Seem like you're the only one who's striking out on Tinder? Don't worry – these 10 Tinder tricks and tips will up your game, and you'll be scoring dates with attractive women in no time!
1) Make Your Photos Bulletproof
When sheâs checking out your Tinder profile, sheâs noticing everything about your photos.
Thanks to a process called âthin slicing,â sheâs making a series of micro judgments about every aspect of your photo. Everything gets noticed, from your clothing and expression to your body posture and surroundings.
All those little opinions combine like a judgemental Voltron to form her first impression of you. It happens within mere seconds, so strong Tinder photos are essential.
A group of neuroscientists set out to identify the formula for the perfect Tinder photo, which they did by analyzing the study participants' responses to different images.
They used an EEG, eye tracking, and behavioral responses to determine which photos were perceived as the most attractive, and what those photos had in common.
They determined these 4 traits make the most attractive Tinder profile photo:
The good news is you donât have to look like you moonlight as a GQ model to take an attractive photo. You just need to know how to look desirable – and that goes beyond physical appearance.
Remember learning about Darwin in high school and wondering how youâd ever apply that knowledge to real life? That time has come – survival of the fittest applies to Tinder profiles.
So appeal to her subconscious desire to find a suitable mate by showcasing all your best traits in your photos. Darwinâs theory goes hand in hand with another process called âsignalling,â which is the art of communicating something without spelling it out.
For instance, consider these 4 photos:
In this lineup, youâve shown her you have the means to travel to interesting places, you clean up nice, you have cool hobbies and are physically fit enough to play outside, and you love dogs, so you must be a decent, trustworthy person.
See how signalling works? In other words, âshow donât tellâ. But like anything you post for public consumption, it can end up backfiring.
Signalling works the other way too – as in youâre sending a message you didnât intend. Tinderâs sociologist Jessica Carbino calls it âimproper signalling,â and it can really bite you in the ass.
Here is an example of getting it catastrophically wrong. Letâs say you like to hang out with friends and enjoy a few adult beverages. Thatâs a good photo to include in your lineup, it signals that youâve got friends and enjoy socializing – two attractive qualities to a potential date, right?
But these photos communicate completely different things:
On Tinder, pictures are worth way more than 1,000 words – so make sure youâre saying something she wants to hear. Put yourself in her shoes for a moment – which setting do you think sheâd enjoy more if she was there with you? (Hint – itâs not the alcohol-soaked brofest in your backyard).
Remember, women are highly visual creatures – sheâs going to imagine herself in every frame, standing right next to you. You want to lure her in with your amazing lifestyle, not make her scared to meet your shirtless friends.
Hereâs a quick list of Tinder photo DONTâS, so you can make your photos worthy of a stellar first impression:
Don't use photo clichés that repel women:
This means save your tiger photos for Instagram, and if you have to use an ab shot, make it a classy one at the beach or the pool. Any setting is preferable to whatâs reflected in your bathroom mirror.
Don't make her play guessing games:
She doesnât have time to play âGuess Who.â And if she guesses wrong, sheâs going to end up disappointed that youâre not the dude she was hoping to meet.
Don't post pics youâre not in:
This is especially true for your primary photo. She isnât here to date your two cats, your truck, or your tricked out scooter.
Don't pose with kids who arenât yours:
She will assume they are and swipe accordingly.
Don't choose photos that are too similar:
Youâre multidimensional, and using all-pro portraits or 5 photos of you at different bars doesnât portray that.
Don't include pictures of boring, mundane activities:
No matter how good you look washing the dishes or spraying for roaches, sheâll wonder why you donât have anything more exciting to share.
Don't post anything obscene, lewd, or otherwise objectionable:
Not only is it a good way to get your profile blocked, itâs a good way to torpedo your match rate.
Need more help with your Tinder pics? Check out these expert tips on choosing your very best dating photos!
2) Make Data-Driven Photo Decisions
This dating app might be all about the photos, but that doesnât mean everyone should post as many as Tinder allows.
If you only have 3 really strong photos, just use those. Donât add 5 more âokayâ photos and 1 weak photo just to hit the 9-picture limit.
