How to get more matches on Tinder?

The simple answer - stand out.

You might be thinking “that’s easy for you to say voiceless post on the internet”.

Fair enough. But as a voiceless post, I do feel a little whimsical, like I have the power to show you your dating future. Or cat videos. Either way.

Anywhoo, let’s get back on track…

You need to stand out because Tinder is a numbers game. Think about:

The sheer total of profiles available
The amount of time the average person spends deciding to swipe left or right (hint - it’s not much)
The number of matches you need in order to meet one for a date. The law of attrition exists for everyone

So, the only way to get more Tinder love is to immediately stand out in some way.

-FIRST IMPRESSIONS-

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Blink”, he talks about how we make (usually accurate) decisions in about, oh, TWO SECONDS.

In those two seconds, we rely on our adaptive unconscious which is “a kind of giant computer that quickly and quietly processes a lot of the data we need.”

In Blink, he talks about a study where people watched just two seconds of a silent video clip of a teacher - and ended up rating them eerily similar to students who sat in that teacher’s class for an entire semester.

In. Just. Two. Seconds.

With that in mind, your Tinder image is doing some serious heavy lifting. In just seconds, your image is determining whether your potential date learns more about you. Or swipes left.

What can you do to stand out and have a great first impression for more tinder likes?

Meet Blake Jamieson.

He applied a little creativity to his profile and was able to boost his matches to the tune of 2,000.

So what did he do?

He basically made it look as if Tinder endorsed him with a real looking "Match of the Day" logo. This simple tweak was enough to generate over 800 matches.

But then he ditched the Tinder flame that framed his face for a more ‘real looking’ Tinder banner that read "Hot Match of the Day."
That small tweak lead to him boosting his matches to 2,000.

BEST TINDER PROFILE

Blake was able to stand out and see those ridiculous results with a creative, albeit fake, endorsement.

As a quick side note, that also shows how anyone on Tinder can claim just anything about himself. Including their identity.

It seems appropriate, so I’ll include a quick plug for Dateafied…

Dateafied can give you that standout quality while also showing you are who you say you are - and more importantly, you’re safe to meet up.

Dateafied-can-help-get-more-matches-on-tinder

Besides verifying your background, you can also verify you’ve passed a recent STD screening and are safe for escalating the romance.

Especially if you look at Tinder as a hook up app, how much would you give to know that your romantic partner was safe?

WHAT TO WRITE ON TINDER BIO?

Obviously your photos are doing the heavy lifting, but your bio can be your secret weapon for getting more tinder matches.

We talked about the goal of standing out, so for your bio, stand out by being interesting. Easy enough, right?

Well, you have two basic strategies on what to include in your Tinder profile. You can either:

Appeal audience possible and embrace the numbers game of online dating statistics.

Get super specific (in business this would be know as niching down. You’ll alienate a large percentage of women, but the ones who are interested will be really interested because you’ll seem to have a lot in common.

-SPECIFIC PROFILE-

Let’s look at the niche approach first.

1.) Pick only one polarizing thing. So, if you’re super passionate about politics or religion or whatever else, include it - but just that one thing. You might find commonality with one, but you lower your odds dramatically that you’ll find someone who’s into both.

2.) If you’re a tourist or just visiting, you’ll turn off the local women who are looking for something more long term. On the other hand, knowing that you’ll be leaving soon can boost your odds with someone who’s looking for something more casual. And intimate. If you get what I mean…

3.) Related - adding that you just moved to town, has the air of romance and possibility of meeting another newby and exploring the town together. Or that local women might like the idea that you’re ‘new’ might have appeal and have a feeling of serendipity. But it’s still a bit of a risk, because not everyone wants to act as a tour guide or be responsible for date places.

4.) You can list what you’re looking for, but you’re seriously limiting your net of potential dates. And it can be too specific, which makes you look weird. Or like you’re entitled.

5.) If you want to be specific, try to sum it up in as few words as possible - writer, board game enthusiast, scooter fan.

-GENERAL PROFILE-

See the list above, and then pretty much do the exact opposite.

-WHAT TO LEAVE OFF YOUR TINDER PROFILE-

Well, the list of what not-to-do is a bit longer. So, here are 11 things to avoid in your Tinder profile...

1.) Don’t copy and paste your eHarmony bio. They’re totally different, and a traditional dating bio will actually hurt your chances. For Tinder, think Twitter-like brevity. You only have 500 characters, so simply give her a hint/glimpse, and leave her wanting more.

2.) Don’t be unoriginal or lame. That’s like, the exact opposite of being interesting. If it feels like what you’re writing might be cliche, it probably is. Avoid at all costs: Just seeing what’s out there, I don’t know what I’m doing here, looking for a partner in crime, etc.

3.) Don’t show off or be too full of yourself. If you make ridiculous Scrooge McDuck money (is that still a relevant reference?) or you’re like a superhero in your free time, don’t include that in your bio. That’s more date material, unless you have a secret identity, then I might keep that on the DL.

