Many sites give you false advice on how to talk to women, especially online. They tell you to express yourself, to make a move, to talk a lot, to give her attention. These are the worst possible advices you could get. With these advices, you will try hard and fail a lot and embarrass yourself, unless you are some hot guy. The reason you will fail is because most people do that and it annoys women.
Machiavelli would use a complete opposite strategy.
Machiavelli wouldnt approach a woman first. He would bait her into approaching him.
For example, he would send her friend request, but he wouldnt message her. He would wait a few days, maybe even a week.
If she doesnt message him by then, he would leave a very short comment on one of her photos, something like "looking good".
If she doesnt message him then, he wouldnt post more comments. He would just maybe give her 1 such short comment every two weeks on her posts or photos.
Why?
Because if he went posting too much, he would seem desperate. But when he posts just one comment and doesnt post again for weeks, it seems to her as if he has many other options.
This baits her into messaging him.
Lets say she says "hey" in private messages. Some stupid person would immediatelly answer by "hi, how are you?". But such response ruins the entire "pretending not to care" act.
The correct response is to delay response. Dont respond immediatelly. And then, after some time, respond just with "hi".
If she asks "How are you?" you dont respond by saying "I am fine, what about you?". You just delay response, and then say "Fine."
The difference between these responses is huge, mainly in the attention shift. When you also ask her "what about you?" you are making a mistake by giving her attention. If you just respond with "fine" instead, you are not giving her attention and you are forcing her to write more to you and ask you questions.
You dont want to give her attention. You want to only give her smallest amount of attention, shortest response possible, which is also a delayed response.
Why?
If she is really interested in you, she will keep pushing the chat anyway and your lack of care will only make her more excited.
But if you gave her too much attention, she would think "I can have this guy any time I want, so I will reject him for now to explore other options."
In other words, dont make her think she can easily have you. Dont give her too much attention, only a smallest bit to bait her.
The harder you are to get, the greater your value is. The more rare your attention is, the greater is its value.
The result?
She will either make a move on you, or she will leave and you wont seem desperate either way.
The best part about baiting is that you can do it rarely and consistently for best results. One casual short comment on her photo every two weeks is enough to keep her interested, and even turn to you when other options fail her, and make a move on you out of despair. You want to give support, but only small amount of support, only that one short comment which makes her feel good, and then you ignore her for weeks unless she makes a move.
Another reason why this strategy works is because it attracts women who are specifically interested in you. In other words, if she messages you, you already know she has some interest.
In online world, you want to say less to achieve more. The more you talk, the more boring you become, and more likely you will say something wrong. Never overexplain. Never go in details. Never write more than 2 sentences per message. Keep your sentences as short as possible. Never rush to respond.