Bad photos are more memorable than good ones, and one terrible choice could repel the women you want to attract.
Photo selection is a process where other peopleâs opinions can make a huge difference between success and failure. If you want the best chances of Tinder success, you need to take this part seriously.
You could pull together a selection of your strongest photos, then ask your friends (preferably attractive female friends) how theyâd rank them from strongest to weakest.
But itâs probably easier to just spend some time on a photo ranking website like PhotoFeeler. Youâll accomplish the same thing, and the bonus to using the internet is thereâs no lack of strangers willing to weigh in on your pics. The more female input you get, the better.
If you canât decide between two strong options for the primary photo spot, hereâs a data-driven way to break the tie: upload the first option to your profile, then see how many right swipes it takes to get 10 matches.
Ten is the minimum number of matches you should use to run your test, but the higher number of matches you use, the more statistically significant your results will be. Repeat the process with the other photo, and see which one piles up matches the quickest – thereâs your new primary photo!
Tinderâs âSmart Photosâ feature can also help you make the decision if you donât mind all of your photos being rotated into the first position.
In a nutshell, Tinder will alternate your primary photo, keep track of how many times you get swiped right on, then reorder your photo lineup to show the most popular ones first.
The appâs internal data noted a 12% increase in matches for users who employed the Smart Photos feature.
Depending on the feedback you get, you may find your most attractive photo made an appearance on our âDonâtsâ list. And thatâs okay – if a bathroom mirror selfie took top honors in the ranking, then go with it. But donât settle for using the best of the worse – make getting better photos your top priority!
3) Rock Out Your Bio (… And Include These Key 3 Elements)
Itâs tempting to skip the profile text and just rely on your photos to get the job done. After all, what difference can 500 characters or less really make?
But donât take the lazy way out. If sheâs on the fence about your pictures, a profile that makes her smile or catches her attention could easily convince her to swipe right. And sheâll probably check out your profile before responding to your message. So why miss a chance to impress her?
You can get away with a lot more over-the-top, cocky/funny attitude on Tinder than you can on mainstream dating sites like Match. Donât be afraid to be bold – the last thing you want to do is be boring.
The best Tinder bio for guys has 3 key elements:
- Itâs attention-grabbing. Youâve got a lot of competition, so your profile has to catch her eye and leave her wanting more.
- It paints an attractive picture. Just like with your photos, you want to make a good impression. Even if youâre only using Tinder for a hookup, you still want her to think you bring a lot to the table.
- It makes her smile. A sense of humor is almost universally attractive, and if your profile makes her laugh sheâll remember it.
There are many different ways to tackle a Tinder profile, but weâll inspire you with a few examples. Then check these tips on how to make your bio irresistible!
Example #1: Over-the-top humor
Funny Tinder bios work well because women are instinctively drawn to guys with a good sense of humor. (Want more short & funny profile examples? Check out these witty Tinder bios for men!)
Example #2: Short and snappy
Treating your Tinder profile bio like a âTweetâ is a great approach if youâre a really handsome guy with great photos. When your photos are doing the heavy lifting for you, you donât want to âoversellâ yourself by going overboard with your bio.
Example #3: On the serious side
A clever profile that showcases why youâre Boyfriend Material can help boost your number of matches, even if you're not the Brad Pitt of your generation. Taking a more Down To Earth approach also works well if youâre looking for a longer-term relationship.
Example #4: Bold & adventurous
If youâve got great stories to tell (and photos to back it up), this style can pack a lot of punch into 500 characters or less.
4) Donât Skip The Interest Badges!
Tinder lets you share up to 5 interests with potential matches by displaying them on your primary photo. (Editorâs Note: Interests are called âPassionsâ in some areas.)
Adding these badges is an easy way to share more information with users, but itâs also a strategic move. Tinder automatically highlights any interests she has in common with you.
Commonality can often spark a connection, and a mutual hobby makes it much easier for either one of you to start the conversation.
5) Power-Up Like Mario
Sure, Red Bull may not really give you wings. And upgrading Tinder probably wonât instantly âpower you upâ like Marioâs mushrooms…
But for most of us, even a medium-strength boost in our Tinder results is worth at least $7.99.