4.) Don’t be weird. This should be obvious, but you’d be surprised what people write. Being unique and weird are on the same continuum, so just make sure you pass the roommate test (what would you consider a deal breaker in a roommate?) Related - don’t be creepy either.

5.) Don’t be too negative. Self-deprecating can be funny and likeable, but make sure you nail the funny. You have such a limited amount of space to show you’re awesome, you don’t want to dig yourself into a hole.

6.) Don’t write your deal breakers. Again, deal breakers are great for dating sites, but not here. Listing what you don’t want makes you come across as kinda douchey. And don’t gripe or air your frustrations with dating (ex - “don’t bother if you wait too long to respond”). This is your chance to show why they should swipe right, don’t waste it being negative.

7.) Don’t be too serious or preachy. You can come across as too intense. Or too draining (like homework). Instead aim for fun and relaxed.

8.) Don’t mention where you want to take them on a date. You’re potentially ruining the mystery and surprise of getting to know someone. And it seems less personal if you’re broadcasting that this is what you do with all your dates.

9.) Don’t lie. You include what you’re interested in without the hyperbole.

10.) Don’t be overly sexual. See also ‘don’t be creepy.’

11.) And most importantly, don’t leave your bio empty. You look fake/skammy, and you’re wasting a golden opportunity to stand out and be interesting.

-CLOSING IS FOR CLOSERS- (or something like that)

What does a good movie and a successful advertisement have in common?

If you said scantily clad women, well, you could be right, and we are talking about dating tips so I can’t really fault you for that. But no, the answer is a great ending.

In a good movie, we tend to remember the satisfying ending more than what happened during the middle, and in a good ad, we are left with the steps we need to take to get what we want... For a satisfying ending. Or what some might call a happy ending.

So, you’ll want to make sure your bio has a great ending.

One of the best ways is to close your profile with a question and a call to action.

If you can also create a sense of urgency, even better.

Ending with a question is great because it’s an open loop, inviting a conversation.

You can also make it into a points game, which is great because you’ll be fun/playful, but also a bit of a challenge.

So, you could end your bio with:

“You get 100 points if you can name the best mexican food in town.”

“You’re officially the cool girl if you can name Billy Crystal’s “Miracle” character in the Princess Bride.”

“If you had three wishes, what would they be? (points will be assessed on originality, so you gotta come with something a little more than just - 'more wishes')

Another possible move, is to end with a link to your instagram page, your blog, YouTube channel, or wherever you feel helps show your awesomeness.

That can be one more tool in your tool belt that helps you stand out for more tinder likes and compel her to meet you.

TINDER PICTURES

Let’s test your Tinder knowledge…

How many profiles have been added to Tinder?

a.) 1,600,000 (1.6 million)
b.) 106,000,000 (106 million)
c.) 1,600,000,000 (1.6 billion)

And the answer is….

c.) 1.6 BILLION. That’s ridiculous!

That’s not to scare you away from Tinder, but rather to reinforce how important it is to stand out. Especially if you live in the hard to date cities.

We’ve already covered dating profile pictures, but we’ll go over tips specifically for Tinder pictures.

-THE BASICS-

Tinder is connected to your Facebook account, so your pictures will automatically default to your most recent profile pictures. But since you’re (probably) not looking to date your Facebook friends, you should be a bit more strategic with the photos you use for Tinder.

With Tinder, you can add up to six photos - if you can, use all six.

Think of your photos as mini testimonials that are telling your story and selling your unique awesomeness. If you don’t have six great pictures, find at least four, which will give you your best chance of getting more matches.

-PHOTO TEAM-

Think of your photos as player on a baseball team. They each have their own role and their own strengths. Just like you can’t have five first baseman, you shouldn’t have five photos that are all basically the same.

Besides just showing what you look like, your photos are also showing what you’re into and what dating you would be like.

Remember how the bio only has 500 characters, well your photos give you like 6,000 words to tell your story (probably just me, but “a picture says a 1,000 words” always seemed oddly specific). And having different pictures can help you cast a much wider net.

So, if you’re into riding fresh powder in the back-country, or face-painting & cheering on your favorite team, or mimosas with your friends, be purposeful and mindful of the story you’re telling about yourself.

But be honest - especially if you want date #2. Photo-bombing some ski pics and then saying you’re a skier won’t help your chances with girls who actually ski. You can also read more on how to perfect your dating profile pictures...

-TINDER PROFILE PHOTO-

This is the most important one in the bunch.

Keep your first photo simple, with just you (in focus) smiling. Preferably from the waist up. If we can see your feet you’re probably too far away for this first one.

Posing with a cute puppy or kitten is always a nice touch. It shows your lovable, and the feelings that the puppy generate will be transferred over to you.

Being outdoors is also a good touch, because it shows you can be adventurous and that you can appreciate unplugging and being in the moment.

