In your profile pic, showcase your adorableness with a flattering face shot. Snap the pic in soft, natural lighting using your favorite angle and upload it! Eventually, your crush is going to make his way over to your profile, so you want it to be in tip-top shape. Since your profile is public, avoid posting any private information there. Make sure people can’t figure out where you live, your daily route to work/school, or your phone number just by looking at your posts. Make sure your profile is set to public so he can scope you out, too! Click on Settings > Privacy and Security. The Account Privacy box is at the very top of the page; make sure that little box isn’t ticked. If the box is blank, you’re good to go![2] X Research source If he’s already following you, you don’t need to change any of your settings. Do your best to project an image to the guy that shows your best life. This can make him see the best parts of you and see the life that you’re inviting him into.

For example, if he posts about his dog a lot, look into that dog breed. Then, when he posts a new picture of his dog, leave a comment like, “Greyhounds are my favorite breed. Love them so much!” If you aren’t already following his profile on IG, smash that “follow” button now. [4] X Research source

If you’re feeling brave, go ahead and like all of his most recent posts. He will definitely notice a string of consecutive notifications with your name on them! Let him feel your presence, but make sure to let him know that you don’t have any agenda to date him, or he’s going to recoil at least a little bit.

If you decide to adopt a “look but don’t touch” policy for older pics, don’t be afraid to treat yourself to as much eye candy as you’d like! You’ll learn valuable information about his interests and lifestyle as you’re admiring his swoon-worthy good looks. [7] X Research source

For example, if he posts a selfie of himself at a Drake concert, leave a comment like, “OMG so jealous! Did he perform ‘Back to Back’ that night?” Hopefully, he’ll reply (but even if he doesn’t, he’ll almost certainly notice you). If he posts a selfie at a local art museum, you might comment something like, “Hands-down my favorite museum in the city. Is the Mark Rothko exhibition still up?” Before you publish your comment, reread it once more. Is it error-free? Is it something you’d actually say in real life? If you don’t feel 100% about your comment, delete it and wait for another opportunity. [9] X Research source

Keep in mind that story responses show up in his DM inbox. This is a perfect opportunity to initiate a DM convo! For example, if he posts a selfie of himself studying at one of your favorite coffee shops, respond with something like, “Love that place! Try the caramel cappuccino—it’s heaven. ” If he posts a video that shows him playing with his dog at a local park, you might say, “I was at Rockwell Park with my dog last week! Check out the hiking trail—my dog loves it. "

Post a variety of images on IG—avoid posting nothing but selfies. It’s a bit boring and can come off as narcissistic. Mix things up a little![12] X Research source Write great captions to go along with your posts, as well. Let your personality and wit shine through.

For example, if you know he likes a certain Netflix series, post a pic of yourself with a big bowl of popcorn in front of your TV screen. Make sure the series title is visible on the screen! Mention it in a caption, too: “Finally watching The Walking Dead. So stoked!” You don’t need to create posts that don’t reflect your personality, though. If you don’t like The Walking Dead, post about a different overlapping interest that you truly share with him. You want him to see the real you![14] X Research source

One of the best things about stories is you can see who looks at yours! As long as your profile is public, anyone can see your stories. That means if your guy isn’t already following you, he can still peep your stories (and you’ll know about it when he does).

If he replies, you’re in! Try to keep the convo going after that. If he doesn’t reply, don’t worry about it too much. Don’t send a follow-up DM, though. Just go back to commenting occasionally on posts and stories and see if anything progresses. Reaching out in a light-hearted way can also work really well! For instance, just share something that reminded you of him, like “Hey, I’m traveling and just saw this painting. It reminded me of you!”