Flirt like you mean it! A guy reveals the right way to capture his attention.

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It happens to me all the time: I see a girl looking my way and, suddenly, she tugs on her earring, tosses her hair and then ever so slowly glances away. She's totally flirting with me!

Or is she?

Here's the deal: A guy loves when a girl flirts with him--we're just not always sure whether that knowing glance was meant for us ... or someone else standing nearby. Sure, you may think it's enough to sweetly smile without stopping when you pass us in the hallway. Maybe you're just being nice, but not in that "I really like you" way.

Sensing subtlety is not usually top on the fist of a guy's strengths. Matter of fact, your coyness may be misinterpreted as a lack of interest entirely. So next time you want to let a guy know you're interested, try out these no-fail flirting tips.

Make the First Move

It may not be the "traditional" thing to do, but guys definitely dig when girls make the first move. Believe me, it's better than our clumsy attempts to break the ice with goofy lines and other botched attempts to impress you. So by approaching a guy with a simple, "What's up?" or "Did you download that Shazam iPhone app?" you'll save him the stress of coming up with a cheesy opener. Because we all know you can probably think of a much more clever way to say hey than some silly line like, "You're so sweet you could put Hershey's out of business." Please.

Get Sporty

Want an insta-way to wow us? Stock up on your sports knowledge. This isn't to say you need to know every last detail of how a wild card team can make the playoffs (don't worry, neither does he). You also don't have to pretend to be into it more than you are. But if the guy you're interested in happens to be wearing a Bulls T-shirt, it'd be wise to know he's cheering for an NBA team and not rooting against Spanish matadors.

And take advantage of any chance to get in on the game, be it going one-on-one on the b-ball court or challenging him to a FIFA Soccer 09 duel. Don't have the sporty skills? Don't worry--it's not about winning. The good thing about getting your game on together is that the two of you will have tons to chat about should other topics dry up.

Charm Him

Sure, a cute dress may snag our attention. But what you're wearing will only get us initially interested--it's your personality that'll get a guy to hang on for the long haul. Honestly. So sit down at a table full of guys in the car and get involved in a paper football game. If you're at a party, don't huddle in the corner with your buds--put yourself out there in the middle of things and let the guys know you're in the room. Laugh at our jokes, tell some of your own. Whatever you can do to show off your sparkling personality will eventually captivate us.

Listen Up

Flirting is to dating what the SAT is to getting into college: Just another step in the process of getting where you wanna go. That means details definitely matter. Yes, you may be getting lost in our baby blues, but we like when you pay attention to what we have to say. So listen to us, then seal the deal after a positive flirting experience by following up on something you learned during the convo. If he mentioned a big test or tryouts, send a text or e-mail wishing him luck. After all, a little ego boost never hurt anyone, right?

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Of course, relationships aren't one-way streets, so check that the guy is paying as much attention to you as you are to him. If that's not the case, all of your mad flirting skills are probably best focused elsewhere. That's not to say you should give up entirely if a guy doesn't go for these moves fight away. Just relax, be yourself and hope for the best. With any luck, the guy you're chatting with will do the same.

Chat Right

No matter how much face time they get, both guys and girls spend o lot of time communicating via computer or cell. So naturally, they flirt this wag, too. When it comes to chatting with girls online, guys don't want idle small talk. Keep the convo flowing with funny banter (links to hilarious YouTube clips show you've got a killer sense of humor), then let us know you're interested by dropping hints about getting together in person later. Finally, be the first to sag goodbye or sign off--it'll leave us longing for more.

Your Best (and worst!) Flirting Secrets

READERS SHARE THE SEVEN MOVES THAT WORK FOR THEM ...

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Fabulous flattery. "Most guys love nice words as much as we do. My crush and I are both band geeks, so I complimented his awesome marimba solo. I could tell he was pleased to hear that!"--Abby J.

MAKE CONTACT. "To get a guy's attention, I just kind of gently bump into him and say 'Oh, sorry, my bad.'"--Anna D.

DO THE TAP DANCE. "If you've talked at least once, it's always cute to tap him on the shoulder as you walk by. Keep walking, and when he turns to see who tapped him, no one will be there! When he turns to look the other way, he'll see you. Smile and wave, but keep walking. Stay chill. My crush always blushes when I do this."--Emma B.

START THE CONVO. "You have to get to know a guy before he'll be interested in you. I usually crack jokes about school or the lame party we're at. Very rarely do guys like a girl they don't even know!"--Sarah S.

BE COOL. "When you're flirting, don't try to act like you are. A lot of times that turns guys away. Be smart, and be real. Don't blab about how hot Edward Cullen is and how cute your new floral underwear is (OK, no one would do that, but you get my point). Then what are you supposed to talk about?. Mrs. Miller, the science teacher who just got a horrible haircut that makes her look like a chicken. Bawk bawk!"--Hanna R.

LAUGH. "If he sees you aren't too serious, he'll feel more comfortable with you. Would you want to be with someone who never laughs?"--Alexandra B.

BE YOURSELF. "The single most important thing is to be you. Chances are, he'll see through it if you aren't. Besides, it's so much easier and more fun to be you anyway! If he doesn't get that, then he isn't as awesome as you thought."--Hayley D.

... AND THE THREE THAT WENT HORRIBLY, HORRIBLY WRONG.

MISSING DETAILS. "I had run into the bathroom to try and look cute for these guys at school. I was just about to head over to them when I heard laughing and one said 'The teacher will tell her...'. Turns out, I had toilet paper sticking out of the back of my jeans."--Emily S.

TRYING TOO HARD. "My team was playing basketball against my crush's. I tried a shot to be impressive, but the ball ended up hitting his head!"--Abby K.

OVERSHARING. "1 was flirting with my crush, and he was responding really well. At the end, I spun around and headed down the hall. When I turned a pad fell out of my back pocket, landing at his feet."--Sarah T.