Dating : 5 Ways to Improve Your Tinder Game

There are many people who come on Tinder and only post one picture. Honestly, it reads “serial killer”. Why do you only have one picture?

People who only upload group pictures get an instant swipe left also. This isn’t Where’s Waldo, I don’t have the time to try work out who you are. In the same light, posting selfies exclusively isn’t the way to go either. Because we can’t speak until we’ve matched, I can only guess your story, so the former tells me you’re insecure and the latter tells me you’re vain and a loner.

All these guesses may be completely wrong, but how am I to know? Also, it is improbable I’m going to want to spend the time working it out, so upload a variety of different pictures with different people. Upload a selfie, a group picture and perhaps follow it up with one with your parents or with your pet. Show me your network and interpersonal connections through your photographs. Show me who you are, seeing as I’m unable to ask.

I have come across a lot of profiles where people don’t have bios. I don’t know whether it’s because they’ve forgotten or they simply don’t want to, but having a good bio is crucial. Tinder is very superficial, and not everybody is going to look like a God, so a good bio is a way to tip the scales into your favour during moments of hesitation.

Not having a bio gives the impression that you don’t care/ you don’t use the app that often and will often lead to a swipe left. You could potentially be one of a thousand matches, so make yourself stand out. Play around with them, put something funny or outline what you’re in to. Put your zodiac sign if you have to! I would also advise not to write anything too long.

I like to put where I go to university, my degree program, my occupation and a witty one-liner so people can get a gist of who I am. I also like to state my intensions so that people know what I’m looking for pre-swipe. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just do something!

From experience, I know that women tend to be more picky with who they match with whereas men swipe right for everyone, look at their matches and go from there. So a message after being confirmed a match is reassuring, it shows that you were intentional and that the other person is interested.

This isn’t to say you have a window of x amount of time, no. But messaging me a month after we’ve matched is going to get you ignored and the very least and blocked at the most. Online dating is a numbers game. There will always be another match, so it is good to show the other person that you are serious in getting to know them and that they have stood out.

As I said, most people will have hundreds of matches and others will have thousands. You need to do a lot better than a simple “Hey”. I am not a fan of pick up lines, but even those can be a welcomed pallet cleanser.

I think it’s essential to be unique. Tell me a fun fact, pick something from my bio to discuss further — the possibilities are endless. Be different and make a lasting first impression!

I have matched with a few people who have proceeded to ask me things like where I worked and what my degree program is. These questions are inoffensive; however seeing as the answers are in my bio, it shows me that you didn’t care to read it, and that I am just a passing afterthought vs an actual interest.

It takes a few seconds to read someone’s bio, so there is no excuse to not doing some preliminary recon before starting a conversation. Come prepared to reap excellent results.