After all, youâve probably spent at least that much on a girl at a bar – while trying to ignite a flame of attraction but failing to produce a spark.
Here are the perks you get in exchange for your small investment in Tinder Plus:
Unlimited âLikesâ
As an upgraded user, you can swipe until your fingers bleed. While regular Tinder users are limited to 100 Likes per 12 hours, youâre able to Like all the profiles you can handle.
But there's one caveat – to get on the good side of the app's algorithm, you want to swipe meaningfully. That's because every time you swipe right on someone who then swipes left on you, your internal ranking takes a hit. Think of this ranking as your ‘like-to-match' ratio.
Users with a higher ‘like-to-match' ratio are rewarded with more visibility, and are shown to other users with a similarly high ratio. So if you're mindlessly swiping right on singles you're not interested in, you're risking your ratio for no reason.
âPassportâ Feature
Tinder Passport allows you to instantly change your location to anywhere you want, which is huge if you travel frequently. Now you can initiate conversations and schedule dates before youâve even stepped off the plane. This will also come in handy if you live 15 to 45 minutes outside a major metro area, and you donât want your location to work against you with the city-dwelling women.
âRewindâ Button
As a Tinder Plus member, you can also hit an undo button that lets you go back and reevaluate the last profile you swiped. Because swiping very quickly is the way to go, youâre bound to swipe a few women in the wrong direction from time to time. Thereâs also another powerful application for this feature that very few people know is possible, and weâll get to that in just a minute.
If itâs in the budget, you can upgrade to Tinder Gold for even more premium benefits that can really boost your results. Youâll get everything included with the Plus subscription, and:
Monthly âBoostâ
Each Tinder Boost lasts for 30 minutes, during which your profile is pushed to the top of the card stack for singles in your area. Tinder Gold users get a free Boost each month, which can really pay off if you use it at the right time. Thereâs a flurry of activity on Tinder between 8 and 10 pm, so for maximum benefit use your Boost during the appâs peak hours.
Who Likes You
Upgrading unlocks the ability to see a grid view comprised solely of the people who have already “liked” your profile. You can even match with all of them instantly.
All Your Top Picks
Tinder Picks are in a special feed of profiles that the app's matching algorithm has deemed super compatible. Free users only get 1 – youâll get them all.
5 Extra âSuper Likesâ
Super Likes let her know youâre super into her in a way thatâs impossible for her to miss. Tinder tested the feature in various markets prior to rolling it out globally, and claimed that you are 3X more likely to match with a user youâve âsuper likedâ, and conversations resulting from a super like last 70% longer. Today, Super Likes are probably a bit too overplayed to work that well, but theyâre still effective.
Regular Tinder users get 1 free âSuper Likeâ a week, but as a Tinder Plus baller, youâve got 5 of these bad boys each week to use for our #6 Tinder Trick. (And if you upgrade to Tinder Platinum, you can also include a message each time you super like someone – you don't have to wait to match with them!)
Tinder Gold costs $24.99, or less depending on your subscription length.
And springing for the top-tier subscription level, Tinder Platinum, unlocks that handy message-before-you-match benefit, plus all your likes get priority placement in her card stack.
Check out this comparison of all three Tinder subscriptions!
6) Use Our Secret âSuper Like Hackâ
There are a lot of questionable Tinder hacks, tips, and tricks out there, but this one really works. Hereâs how to make those 5 Super Likes per week really count if you're a Tinder Plus subscriber!
First, like a girl in the normal way to see if you instantly match with her. If you do, then congrats – youâve saved a Super Like. If you donât, simply use the âRewindâ feature to undo the Like and then Super Like her.
Before you start swiping, set your blend to âMost Popularâ so you can use your Super Likes on the most attractive women. If you happen to exhaust all the possible âMost Popularâ matches, switch to the âRecently Activeâ blend. You donât want to waste a Super Like on someone who rarely checks the app.
7) Donât Just Stand There⊠Make A Move!
