How to Let a Guy Know You’re Interested Without Appearing Overeager

He’s oh-so-cute! And you have a crush. But you have no idea how he feels, and you don’t know what to do. Here’s how to let a guy know you’re interested.

Sometimes guys can be so oblivious to the signs that it gets frustrating. Girls, you know how it is. But listen, maybe you’re just not showing the right signs. Learning how to let a guy know you’re interested in a way that they’ll understand and respect is key.

Drooling over them definitely shows you like them but probably won’t work out for you in the long run. Many girls have a lot of experience with chasing a guy to no avail, so they know.

[Read: How to show a guy you like him and charm him while being a real tease]

How to let a guy know you’re interested

No one said it was easy telling someone how you feel about them. You have no idea how many times girls have told a guy that they liked him and were turned down.

And, from each rejection, many of them just kept doing the same thing over and over. What’s the big deal? You tell them you like them, they don’t like you, and you move on.

It’s amazing how quickly people forget these important details. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves and this stops us from taking the next step forward and telling someone how we feel.

It’s time, ladies. It’s time to do it the right way.

1. Tell him

Expressing your feelings can be very healthy. Plus, this is the easiest way for someone to understand how you feel.

Of course, it’s easier said than done, and many girls prefer to stay subtle and make a guy chase them instead. But if you do intend to let him know you like him, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!

If you tell him of your interest in him, there’s no way he misinterprets that. You like him, and you told him you like him. Now, he knows exactly how you feel so he either accepts it or not. Make sure you use this guide on how to tell a guy you like him in 20 sweet ways and grab that date!

2. Be approachable

Sure, play the mysterious type, but why? It sounds exhausting and you wait for the guy to approach you. Yawn. Why not just open yourself and be more approachable.

If you show a guy that you’re friendly and communicative, you show them that you’re interested in talking to him. Now, does this show you that you like him? Not necessarily, but it’s a good first step. [Read: The most charming ways to be way more approachable to the guys you like]

3. Make the first move in a conversation

If you see him eating lunch alone or waiting in line for the elevator, be the first one to start a conversation. Usually, men assume they should be the one to make the first move in everything, but why not mix it up a bit?

This shows him you’re interested in talking to him and allows him to make the first move the next time he sees you. Show him that you’re interested. [Read: How to start a conversation with a guy – 25 subtle moves that work like a charm]

4. Make eye contact

When we like someone, we stare at them. Well, why not look at him while he’s looking at you? Eye contact is one of the major signs we all follow when trying to see if someone is into us or not.

If someone avoids eye contact with you, they’re not interested in you. However, if they stare at you while you look at them, it’s a clear sign that you are into each other.

So, if you want him to know that you like him, look at him. [Read: 13 subtle eye contact flirting moves to catch someone’s eyes from afar]

5. Smile

This may seem very elementary, but you would never approach a guy who’s always frowning and looking angry. So, why would a guy assume you’re interested in him if you look like that? Exactly.

It’s time to put a smile on that face because he won’t know you’re interested in him if you don’t look at him and smile. But, of course, don’t force it. If you don’t feel like smiling, then don’t.

6. Ask him out

Now, you may be freaking out at this point, but don’t. When it comes to figuring out how to let a guy know you’re interested in him, this is definitely a strong first move, but that doesn’t make it bad.

Why not ask him out? This clearly shows him you’re interested in getting to know him more. So, he probably will be more relaxed knowing you like him. Well, the first date jitters will simply vanish.

Of course, a word of caution here, do make sure you guys have been exchanging enough flirty glances or conversations before you walk up to a guy and tell him you like him. Play it smart, not brash. [Read: How to ask a guy out like a classy girl and leave him wanting more from you]

7. Text him

Yes, people say that he needs to text you first and that you need to wait a couple of hours to reply, blah blah blah. Listen, if you like him, just text him. Who cares about who texted who first.

The point is, you’re interested in him, so he should know that. Send him a text and see if he replies. Who knows where it’ll lead you. [Read: How to tell someone you like them over text – 19 risk-free ways]

8. Don’t act like a friend

You’re not friends. Let’s just make this very clear. You don’t even want to be his friend, you want something more, right?

So, don’t act like his friend in order to somehow weasel yourself into the girlfriend or dating position. You need to make it obvious that you’re interested in him more than just a friend. That way, neither of you wastes your time. [Read: How to flirt with a guy subtly and make him want something more]

9. Don’t play games

If you want to know how to let a guy know you’re interested, many people love playing games. The whole “hot and cold” thing. Well, it’s boring.

Frankly, if you’re genuinely interested in him, then you should be honest about how you feel. It’s easier for you in the long run as well. Say what you want and mean what you say. [Read: Why do girls play games and test guys in the early stages of dating?]

10. Flirt

You most likely flirt with him naturally because you want to be intimate with him.

Flirting is the first step to intimacy. You basically build up the sexual tension. This is a clear sign men go by when figuring out if someone likes them. They see if this person flirts with him. If not, they most likely are unsure of where your intentions lie. [Read: The 30 best subtle, obvious, and extremely sexy flirting tips all girls should know]

11. Be persistent

Now, this doesn’t mean you should stalk and harass him until he agrees to go out with you. But, be a little persistent with showing him how you feel.

