Texting is a good way to meet new people and mend old friends. If you're having a hard time keeping a chat alive with someone, here are a few tricks you can use to keep interest and engagement high, such as asking open-ended questions and discussing topics that interest you. By sending meaningful messages and being a good communicator, you can start having long and pleasant conversations with people.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Ask Questions
Step 1. Ask open questions
Open questions are those that require answers other than "yes" and "no". Ask an open question to the interlocutor and build the conversation starting from his answer.
For example, you might ask the other "What would your dream vacation be?" or "What do you like to do for fun?"
Step 2. Ask the other person to tell you something
You could ask anything; his favorite movie, his favorite restaurant, what he does at work, if he has pets, etc. Don't drop the conversation after getting the answer; make her answer a springboard to keep chatting.
For example, you could write something like "Tell me about your new job, are you enjoying it?" or "Tell me more about your trip to Hawaii, I bet it was great."
Step 3. Ask questions when the other shares things about themselves
Instead of going on with the conversation, ask him to argue or ask him why that something makes him feel that way. Asking questions will make it clear that you are actually reading what the other is writing and that you are making an effort to relate to him.
For example, if the other says that he is afraid he will go to work the next day, you might ask “Why don't you want to go there? Don't you like your job?”
Step 4. Ask the other if he needs your help
If the person you're chatting with is complaining about something that is bothering them or talking about how stressed they are, propose to help them. The other person will be more interested in continuing the conversation if they feel that you care about them.
For example, if the other person is telling you that they have a conflict with their family, you might say something like “This is terrible, I'm sorry. Is there anything I could do?”
Method 2 of 3: Send Interesting Messages
Step 1. Write to the other something about your favorite topics
Incorporating your favorite topics into the conversation will make it easier to continue the conversation, because you will have a lot to say about them. You can also make a mental list of the topics you like, so you never run out of things to say.
For example, you could write something like “I'm watching an old Alfred Hitchcock movie right now, I like horror classics”, or “I'm looking forward to watching the Super Bowl next weekend, I love American football”
Step 2. Text a joke
Use a joke to rekindle the conversation and make the other person feel comfortable writing to you. Just make sure you know who you have on the other side; don't send a trivial joke to someone you're just starting to know (unless he himself told you he likes that sort of thing). Try to tell light, funny jokes.
If you can't think of a joke to send, send him a funny meme or GIF
Step 3. Talk to the other person about the things they share on social media
If he posted a funny article on Facebook that you liked, mention it. If she shared a photo of her meal at a restaurant, ask her where she went to eat. Make sure the other person knows you are friends on social media before mentioning something they have shared; you don't want to give the impression of being invasive or creepy.
Step 4. Send a photo or video
Try sending something recent and interesting. If you recently went on an excursion and took some nice panoramic photos, send them a couple. If you have a video of your dog doing something stupid, send it. Use photos and videos as a way to broaden the conversation. Make sure you provide some context so that the other person understands what you are sending them.
For example, if you send a photo of a painting you just completed, send it an attached text that says something like “I just finished this watercolor painting, I worked on it for three weeks. What do you think about it?"
Method 3 of 3: Be a Good Communicator
Step 1. Avoid dominating the conversation
Let the other talk about himself too. People like to talk about themselves, and you could cause them to lose interest in the conversation if you keep returning their attention to you.
For example, if the other person writes to you that they had a bad day, instead of saying “Me too. I missed the bus and was late for work,”you might write,“I'm sorry, this is awful. Do you want to talk about it? If it makes you feel better, I too had a bad day”
Step 2. Don't push someone to talk about something they're not interested in
If you bring a certain topic into chat and the other person doesn't seem interested in talking about it, move on to something else. Trying to force the conversation in a certain direction may cause the other party to withdraw and stop answering you.
Step 3. Reply to the other person's messages in a reasonable amount of time
The conversation could end if you don't respond promptly. You don't have to respond immediately, but try to keep the response time under 15 minutes. If you are busy with something else and need more time to respond, apologize and let them know the reason for the delay so that the other person does not think you are ignoring him.
