Flirting and dating on Facebook. It happens daily and is simple to do.

We know you’re spending a large portion of your time hanging out on Facebook; checking your friends’ status updates, and occasionally engaging in a dialog publicly or privately.

Here are our five tips on how to have fun and flirt on the world’s largest social network.

1. Claim Your Single “Single” Status. If you’re looking for a date or a relationship, why is your relationship status blank? Hiding won’t help your love life. Let your friends and their friends know you’re available. Perhaps that secret crush will notice your relationship status change, and the conversation can get started.

2. Check their relationship status before you start flirting. If your friend’s About page shows that they are  “Single,” chances are the coast is clear, but it doesn’t mean they’re not in a relationship. For this reason, you need to take it slow and just become friendly. Engage in Facebook chat if you’re both online at the same time.  If you see their relationship status says, “In a Relationship” or “Married,” or if you notice several photos of them in the arms of the same person, save your flirting skills for someone else who might be open to the possibilities.

3. Say Thank You Publicly.  If you become friends with someone new, or reconnect with someone from a previous job or from school, don’t just accept the friends request and ignore them. Take the extra step to thank them on their timeline. This will develop a digital rapport and get the conversation started. If you’re uncomfortable posting for all of his or her friends to see, send a private message by clicking the message button under his or her cover photo to keep the conversation between the two of you. Acknowledging your new digital friendship is engaging and shows you’re social media friendly.

4. Engage and “like.” Take the time to review your home page and “like” a few status updates or photos of someone you have a digital crush on. Remember not to go overboard. You won’t want to appear like a stalker. Start LIKING sites, bands, stores, things that describe your personality to find people with similar interests. Our Facebook Love story couple, Sophie and Trevor met in a Star Wars fan group on Facebook and are now happily married. The possibilities are wide-open.

5. Start the conversation Offline. Continue Online. Often people meet offline first and then connect on Facebook to stay in touch. This develops an online bond to add some glue to your relationship or friendship. Some of the best relationships start as friends. This is how our Facebook Love Story couple Lauren and Daniel fell in love.

Singles are finding love on Facebook. Isn’t it time for you to cast a wide net?

FacebookLoveStories.com celebrates those who have found love on the world’s largest social network. If you know someone who met on Facebook, invite them to share their Facebook Love Story. For more Facebook dating advice and stories, follow @FBLoveStories on Twitter.

Photo credit: Tijana – Fotolia.com