How to Keep Online Conversations Interesting, Part 2

So many romances reach their conclusion even before they get the chance to develop into something much more substantial. Such an unfortunate end may seem unforeseeable at the beginning, yet millions upon millions of hearts are left broken in situations that turn ugly too soon.

As always, it is easy to just blame destiny or Cupid himself and his faulty arrows. But often, the finger should be pointed at the people involved in relationships that run out of steam before their potentials could be fully realized.

Countless love stories wither as soon as the well of conversations dries up. Great conversations are vital to a long lasting relationship, particularly in the online dating scene. Some of the suggestions to keep online conversations interesting are asking questions, being true to yourself, and flirting away. Asking questions is necessary because it helps people discover each other and serves as a relevant indicator of whether someone is self-absorb or not. On the other hand, being true to oneself presents someone as human with flaws and saves them from possible heartbreak or embarrassing situations in the future. Flirting away is fun and, when you flirt just the right amount, it can be indicative of someone’s romantic interests in you.

Here are more tips on how to keep online conversations interesting.

4) Observe.

This goes back to asking questions. It is never enough to just ask the other person questions. Pay attention to what they say and take note of the stories they tell you. Making observations may seem like a very simple thing to do, but the sad truth is, many people fail to do it. That is the reason that people, who show their interest in others by asking about themselves, are still accused of not giving enough attention during their conversations.

Take note that observing does not necessarily mean memorizing their stories. This goes beyond what they tell you. Observe the way they laugh when something funny is mentioned. Pay attention to how their voice rises and falls when they speak or if they smile or frown when they pause while thinking of the next thing they want to say to you.

If your relationship has reached another level and your online conversations have transitioned to video chats, it even gives you more things to observe, such as the color of their hair, the way it falls on their face, her clothes and accessories, the room she is in, the color and shape of her eyes, or even the color of her painted fingernails.

Making observations show that you are an attentive person and do not take the little things for granted.

5) Expand topics.

When the threat of a dying conversation looms in the horizon, expanding on topics you have previously talked about is one great way to save the conversation and make it more interesting.

What you can do is ask the other person to tell you five things they have done during their day. This can range from something as simple as going to work or catching up with a friend to something that they do not do on an everyday basis such as buying a new outfit or pieces of jewelry.

Take note of all their answers to your questions. Then ask them about them one by one. A simple conversation about their work day can easily lead to a discussion revolving around their workplace, work history, the people they work with, and their professional aspirations, among other things. On the other hand, a conversation about them spending time with a friend can open up doors to their personal history. They can tell you about their friend’s life, which is always an interesting topic. Talking about new clothes and accessories can also go beyond the standard questions regarding color or the store they have bought it from. For example, some people buy new outfits because they are going through changes in their lives. It can also be as uncomplicated as rewarding themselves for working hard or preparing for an event or a party that they have been invited to.

The most wonderful thing is there never exists a time to expand topics. Chances are some of the answers they will give you are something they get up to on a regular basis. The beauty of having this knowledge in hand is you can ask the same questions every time, but the answers will rarely bear any similarities.

6) Relate similar subjects.

There comes a time when a conversation can get “too interesting” that it must simply be brought down to Earth. People have a tendency to talk too much about a particular subject until it becomes necessary to change the topic. Changing the topic in which a discussion revolves is rarely easy, but it also is the only thing that can save the conversation from expiring.

This can be achieved by relating subjects that share similarities to what is already being talked about. For example, your conversation could presently be about holidays with the family. You can prefix the shift with only four words – That reminds me of.

This strategy can also be employed when you want to change the current topic and steer the conversation towards a subject that you desire because you are of the opinion that it could possibly lead to something more fruitful.

7) Ask them about their plans for the remainder of their day.

Sometimes, because of time differences, either person is in the middle of their day when a conversation erupts. Also sometimes, because of stress brought upon by the work day, people tend to run out of things they can talk about. In situations like this, it will serve you well to ask them about their plans for the remainder of their day.

Not only does this give you something new to talk about, it also demonstrates that you are interested in the routines that characterize their daily life. Moreover, it just seems like a natural conversation to have. People in relationships often check on each other during the day. It does not necessarily mean that the person asking this is clingy. That is as long as you refrain from asking them the same question every other hour or so.

The new conversation topics that this question guarantees you that the rest of your lunch break will not be filled with deafening silence. In addition to telling each other about your plans for the rest of the day, you also will have an idea what to ask them when you talk again at the end of the day. If their afternoon will be spent inside a conference room, you can ask them at night how the meeting went. As previously mentioned, this provides your conversations a natural feeling because of the continuity and spontaneity.

8) Pick up right where you left off.

In an ideal world, you will have as much time as you can to talk to the person you like. However, in the real world, online conversations often get interrupted by work commitments and, sometimes, emergencies. After three or so hours, when you start talking to them again, four times out of five, you find yourself talking about an entirely different thing. And four times of five, you have to rebuild the flow of the conversation.

It is never easy to gain momentum whether you are talking to someone you have known for a short while or a long while. That is why it is recommended to pick up right where you left off. Resuming the last topic you were discussing is a guaranteed to give your conversation a more natural rhythm, so much so that it will feel as though you never took a break from talking in the first place.

9) Show them something.

This is something people hardly think of when they are in desperate need of saving a dying conversation. It does not matter if you are messaging each other or are in the middle of a video chat. If it is the former, all you need to do is to send them a picture of that something you want to show them.

Now, what could that something be? This is not, of course, something you just happen to have. It also does not have to be a super interesting thing. Tell them to please hold on for a few seconds because you want to show them something. Then go find that old photo album that documents your childhood. Show them pictures from holidays, birthdays, or school programs. Try your best to choose pictures that you know that back story of.

If you have a pet, you also can show it to them. Tell them about how long you have had your pet or about their crazy habits.

The best thing about this idea is that you do not have to wait until your conversation threatens to fizzle out. You can show them that particular something at the beginning of a conversation or during the middle when you feel the need to switch subjects.

With these ideas on how to keep online conversations interesting, you will never have to worry about awkward silences. Have fun!

Olga P

Olga loves travelling and learning about different cultures. She enjoys taking photos, trying new foods, and spending time outdoors. A skilled writer, Olga is a language enthusiast as well. She enjoys meeting new people from around the world and trying out new recipes in her kitchen.