5 tips for mastering dating apps

Numbers matter

Some dating sites and apps allow too many pictures, and some are more on the right track. My advice is to use a maximum of five pictures on any site — less is more. People will swipe through all of them, find one they don’t like, and then dismiss you because of it. Think that doesn’t happen? I bet you’ve done it yourself. (The only exception is Hinge, which requires all six photos, though one or more can be a short video.)

Quality matters

If you’re blurry, too far away or otherwise impossible to see, then don’t expect a lot of positive results. Good pictures are the key to getting matches. At a minimum, you need to post:

• A clear shot of your face
• A full-body shot
• An interesting picture to provide “message bait” for someone to know what to write to you.

Content matters

No photos — especially the first one — should be with other people. In a world of instant decisions, no one will take the time to figure out which person you are in the photo. Also, no dogs that aren’t yours (aka dogfishing); no babies that aren’t yours (babyfishing?); no pictures where we can’t see your face. Basically, people want to see who they are going to meet. Nothing more, nothing less.

Yes, you need one. No, it shouldn’t be very long. Short, sweet and quirky is the name of the game. For the main section of Bumble, try to stay between 20 and 45 words.

Ideas: A list of things you like, things you’re good at, a funny story, a haiku, two truths and a lie, some fun facts about yourself.

What not to do: Write a novel, paraphrase your resume, say something generic, say nothing at all, say something offensive or lewd.

Again, think short and sweet. If the other person provides “message bait,” then all you have to do is ask a question about it. Notice they like to tango dance? Ask if they’ve been to Argentina. They mention they’re a night owl? Ask if “late” is 11 p.m. or more like 3 a.m.

Other ideas if there is no message bait: Emojis with a question (like “pizza emoji” or “sushi emoji”?), funny questions, something relating to the other person’s profile or picture.

What not to do: “Hey.” “Hey, what’s up?” “What’s up?” “How’s quarantine treating you?” Something sexually explicit. An insult. “Why are you still single?” (I could go on about this last one, but I’ll save that for another day.)

As a rule of thumb, line up a date (or video chat these days) within three days of matching or three messages on each side. The key is not to lose momentum before scheduling the date.

Avoid it. Schedule the date/interaction right from the dating site or app. Texting is another, what I call, “obstacle to the first date,” where you can inadvertently hurt your chances of getting to the date. Plus, on text, you can’t reference the person’s profile to “study up” before the date. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to text someone I’ve never met.