With online dating becoming available in app form, there’s a whole new set of rules you should follow in order to increase your chances. Whether you’ve never used Tinder or tried it, but didn’t find what you were looking for, here’s how to use the app to its maximum potential. If you’re looking for a long term, monogamous relationship, don’t ignore these Tinder dos and dont’s.
Stick to a few simple rules for finding love on Tinder, and you’ll be able to increase your chances of finding the right match and meeting someone you really want to be with.
1. Choose Flattering, Realistic Photos
Just like for any online dating platform, the pictures you choose can have the biggest impact for your chances of succes. Avoid selfies and forget about duckface, whether it’s supposed to be ironic or not. Choose a few pictures that you look good in, but don’t go too far with Photoshop or use really old ones. Avoid group shots and make sure that you’re doing something fun in most of your profile pics.
2. Don’t Swipe Right Just to Be Nice
One of the most important rules for finding love on Tinder is using the app the way it’s meant to be used, by only swiping right for guys you’re actually interested in. If you swipe right too much, you might fill your inbox with matches that aren’t really right for you. You’ll also be wasting other people’s time in a way that you probably wouldn’t appreciate yourself, right?
3. Fill Your Profile the Right Way
Your profile should be more than a list of likes and dislikes. Use it carefully to represent yourself in a truthful way. That means that what you write about yourself and what you’re looking for should match the pics. Don’t say you love outdoors activities if your profile is just pictures of yourself in clubs, drinking with your friends. In fact, avoid the drinking pictures completely.
4. Don’t Use Tinder at Night
It’s one of the unwritten rules for finding love on Tinder that you shouldn’t be using it after midnight if it’s a monogamous relationship you’re looking for. Swiping after midnight means you’re just looking for sex, and even if you don’t think of it that way, most guys do.
5. Send the First Message
Once you get a match for a guy you like, don’t wait. Message him yourself, based on something you like about his profile. Guys like to feel wanted to, and you can let him take over after the first message if you really prefer a more traditional approach. But not taking that first step yourself and just waiting around for it might not get you dates with the men you do like.
More: 10 Best Dating Sites
6. Don’t Wait Too Long to Respond
You shouldn’t be allowing the app to send you notifications while you work, because one of the great rules for finding love on Tinder is that you reply to a message when you get it, if you want to get a conversation going. Waiting too long to reply can be seen as playing hard to get, and it can be a turn off for many guys.
7. Take a Break After a Successful Date
Once you start finding dating success on Tinder, it’s important to show the new guy that you like him… when you actually do. If he sees you back swiping a few hours after a good date, he might think you weren’t really interested, so stay away from it for at least 24 hours.
8. Don’t Dwell on the One That Got Away
Follow one of the most useful rules for finding love on Tinder and don’t dwell too much on the really hot guy that also seemed to like you, but suddenly stopped responding. If you don’t feel that you click when you actually talk or if you can’t seem to be able to agree on a time to meet in person, just let him go.
See also: How to Set Up a Good Dating Profile
9. Be Your Best Self
Even if you’re only using the app for a short time, it’s important to be on your best behavior. Be nice when you turn people down and don’t act entitled on Tinder. The people you’re rude to one day online might show up in your life the next day.
10. Don’t Give Up After a Bad First Date
While a bad date can certainly make you reconsider your expectations, follow one of the most important rules for finding love on Tinder or any other online dating platform. Try again with a different guy, a bit wiser than before.
