Have your attempts on Tinder not really been successful yet? Don’t worry – these 16 Tinder tricks and tips will dramatically improve your chances.
With these tips for the ultimate Tinder profile, you'll be finding dates with attractive women in no time.
Make your photos irresistible – and avoid frequent faux pas
If we're honest, Tinder is all about photos and the visual impact of profiles. Reason enough to invest a lot of time and brainpower in order to get the best out of it and skillfully avoid common mistakes and faux pas.
If you are not yet familiar with how the popular dating app works, I recommend the informative article “ How to Tinder ”. A detailed test report on the app can be found here: Tinder – Mobile Dating App with Radius Radar .
Photo by Good Faces Agency @ingoodhands, via Unsplash
1. When she looks at your Tinder profile, she notices EVERYTHING about your photos
Thanks to a process in the brain called “thin slicing,” it makes a series of micro-judgments about every aspect of your photo. Everything is noticed, from your clothing and expression to your posture and surroundings (including even the smallest details).
All of these little opinions combine like a judgmental judge to form her first impression of you. By the way, the whole thing happens within seconds, which is why strong (and above all well-considered and “error-free”) Tinder photos are essential.
2. The perfect Tinder photo according to neuroscientific study
A group of neuroscientists set out to find the formula for the perfect Tinder photo by analyzing study participants' reactions to different images.
They used EEG, eye tracking and behavioral responses to determine which photos were perceived as the most attractive and what those photos had in common.
They have discovered that the following make the perfect Tinder profile photo
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- High Contrast – You want to stand out in the photo and not fade into the surroundings
- Alone in the photo – No photos with other people
- Close up – but not too close. It is best to see the upper third of your body clearly and centrally in the photo
- Eye contact – Look directly into the camera and let your eyes work. Don't hide your eyes behind sunglasses or similar.
3. Darwin's theory of evolution and the power of signaling
The good news is that you don't have to be a GQ model to take an attractive photo. You just need to know how to look desirable, that is, how to present yourself in the best possible way - and that goes beyond purely physical appearance.
Do you remember hearing about Darwin and his theory of evolution in biology class back in school and probably wondering how you could ever apply that knowledge in real life? The time has come – survival of the fittest also applies to Tinder profiles.
Use Darwin's insights and use your photos to appeal to your unconscious desire to find a suitable partner. Show all of your best qualities in your photos and show her that you are the right partner.
Darwin's theory in hand with another process called signaling , which involves the art of communicating something without spelling it.
You can use certain photos (e.g. when traveling, in exotic places, loving with animals, during outdoor activities, etc.) to show her that you have the means to travel to interesting places, that you have cool hobbies and that you are physically fit enough , to be active outside, or that you love dogs and therefore need to be a decent, loving and trustworthy person.
Do you notice how signaling works? In other words: “show don’t tell” . But like anything you post publicly on the internet or on apps like Tinder, it can backfire.
Signaling also works in the other direction - you send a message that you did not intend. Tinder sociologist Jessica Carbino calls this phenomenon “improper signaling ,” and it can literally “cost you your ass” on Tinder.
Prominent examples of this are drinking pictures and snapshots that are taken in a relaxed atmosphere while drinking alcohol.
On Tinder, pictures are worth a lot more than 1,000 words - so make sure you say something she wants to see. Put yourself in her shoes for a moment – which setting do you think she would like more if she were with you? (Note – it’s not the booze-soaked brofest in your backyard).
Always remember that women are very visual creatures - she will imagine herself standing right next to you in every picture. You'd much rather lure her in with your amazing lifestyle than scare her into meeting your shirtless drinking buddies.
4. Tinder photo DONT'S - You should definitely avoid these mistakes
Here’s a quick list of Tinder photo DONT’S to help you get your photos ready for a great first impression:
No cliche photos
Don't use photo clichés that turn women off, such as shirtless or topless selfies.
If you really want to take a shot of your toned body, do it in style on the beach or by the pool. Any setting is preferable to what is reflected in your bathroom mirror.
No guessing games
Don't let them play guessing games in confusing group photos with your buddies. She doesn’t have time to play “Guess Who.” And if she guesses wrong, she'll end up disappointed that you're not the guy she was hoping to meet.
Just pictures with you
Don't post pictures that don't contain you. This is especially true for the main photo. She's not here to go out with your two cats, your car, or your souped-up scooter.
No strange children in the photo
Don't pose with children who aren't your own just to create a certain image. She will assume that this is the case and decide accordingly.
