Summarize this article:

With a text, you have 160 characters to send a great message. You don't have to reply to your crush's text instantaneously. Deliver a response after you've had some time to think about it. Make sure that you have an unlimited texting plan or that you are tracking the number of texts that you send carefully. You don't want you or your parents to get a nasty surprise when the cell phone bill arrives. Abbreviations can make you look shallow and flighty. Save the abbreviations for your BFFs and use complete sentences and capitalization when you text your crush. Smilies or sad faces are okay, but you need to be pretty certain that your crush likes you back before using a flirty emoticon. Definitely be at least 99% sure that they like you before using a love emoticon. Don't text them too often. Texting once or twice a week is good enough. You don't want to look desperate.

Summary:
Take your time. Avoid racking up phone charges. Skip the abbreviations. Use emoticons with caution. Make sure your crush starts the conversation at some point.