-WHAT TO AVOID IN YOUR PROFILE PHOTO -

1.) Group photo. Group photos can be great for any other picture besides your main one. How is she supposed to know who you are at first glance - more than likely she’ll get annoyed and won’t go on to photo #2 to find out which one you are. The one caveat that if you have famous friends. Then a group photo is a great idea.

2.) Making a weird face. Zoolander is a classic, but don’t start off with “Blue Steel”. Being goofy/weird might get you novelty points, but there are better ways to standout. Instead, keep it natural and just smile.

3.) Posing with a girl (unless it’s clearly your mom - but then that’s still kind of weird for a dating app). Without context, she’ll think your lady friend is a previous date or old girlfriend.

There’s nothing wrong with having that picture anywhere #2 - #6, just not the first one. It can add to your social proof (see below), but you’ll want to photoshop/pixlr a caption that states who she is and that she’s not an ex-girlfriend (my awesome sister/cousin/best friend’s wife).

4.) Being out of focus and blurry. Just about every phone can now take pretty great photos, so if you’re blurry, it seems a little suspicious. And creepy. If we make decisions in two seconds, a blurry pic definitely won’t compel her to find out more about you.

5.) Related - Not being able to see your face. Yep, it might be artistic to stand in the distance, or see the back of your head as we look at your POV, or being covered in shadow. Save that for the last photo. Same goes with having ski goggles and a helmet. That’s great, but not for your profile photo.

6.) Anything with a baby. Again, #2 - #6 is fine as long as you add a caption letting her know it’s not your baby … Unless it actually is your baby. Then own it and add a caption that you’re the best dad. You’ll be casting a smaller net, but you’ll win points for anyone who’s into single dudes with babies

-SOCIAL PROOF-

Besides the creative logo that helped Blake standout, it also had a sense of what Robert Caldiani calls “social proof”, which basically means we value anything that looks like it’s already valued by others.

So, if you can show you’re liked by others and have high status, other people will think that as well.

Having a picture of you and your buds (or lady buds - see below) is a great way to maximize your “social proof”.

Social proof is a theory that states when we’re unsure of something, we look to others and see how they’re acting. So if you have a photo of you and your crew having a great time, it shows:

a.) you’re liked and accepted (and not a weird creeper)
b.) you know how to have fun and be social with others

In fact, according to a study from UC San Diego, profiles were rated as more attractive when in group photos compared to going solo.

-HIGH STATUS-

Important note - just make sure you’re in the middle of said group photo. Preferably touching someone.

Being in the middle gives you a sense of importance and social status. And studies show that if you’re touching another person, you have higher social status. Just don’t be weird with the touching.

IMPROVING OTHER TINDER PICS

Once you have your profile picture locked down, it’s time to focus on the remaining five.

Your Hobby or Passion Pics (two - three photos): What are you passionate about? Show it here. This is your chance to show you in your element, being awesome. It’s okay to have a wide - full body shot with these. If you hike 14ers or play in a band or direct a YouTube series, definitely include two to three photos that tell your story and give you that halo-effect (doing something interesting gives you those same interesting qualities).

Your Social Proof Pics (two photos): Here’s where you can show you and your friends having a great time. Or you and a female who can vouch for you.

Your James Bond Pic (optional): Think of your ideal girl. Now think about what her ideal night out would look like. Now - capture a pic of yourself, dressed looking your best - just like her ideal date. Boom.

Here’s a quick list of what not to do with your Tinder photos...

Including junk shots or closeups of the gun show, or really anything where you needlessly don’t have a shirt on.
Wearing “bad” clothes can be a turnoff for women. Be mindful of what you’re wearing and if it’s making the right impression. If you’re not sure, ask a female friend.
Using anything with the words “mirror selfie”.
Not smiling
Kissing your ex-girlfriend
Anything that shows you in a bad light. Literally. Make sure the lighting is good for your photo (no silhouettes), and don’t just settle for a subpar webcam shot.
Using anything older than a year. Trying to get more Tinder matches is great, but your end goal is more dates, so using relevant photos won’t annoy your date when you meet up. Have the photo look good, but not like it’s a staged Glamor shot. (Are those still a thing in malls?) Having it a little too perfect makes it look like you’re trying too hard.
Having basically the same photo repeated six times. You’re not telling your story, and more importantly, it’s kinda weird.
Conversely, having just one photo is worse. To you it might feel minimalist cool, but to everyone else, it feels kinda window-less van creepy, and paints you in a terrible light of no friends or no fun.

LISTEN TO FEEDBACK

Think of your Tinder success as a work in progress. If something isn't working, see if you can get feedback from any female friends or coworkers.

Then if you can, be systematic about what you change.

Start first with your profile picture.

Then switch out pictures #2 - #6.

Then change up your bio.

With that, you should be on your way to more tinder matches.

As always, if you enjoyed this content, please share it on your Facebook page or by hitting one of the social buttons below.

If you'd like to improve your dating profile description and attract more dates, check out how to get Date Verified and date more often.

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