Flirting know-how with FastLife’s top ten dating tips!

HOT FLIRT TIPS FOR LADIES

Dating expert Rebecca Attenborough from FastLife Speed Dating reveals how to brush up your flirting skills.

1) Laugh and the World laughs with You

Having a good time is infectious and who doesn’t love being around positive, upbeat people? Spread good feelings and get yourself into the right state of mind for making a good first impression. Focus on positive things and keep the conversation fun, light and frothy. Feel good about yourself and you’ll find people will be drawn to you.

2) Give Clear Signals

Sorry girls but its true, a large number of men are notoriously bad at interpreting signals from women. Smiling and happy gestures may just mean you’re a friendly kinda girl. Avoid sticky situations by knowing what you want when you flirt and make sure your signals are clear. If you genuinely want to meet guys then by all means flirt, just make sure you know how to separate the sexual flirting signals from the 'hi, I'm friendly' flirting signals.

3) The Big Freeze; a Major Turn Off

Make sure you look friendly. Sitting like an ice queen will not attract people to you and you may unconsciously be giving out 'no no' signals when secretly you are keen for someone to approach you. Check what signals you’re sending and if it's not getting the results you want, adjust them. Why not ask friends to give you some feedback?

4) Even Kylie Minogue gets Rejected!

Sometimes things don't work out for whatever reason. The reality is that everyone has experienced rejection in one area of their life. Don't dwell on negative responses, instead look out for compliments, take them in and shrug off rejection.

5) Ooze Appeal

One simple rule of thumb for any outfit is that if your mother would wear it, you shouldn’t. If you look in the mirror and think, "Do I look ridiculous in this?" lets face it - you probably do.
But most importantly, if you feel sexy you’ll come across that way too. If you feel happy and confident then you’ll be oozing appeal!

6) Let Your Body do the Talking

What’s the secret behind a woman’s mesmerising effect on men? Flirting with style. We can all do it. We just need to learn the secrets. The good news? The ability to flirt is innate; it’s about confidence and being able to sensually inhabit your body. The other key is understanding body language. Us girls may worry about what we say but in fact it's our bodies that do most of the talking. Communication is 60 per cent non-verbal and only 40 per cent verbal. So watch what your body is saying. Researchers say you can heighten your powers of attraction by about 70 per cent if you can improve your body talk.

7) Reveal Your Sexy Glow

If you’re chatting to a guy you like then reflect his body language and style of behaviour and they will feel you are in synch with them. Pull yourself up to your full height and lean slightly forward, turning your body to face his more directly, and keep physical barriers to a minimum; don't cross your arms like a fortress.

Most importantly, emanate a look of vitality. Appear energetic, luminous even. Imagine you have just had an amazing romp and have a sexy glow about you.

8) Emulate Marylin Monroe

Confidence is probably the most attractive of all traits. Give yourself a pep talk before you go out and tell yourself you’re fabulous.

If you need a little help in the confidence department, fake it till you make it. Find a role model you can emulate, think Madonna or Marylin Monroe. Imagine how that person would act, feel and move. Think of what qualities make her attractive and how she expresses these physically when she moves and talks.

9) Listen Up Ladies

The most underrated flirting skill is simply listening. Men love talking about themselves. They like being the centre of attention. Ask open-ended questions - that is, questions that can't be answered by a yes or no answer. Lower your chin, look him in the eyes and nod as he speaks - make him feel like the most interesting and amusing man alive.

10) Read His Signs

So…think you’ve met your match? Wondering whether the hottie you’ve had your eye on all night is also keen on you? It’s time to read the signs…

Think he’s interested? Notice a few of these signs and you’re probably right:
• Looks at you
• Moves his body to face you
• Adjusts his tie
• Slight movement of the pelvis backward
• Leans towards you
• Smiles whilst looking at you
• Adopts an open body posture

Ladies, get out there and put your newfound flirting and dating confidence to the test!

HOT FLIRT TIPS FOR GUYS

Dating expert Rebecca Attenborough from FastLife Speed Dating reveals how to brush up your flirting skills.

1) Look Approachable

Ladies love a guy with a smile, so ask yourself, do you look approachable? Sitting looking dark and moody will not attract the ladies, you may unconsciously be giving out 'no go' signals. Check what you are giving off and if it's not getting results you want, adjust it.

2) Keep Your Hands to Yourself

There’s nothing worse than a guy who invades your personal space when you’ve only just met them. Even when engaging in a casual chat some people just seem to get too close for comfort. Avoid invading a woman’s personal space until you have figured out more about them – she’ll certainly respect you more for it.

3) Whats the topic?

Keep your conversation topic light-hearted, and read her signals - a sure fire way to send a lady to the land of nod is to talk about your lastest root canal or how many beers you drank at the football last week. If her gaze is starting to drift elsewhere it’s probably time to change the subject. Ask her about her interests - people like people who are interested in them. You don't have to shut up entirely but when you engage someone in conversation make sure you spend at least 60% of the time listening to THEM!

4) Laugh and the World laughs with You

Having a good time is infectious and who doesn’t love being around positive, upbeat people. Spread good feelings and get yourself into the right state of mind for making a fast impression. Focus on positive things and keep the conversation fun, light and frothy. Feel good about yourself and you’ll find people will be drawn to you.

5) Get into the Mood

The most important component of successful flirtation is being in the right mood for flirting. Good flirts are playful and don't take themselves too seriously - look at James Bond for instance. You need to see people not as something to be 'dealt with' - try and see them as a gateway to new exciting, adventures.

6) The Dreaded Pick Up Lines

'Aren't your legs tired? Because you've been running through my mind all night...'. Many women will have heard some of these terrible pick-up clichés before. It won't do you any favours guys. There is no such thing as a ready to wear line. Each 'line' should be a genuine sentiment of what happening at the moment. Sometimes the simplest opening gambits are the best. Sometimes by paying attention to the person you want to flirt with and noticing their good points, you will come up with a natural and successful line.

7) We all get rejected

Sometimes things don't work out for whatever reason. The reality is that everyone has experienced rejection in one area of their life. Don't dwell on negative responses, instead look out for compliments, take them in and shrug off rejection.

8) Let your body do the talking

The key to successful flirting is understanding body language. When we meet someone for the first time its not just what we say but is in fact what our bodies are up to that can help attract people to us. Communication is 60 per cent non-verbal and only 40 per cent verbal, so watch what your body is saying. Researchers say you can heighten your powers of attraction by about 70 per cent if you can improve your body talk.

9) Flirt

Everybody knows that the eyes are the windows to the soul. The mating dance all starts with a glance. So catch someone's eye and hold their gaze half a second longer than normal: one second in total. Then look away, look coy and then look again, this time with a more meaningful glance and a slight smile.

10) Read Her Signs

Think you’ve met your match? Wondering whether the hot girl you’ve had your eye on all night is also in to you?

If she’s smiling and doing a few of these the chances are good that she’s interested.

• Sidelong glances
• Looks at you a few times
• Holds your gaze briefly, then looks away
• Tilts her head, touches her neck, hair and lips when talking to you
• Turns her body towards you
• Narrows her eyes slightly into an eye smile

Guys, get out there and put your newfound flirting and dating skills to the test!

Rebecca Attenborough is FastLife's Marketing Manager as well as their resident dating expert! FastLife hosts over 150 speed dating and singles events each month in 43 cities in 5 countries. FastLife has recently launched ultra premium speed dating in London.