1. Go Outside
It sounds obvious, but that's where the men are: outdoor bars, beaches, golf courses, boardwalks, rooftops, pools, volleyball courts, whatever. So stop worrying about your hair turning frizztastic and get yourself outdoors. Guys flock outside in the summer to enjoy the sun, but also to check out women wearing skimpy clothes, admits Ward. Which brings us to our next point ...

2. Dress Summer-Sexy
"Wear as little as possible that's still socially acceptable and dignified," Ward says. Okay, that sounds a bit extreme, but basically: If you're going to flaunt it, now's the time — but don't be skanky. So if you're at the pool, you better be wearing a sexy bikini ... but not a G-string. At a BBQ? A short, flirty summer dress is great, but super-short —and — low-cut screams desperate. Men expect to see some skin during the summer, so show it off a little if you want their attention.

3. Ditch the Entourage
If you're stuck in the same social circle — which means you've probably already met many of the available male friends-of-friends — then grab a girlfriend and head to another town for some man-hunting, Ward suggests. Make sure your friend is willing to play wingwoman if need be, and try hitting up a lake or park where a lot of people will be hanging out. Another good thing about separating yourself from the pack? You're less likely to wind up dating a guy who one of your friends has already, uh, flung-around with. "That just turns into one big mess," Ward says. 

4. Work the Room Brilliantly
If you've got your eye on more than one guy at a summer shindig, then try not to be touchy-feely with any one person. If you do, you may hurt your chances of hitting it off with another potential guy. Men will think you're insincere — or desperate! — if you're ferociously flirting with every guy you get in front of. "You either have to pick just one guy or you have to be very aware of your surroundings," Ward says. "You can't make it obvious to sidelined prospects that you're interested in other guys." 

5. Stop Babbling
If you've just started chatting up a guy, the last thing he wants to hear about is where you bought your dress or why your best friend is mad at you. You're sipping a couple of sweating beers during summer — not braiding each other's hair at a sleepover. "Women tend to talk about things that men don't really care about," Ward says. Ouch! "Instead, talk about the new summer movies, what's on TV, the funniest thing you've done this summer, any good travel plans ... stuff like that." Oh, okay, that's easy enough. P.S. Do not dig or pry! The guy needs to feel like you're casually getting to know him, not that you're sizing him up for a relationship. (Ahem, even if you totally are.)

6. Make Him Ask You Out
When you first meet a guy you're interested in, you have to be more direct than usual. After all, the summer is only about three months long and who has time for playing the game of wait-to-see-if-someone-makes-a-move? So if you're talking to a potential catch and want to make sure he doesn't get away, Ward suggests putting yourself out there in a cheeky way. "Smile and say something like, 'This conversation is going really well. I can't wait for you to take me to dinner!' If you're lighthearted in your delivery, the guy will appreciate your honesty." If he doesn't take the bait, then be glad you didn't waste half your summer trying to hook him. 

7. Show Face
Another tip to fan the spark with a brand-new guy: Socialize with him in person ... not digitally. "Don't text, don't e-mail, and don't even call that much," Ward advises. "Get in front of each other. The more face time you have with someone, the more emotional currency you both have in the budding relationship." Bonus: By weaning yourself off all the texting, tweeting, and Facebooking, you let the guy have the opportunity to actually miss you. "If you keep giving him your attention or are always available online, he's never going to crave you," says Ward. "You have to give him the chance to miss you."