Something I have found to help in getting a girl to agree on a date (this is usually via text/FB/phone call is to arrange to meet "for lunch" or "for a good chit chat" instead of being like "oh will you meet me"...

I think it probably makes the girl think its just a simple friendly interaction, rather than a pressured date which would send all thoughts of emotions and thoughts going wild in her head...

I also find that even with just friends, if you arrange a meet up and say things like "so we're going for our date on wednesday night" or something they usually like the fact they're being treated nicely..