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Step 1
Agree on a schedule for phone calls. You might decide to speak once a week or once a month. Whatever the frequency, decide who will call whom and when. You might base your decision about the day and time of call on when long-distance rates are cheaper or when you have "free" cell phone minutes. Schedule an hour for your talk, and make sure you call (or pick up) when you say you will. Maintaining a friendship relies on mutual trust.
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Step 2
Email is a good way to keep in touch between phone calls. Share little things that happen during the day, send photos and pass along funny emails or news items. Make sure to make these emails personal, though. Mass mailings do nothing to foster a sense of connection with someone.
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Step 3
Remember each other's birthdays and significant occasions. Send a gift and a personalized card. In this era of email, receiving a piece of "real" mail is special.
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Step 4
Make an effort to get together once in awhile. It may be once a year or it may be once every 10 years, but traveling to spend time with your friend lets him or her know they are important to you.
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Step 5
Sign up for an instant messenger service. If you see your friend online, drop him or her a quick hello or an interesting bit of news.
