How to Impress Your Boyfriend

Co-authored by John Keegan

Last Updated: October 23, 2024

Whether you're just starting a relationship, or looking to pique your long-term partner's interest, there are several ways to catch your boyfriend's eye and turn his head. Sure, every guy is different and will have his own personal set of likes and dislikes, but these simple gestures can help you make a big impression on your boy and capture his heart.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Impressing with Your Appearance

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Dress to Impress. You don’t have to be in a ball gown all the time, but do put some thought and effort into what you wear.
- Impress him with cool, flattering outfits even when you’re just lounging around at home.
- Wear his favorite colors or his favorite fragrance to catch both his eye and nose. If you know he’s a sucker for a particular outfit in your closet, be sure to wear it on your next big night out.
- If you know he has a favorite band or sports team, casually work a jersey or band t-shirt into your everyday wardrobe. You'll catch his attention for sure, and seem like someone who shares his tastes.
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Gussy up, without too much fuss. Surveys have shown that 36% of men really appreciate it when their girlfriends go the extra mile to look great for them.^{[1]
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- You don’t have to be a supermodel in order to look good in your guy’s eyes. Rather, play up all your best features and assets, especially if you know he has his favorites. If he’s got a thing for eyes, then play yours up with makeup or a face-framing haircut.
- Try to keep it all effortless, or seemingly effortless, to really impress your fella. Don’t overdo the need to preen for hours before heading out on a date, especially if your boyfriend is waiting on you.^{[2]
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It’s more fun to be around up-beat people, and smiling more is one way to covey a sunny, easy-going attitude.^{[3]
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Speak good body language. Actions can speak louder than words and make an even bigger impression on a guy.
- Show your interest in him by acting a little flirty: touch your hair, make eye contact, lean in and casually touch his arm when chatting with him.^{[4]
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- Try to mirror his movements. Being in sync and sharing his body language signals that you're both on the same page and similar.^{[5]
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Keep you boy-toy impressed and pressed up close by being ready for a kiss or cuddle. Carry a travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and perfume/cologne with you in your purse or car so that you can freshen up on the go anytime and anywhere.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Impressing with Your Interests and Attitude

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Get into his hobbies. Even if you’re not really into some of the things your boyfriend is into, try to at least show some interest in the type of music, movies, books, sports, or other things that he cares about. It'll give you something to talk about and bond over when together.^{[6]
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- Get up to speed by reading the same books or listening to the same bands.
- Ask him to pick your next movie or concert outing rather than preferring your own.
- If your boyfriend is big on sports, try to stay current with his favorite team and known when they are playing. You can score some big impression point by offering to turn on the game without him even having to bring it up himself.
- Knowing which sports or hobbies he’s into is also a big help for gift ideas. Impress him with a little gift themed around his favorite pastime or biggest passion.
- Pay attention to what songs he likes and make him a mixed CD or playlist around all of his favorites.^{[7]
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  Research source} Throw a couple of new songs in there too, that are similar to his favorites. You’ll impress him doubly for your attention to his tastes, and for your audiophile knowledge.
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Take an interest in his friends. Many relationship experts agree that it's important for significant others to get along with each others friends. Show your boyfriend that you can appreciate, respect, and even like his friends, even if they are not your friends.^{[8]
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- If you’re all out together, offer to pick up the first round of drinks for your BF's friends, or offer to have them over for a party at your place.
- Laugh at their jokes, talk about their hobbies, anything that shows his friends you dig them. They'll dig you back and your boyfriend will be much more impressed and into you if you get the thumbs-up from his bros.
- Remember, your boyfriend wants his friends to like you, but to fall in love with you. If any of his friends start to get a bit flirty, keep your distance.
- Be open and accepting of any opposite-sex friends that your boyfriend might have. Being overly jealous of his platonic friends will make him untrusted. You’ll impress him more by being supportive of his friendships rather than suspicious of them.
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Ask about his family. You’ll really make a lasting impression on your boyfriend by taking an active interest in people who are important in his life, especially his family.
- Impressing the parents and family of your partner can be a huge hurdle, but you can score some early and easy points with your boyfriend by just taking a simple interest in knowing about his family, his siblings, and his childhood experiences.
- Ask to see old family photos, or to hear some stories of what your boyfriend was like as a kid. All of this goes towards showing your BF that you care about him and those he cares about.
If your boyfriend brings you along as his “Plus One” to a party or function be a good sidekick by not stealing the spotlight from him. Rather, bring up good stories that show his virtues and set him up to shine in front of others. This will make him look good, and you extra good in his eyes.^{[9]
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Compliment and appreciate him. Recent relationship studies have found that acknowledging the little things your boyfriend does can go a long way in strengthening your bond.
- Let your beau know he’s done good, especially when he’s making an effort to help you out; for example, by fixing something around the house for you, or offering to pick something up from the store.
- Tell him thank you especially when he’s done something without you having to ask him first. It’ll impress him that you noticed and recognize that he was self-motivated.^{[10]
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- Brag about something nice he recently did for you in front of his friends or yours, with him present.^{[11]
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Be a listening ear and reliable shoulder. It’s really meaningful to have someone there for you, and it’ll impress your BF if you can be his rock when things get rocky for him.
- Be there in the ways that he needs, whether that’s just listening, offering advice, or offering to help make things better.^{[12]
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- Remember to talk with and about him, not just at him. Give him a chance to speak and vent about things that are important to him, instead of talking about yourself. If he the quiet type, know and respect that. Give him space and support from a quiet distance. He'll really appreciate it and you.^{[13]
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Be cool with him wanting “guy time.” We all need some “me time” sometimes, and it’s no different for people in romantic relationships.
- Let your guy know that you understand his need to have person time, either just relaxing by himself or catching up with his other friends.
- This will go a long way towards impressing your BF by showing him that you’re not controlling or clingy.^{[14]
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Let him know that you think he’s funny by laughing at his jokes and sharing a chuckle at things he finds funny. Laughter isn’t just the best medicine, but an important thing for couples to share and bond over.
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Unplug from your phone. When you're spending time together, put away the phone, don't rush to check your messages, and don't seem too involved with social media.
- You want his to feel like he's the most important person, especially when you're out on a date or enjoying alone time together.
- Play it cool with social media; you'll impress him a lot more is you're not always having to write on his page, or check-in on what he doing every minute.
- Wait a bit before calling or texting, unless he needs you. You don’t want to look overly eager, clingy, or controlling.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Impressing with Your Skills and Personality

