How to Flirt on Instagram Stories: The Top 11 Flirting Tips

Written by John Keegan | Edited by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: May 21, 2022 References

If your crush posts an Instagram Story, how can you let them know you’re into them? What can you post on your Story to get their attention? Stories are great for showing your crush that you’re interested, and there are a ton of simple ways to get them to notice you. Keep reading for advice on how to interact with your crush’s Story and how to make your Story stand out!

This article is based on an interview with our dating coach, John Keegan. Check out the full interview here.

1

Watch all your crush’s Stories.

They’ll see your name when they look through who watched their Story. When you see a Story pop up from your crush, make a point to watch it all the way through since it’s only there for 24 hours. Even if you don’t respond or say anything, your crush will get the idea that you’re interested in them when they realize that you’ve paid attention to everything they’ve posted.^{[1]
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2

React to their Story.

A quick response tells your crush that you want to start a conversation. When you swipe up on your crush’s Story, you can pick one of the emojis to send as a reaction. After you pick an emoji you want to use, they’ll get a notification and see your response in their DMs.
- Use 😂 if your crush posted something funny.
- Try using 😍 or 🔥 when they post a cute selfie.
- Send 🎉 or 👏 when they’re celebrating something.

3

Ask questions about something you noticed in their Story.

Referencing a detail you saw is a great conversation starter. If something in your crush’s Story caught your eye, don’t be afraid to bring it up to show that you’re paying attention to them. Ask an open-ended question that needs a longer answer so they type out a longer response. When you ask a question, it shows that you want to learn more about your crush and you’re genuinely interested in what they’re up to.
- “Whoa, I didn’t know you played ukulele! What songs do you know?”
- “Ugh I’m so jealous you got to see them live!! How were they?”
- “I’ve always wanted to go to New York! What’s been your favorite place to visit so far?”

4

Flatter them with a compliment.

Your crush will immediately know you’re into them. Mention something about how they look or what you appreciate from their Story. Use emojis and exclamation points to really show your enthusiasm. Your crush will smile seeing your replies and may even reply back.
- “Wow 😍 that dress looks amazing on you!”
- “Just wanted to pop in and say that was AMAZING! You’re so talented!”
- “You drew that?! It looks so good!”

5

Post sexy and interesting Stories.

Show off a little to really excite your crush and catch their attention. Your Story is a look into your daily life, so show your crush what they’re missing out on. Share some selfies when you’re dressed up and take pics of fun activities you’re doing. Try to post to your Story regularly so your crush can check you out and reach out if they’re interested.^{[2]
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6

Tailor a Story specifically for your crush.

They'll know your Story is meant for them if you reference a thing they like. Even though your Story is public, your crush will still recognize that you’re trying to get their attention in particular. Anyone who doesn’t get it will just see it as a normal post.
- Sing along to a song that you saw your crush post about.
- Talk about a movie that they love.
- Share art or another post from an Instagram account that they follow.

7

Tag your crush in your Story.

Your crush will get notified and want to check out your Story. Tags work best if you’re sharing a meme or a pic of something your crush is interested in. Just add text to your Story and type “@” followed by their username to tag them. They’ll see what you posted and even have the chance to add it to their Story if they want to.^{[3]
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- “Finally checked out the restaurant @YourCrush suggested. So good!”
- “OMG 😂 @YourCrush this is hilarious!!”
- “This cafe def has your vibes @YourCrush.”

8

Add your crush to your Close Friends List.

You can make your crush feel special and share private Stories with them. Tap on your crush’s profile and tap on the “Following” button and then “Add to Close Friends List.” When you post a Story, you can choose to post it publicly or only share it with the people on your Close Friends List, even if your crush is the only one in it! Your crush can’t see if anyone else is on the list, so it’s a great way to target a Story towards them.

9

Respond to their Story a few times a week.

Interacting with every Story might come across as over-eager. If you’re in your crush’s DMs each time they post, it could push them away. Give them a little space by watching their Stories without any response a few times during the week so they know that you’re still interested. That way, it’ll feel more special when you do reach out.

10

Keep the convo going in the DMs.

Get to know your crush better to see if you’re a good match. When your crush isn’t posting on their story, you can still message them to see how they’re doing and just chat. Don’t be afraid to message them some time to ask how their day is or what they’re up to. Use emojis in your message to make them sound fun and flirty.
- “Hey you! 😊 How’s your day been?”
- “Hi 🙂what are you up to today?”
- “Man, it’s been such a crazy day for me 😩 hope you’re having a good day!”

11

Try to meet up IRL if you’re hitting it off.

You’ll build a deeper bond if you can spend time together in person. While flirting over Instagram is a great way to get your conversation started, you’ll see if you’re really compatible if you go out on a date. When you feel comfortable chatting with your crush, suggest meeting up for coffee or drinks to test out your physical connection.
- If you aren’t able to see each other in person, ask if they want to talk on the phone or over a video call.

Expert Q&A

Question

What do you say to your crush over DM?

John Keegan
Dating Coach
John Keegan is a dating coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. He runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.

John Keegan

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

It's really easy to flirt over messages. Tell them how you noticed their profile and say "Hi." You might even mention something from their profile that you like. You could say, "I saw you commenting on my friend's photo, and I like your vibe. I just wanted to say, 'Hi.'"