But donât just send any message. Attractive women are faced with a never-ending barrage of âHeyâ and âWhatâs up.â She can afford to be picky, so sheâs only going to respond to the best Tinder lines. If you want her to put the effort into responding, then put some effort into your message.
Donât let a match fizzle out because you didnât want to make the first move. She swiped right too, so donât waste the opportunity. And doing just that is surprisingly common. In fact, dating consultant CamMi Pham once logged an incredible 2,015 matches in 17 hours – but only around 30% of the men sent her a message.
That means unless she grabbed the conversational reigns, 70% of her matches went nowhere. In other words, simply breaking the ice is one of the most effective Tinder tricks for guys. Itâs half the battle.
The best Tinder conversation starters grab her attention, pique her curiosity, and make her want to respond to you.
Here is another first message you can send to any of your matches:
Want more help? Check out these Tinder messaging tips!
8) Become Fluent In The Art Of Conversation
On Tinder, momentum is key. Your primary goal in any message exchange is moving things off the app before she loses interest or deletes her profile. That could mean getting her Facebook, phone number, or on a date with you.
If a message exchange turns into a chat conversation, youâve got to strike while the ironâs hot.
Remember, itâs a conversation, not an interview. Keep it light and fun, and donât be afraid to be a bit over the top.
It is Tinder after all⊠Itâs better to take risks than it is to play it safe. Youâll know when youâve taken it too far and learn quickly from your mistakes.
Keep track of what lines work for you, and whip them out whenever you need them. No need to stress over being creative and witty on the spot when you can build an arsenal of go-to responses suitable for just about any occasion.
For example, if she says something like: â… Iâm not sure how to respond to that.â
Respond with: âItâs ok, you donât have to say anything. Just tell me about yourself since your profile comes up a bit short. Netflix or Nightlife? Beach or mountain weekend? White, milk or dark chocolate?â
Always ask a question to keep the conversation moving forward. Posing questions like âSo whenâs the last time you did something adventurous or spontaneous?â can naturally lead to asking her to meet up. Keep reading for techniques that will have her saying âyesâ every time.
For a complete Tinder conversation strategy, check out this handy guide.
9) Ask Her Out Correctly
Convincing her to move things off the app can be tricky. You know sheâs not on Tinder looking for a pen pal, but you donât want to ask her out too soon and scare her off.
Here are some signs that will let you know when to ask her out on Tinder:
Then, once youâre seeing indications sheâs in the right frame of mind, hereâs a list of âDOâsâ that will have her saying yes to a date in no time:
- Ask for her number early in the interaction. That way, if her Tinder profile disappears, you still have a way to continue the conversation.
- If sheâs in her early 20s or 30s, suggest âmeeting upâ rather than a âdate.â Meeting up has a more casual vibe, whereas date is a more emotionally loaded, high-pressure word. But if sheâs 35+ and looking for something serious, the opposite can be true. Sheâd rather invest her time in a real âdateâ than on something more casual.
- Offer two choices – meeting up for coffee or drinks, for example.
- Suggest meeting in a public place – thatâs safer for her, so sheâs more likely to agree to meet you.
These âDOâsâ really work, because VIDAâs team of online dating experts analyzed thousands of conversations that led to dates for our male clients. Which brings us to the last of our Tinder tipsâŠ
10) Hire An Expert To Do It All For You
If youâre like the average user, you spend 90 minutes a day on the Tinder app, checking it at least 11 times. That adds up to 10.5 hours a week – and thatâs on average. If youâre above average, congratulations – youâve basically turned Tinder into a part-time job. No wonder youâre looking for Tinder tips!
Chances are youâve got better things to do, so if youâre spending all that time on your phone or laptop, endlessly swiping and hoping it pays off with a date, why not call in an expert to do it for you so you can skip right to the date?
Thatâs where VIDA comes in. No matter what type of relationship youâre seeking on this popular dating app, we can help you find it. Our Tinder experts handle all the messaging for you, with the gorgeous girls you really want to meet.
Youâll meet more attractive women than ever before⊠And all you have to do is show up for the date!
Click here to learn more. Why spend another Friday night alone when you can âNetflix and Chillâ with an awesome girl you really like?