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Win his heart through his stomach. It’s true what they say: the way to one’s heart is through the stomach!
- If you’ve got game in the kitchen, impress your sweetheart by cooking up his favorite dish or surprise him with some sweet baked treats.
- Send him off to work with a specially backed lunchbox full of his favorites. Include a sweet or saucy note for him to discover with his lunch. It means a lot to know that some one cares to do these little things for him.^{[15]
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Take the lead. It’ll impress your beau that you’ve got the gumption to take the initiative with things, rather than putting all the pressure or responsibility on him.
- Surprise him with a kiss or an unexpected display of physical affection.^{[16]
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- Offer an impromptu massage, especially after he’s had a long or hard day at work.^{[17]
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- If your boyfriend is comfortable with public displays of affection, wrap your arm around his arm or put your hand in his back pocket when you’re out walking together.^{[18]
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- Plan your next night out. Take the planning and even financial burden off of him by taking him out on a date. Invite him out with you to do something that’s especially fun for him or inline with his interests.
- Be spontaneous and bold, especially if he likes excitement. Plan a surprise party for him, or get tickets for something unexpected and fun. You'll impress him by being able to surprise him in a good way.
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Impress him with your ambition. Eighty percent of men in a recent poll said that they like women who are go-getters. So impress him by being one!^{[19]
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- Don’t be shy with your own personal, scholastic, and professional ambitions. You’ll impress the right guy with your ability to be interested in your future in addition to a romantic life with him.^{[20]
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- Be sure to carve out free time away from work for the two of you. This includes not talking about work or school all the time, especially when out on a date.
- Be confident, but not too braggy. You don't want to make a bad impression on your guy by putting him down or making yourself seem too good for him.
Be confident in yourself and secure in your strengths as a person and a partner. Your confidence will help make you magnetic and make a lasting impression on your boyfriend as well as everyone around you.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I show my boyfriend that I really love him?

John Keegan
Dating Coach
John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.

John Keegan

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

Make sure you're there for him and be a good listener when he needs to talk about things.

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Question

How do I know that my boyfriend loves me?

Community Answer

If he tells you that he loves you, believe him. But you can also tell by how he treats you, looks at you, speaks about you to others, etc. If he treats you really well, looks at you lovingly, and praises you to others, there's a good chance he loves you, even if he hasn't said it.

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Question

My boyfriend loved another first, but the girl cheated on him. Sometimes I become more sensitive when he talks about her. Is it okay to ask him about his past?

Community Answer

Yes, you can ask him about his past, but believe him when he says that he is over his ex.

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