Don’t be hot one day and cold the next. If he takes you for ice cream, text him later telling him that you enjoyed it, or ask him to hang out with you again. Sometimes, you must put a little more effort in to show a guy that you like him.

How to handle it if he’s not interested in you

Now that you know how to let a guy know that you’re interested, let’s talk about what to do if he’s not really keen in dating you.

We all hope that the object of our affection feels the same way about us. But unfortunately, that is not always the case. It’s not because there is anything wrong with you, it just works out that way sometimes.

But, that doesn’t mean that it won’t be a blow to your ego. So, if you were brave enough to follow the above advice and tell the guy that you are interested in him, and he rejects you, here’s how you can recover.

1. It’s not about you

Ahhh… rejection! Who likes it? Most people don’t because it doesn’t feel good, right? So, most people do whatever they can to avoid it. But let’s be honest – you can’t avoid being rejected. Everyone has been there at some point in their lives.

Just because he rejected you doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with you!

Even the hottest, most sexy people with the greatest personalities have been rejected. So, remember that you are not alone! Yes, it feels like you are the only reject. But it’s not about you. You just weren’t a good match for the guy. That’s all. [Read: How to respond to a rejection and do the right thing even if it hurts]

2. It might be for the best

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Everything happens for a reason” or “Everything works together unto good.” Well, as difficult as it is to believe it sometimes, it is actually true.

Ask any person over the age of 40 or 50, and they will tell you that the things *or people* that they so desired but didn’t work out, were really for the best… in hindsight.

It is hard to believe it in the moment, because your heart might be absolutely crushed. But the rejection really could be a blessing in disguise. The problem is that you won’t know that or see it until time goes by. But, you will see it eventually. [Read: 26 very deep daily reminders to change your life forever and go forward]

3. You probably don’t know the “real him”

Depending on how well you know the guy, you might only be in love with the “fantasy” version of him. Girls tend to idolize guys and see only the best in them. But guess what? A lot of them are not even worthy of your time at all.

It is difficult to see this when you are so close to the situation. People don’t really reveal their true selves for years.

It’s easy to be on your best behavior in the beginning. But as time goes on, it becomes more difficult. It’s like trying to hold a beach ball under the water. You can do it for a while, but eventually, it will come back up!

The same is true of people and their “true selves.” And maybe you wouldn’t like his true self. [Read: The red flags in a guy that will only end in your heart breaking]

4. Work on your self-esteem

When you get rejected, it can take a real blow to your self-esteem. You start to think, “What’s wrong with me? Why doesn’t he like me?”

But keep in mind, there is absolutely nothing “wrong” with you! You are perfect just the way you are. But it doesn’t feel that way if the guy you like isn’t interested.

So, instead of letting it drag you down, make sure you pay special attention to building yourself up. Write down all of the good qualities you have.

This is not a narcissistic activity, it’s simply to remind you of how great you are. And then after you list them all, think about what a dummy the guy is for not liking you in a romantic way. And what he’s missing out on! [Read: How to feel good about yourself and kick ass in all aspects of life]

5. He’s not the only fish in the sea

We all know that “there is plenty of fish in the sea.” But sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. Many girls get pretty fixated on one guy when they like him. Some even become obsessive and don’t even notice any other men because their whole being is focused on their crush.

But it’s not healthy to be overly obsessive with anyone. No one person is worth you getting all upset about.

Instead, remind yourself that there are plenty of other guys out there who would love to go out with you. All you need to do is look around for them, because they are all around you. [Read: How to be attractive to men – All the things you should never do]

6. Be proud that you were brave

Hey, it takes a lot of courage to tell a guy that you like him! Be proud that you did that. Many girls *and people in general* don’t have what it takes to put themselves in a situation like that.

Bravery is a rare thing, and so you should be proud of yourself!

When you do something that requires courage like that, it becomes easier to do it the next time… and the next time. And this goes well beyond just being brave enough to tell a guy that you like him.

Doing things that scare you will build character, and then in the future, you will be much more comfortable doing things like this. [Read: How to tell your crush you like them – The 20 best low-risk ways]

7. Read some books or websites to help you

There are a lot of self-help books or psychology websites that deal with the topic of rejection and/or self-improvement. Rejection is hard for most people because it really does take a toll on you.

So, if you’re having a hard time with the fact that the guy doesn’t return your affection, then take some time to turn to the experts for some advice. [Read: Dammit, why doesn’t he like me back? 31 reasons why guys do this]

8. Journal about it

Journaling is a great way to get your thoughts down on paper. When we are emotional, sometimes we are sort of “out of control” with our thoughts. We can be all over the place, and they might not make much sense to us.

So, if you keep a journal about your feelings, it will make you feel a lot better. As cheesy as it sounds, a journal can be like a “friend” you are telling your thoughts to. But it’s even better than a human because it doesn’t judge you. Once you put it down in writing, you can go back and sort out all your feelings to make yourself feel better.

[Read: Something you must know right now – The secret art of attracting guys in a way they just can’t resist]

As the last word, remember, it’s easy to just walk up to a guy and tell him you like him. But if you want to up your odds of dating your dream guy, always focus on building a connection with him first. Make him desire you, and the rest will be easy as pie. But all said and done, even if things don’t end up the way you’d like it too, don’t let it get to you.

Now that you know how to let a guy know you’re interested, it’s time you showed him that you like him. You have nothing to lose, so why not give it a try?