue
- Use proper grammar and punctuation
Millennials began the game of texting jargon but Gen Z have taken it a bit higher. While the jargon is acceptable, you should be conscious of the person you are texting. You will be required to use a professional tone when talking about professional matters and jargon-filled conversations when talking to people you are casual with.
Although proper grammar is widely accepted, your friends, siblings, and your partner may not appreciate it because it lacks the show of humor and emotion. Excess emojis and GIFs might also send signals of a person with a character issue. Having a balance of good grammar and jargon smoothens texting with anyone
Conclusion
While texting might be the leading personal communication style, many people are bad at it. The goal of texting is to have a meaningful conversation. We can become experts at texting skills when we are real, direct in expressing the needs of the communication, engaging in light conversation, and remaining respectful. Using proper grammar and punctuation, however, is the foundation of our ability to have fulfilling and honest texting.
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