Don't miss the chance to show your versatility
Don't choose photos that are too similar. You are multidimensional and using only portraits, black and white shots, or 5 photos of you in different bars doesn't show that.
No boring activity pictures
Don't add pictures of boring, everyday activities. No matter how good you look while washing dishes or spraying for roaches, she will wonder why you don't have anything more exciting to share.
Steer clear of profanity
Do not post anything obscene, offensive, or otherwise objectionable. Not only is it a good way to get your profile banned, it's also a good way to torpedo your match rate.
The Tinder Academy reveals how it can be done better instead. There you can find the best tips & tricks for Tinder . Our Tinder dating hacks help you from match to real date success. An ultimate guide with tips that really work.
The worst Tinder profile fails on Pinterest
5. Make data-driven photography decisions
This dating app may be all about photos . But that doesn't mean everyone should post as many as Tinder allows.
If you only have 3 really strong photos available, just use those. Don't add 5 more "so-so" photos and 1 weak photo just to reach the 9 image limit.
Bad photos are more memorable than good ones, and a bad choice could repel the women you want to attract, or at least cause them to swipe in the wrong direction.
Photo selection is a process where other people's opinions can make a big difference between success and failure. If you the best chance of success on Tinder , you need to take this part very seriously.
For example, to best prepare for Tinder, you can simply compile a selection of your strongest photos and then ask friends (preferably attractive girlfriends) how they would rank them from strongest to weakest.
But it's probably easier to just spend photo ranking site like PhotoFeeler You'll achieve the same thing, and the advantage of using the Internet is that there's no shortage of strangers willing to review and rate your pictures. The more female input you get from this, the better.
If you can't decide between two strong options for the primary photo spot, here's a data-driven way to break the tie:
Just upload the first option to your profile and then see how many correct swipes it takes to get 10 matches.
Ten is the minimum number of matches you should use to run this test, but the more matches, the more statistically significant your results will be. Repeat the process with the other photo and see which one works the fastest - there's your new main photo!
Smart Photos feature can also help you decide if you don't mind all of your photos being rotated to the top position.
In short, Tinder switches your main photo, tracks how often it's swiped straight, and then rearranges your photo lineup to show the most popular ones first.
The app's internal data recorded a 12% increase in matches for users who used the Smart Photos feature.
Depending on the feedback, you may find that your most attractive photo appears on our "Don'ts" list (see above). And that's okay - if a bathroom mirror selfie took first place in the ranking, then you can deal with it. But don’t settle for using the best of the worst – make better photos your top priority!
Brush Up Your Bio (…and Add These 3 Key Elements)
It's tempting to skip profile text and just rely on photos to get the job done. After all, what difference can 500 characters or less really make?
But don't take the lazy route. If she's on the fence about your pictures, a profile that makes her smile or catches her attention could easily convince her to swipe right. And she will probably check your profile carefully before replying to your message. So why miss a chance to impress her?
Interestingly, you can get away with a lot more over-the-top, cocky/funny attitude on Tinder than on mainstream dating sites like Match. So don’t be afraid to be bold – the last thing you want is to seem boring.
6. The best Tinder bio for men has 3 key elements:
- She is attention-grabbing . You have a lot of competition, so your profile needs to catch her eye and make her want more. However, treating your Tinder profile bio more minimalistically, like a “tweet,” is a great approach if you're a really good-looking guy with great photos. If your photos are doing the heavy lifting for you, you don't want to "outdo" yourself by overdoing it with your bio.
- It paints an attractive picture . Just like with your photos, you want to make a good impression. Even if you're just using Tinder for one date, you still want her to think you bring a lot to the table. A clever profile that shows why you're boyfriend material can help increase your number of matches, even if you're not the Brad Pitt of your generation. A more down-to-earth approach also works well if you're looking for a longer-term relationship.
- She makes them smile . A sense of humor is attractive almost everywhere, and if your profile makes her laugh, she'll remember that. Funny Tinder bios work well because women are instinctively attracted to men with a good sense of humor.
7. Don't forget to use interest tags (passions).
Tinder lets you share up to 5 interests (also called passions) with potential matches by displaying them in your main photo.
Adding these tags is an easy way to share more information with other users, but it's also a tactically smart move. Tinder automatically highlights all the interests a potential partner has in common with you.
Love in the age of Tinder – Can you find a match for life via an app? | Einstein | SRF knowledge
The big dating experiment A candidate is hoping for true love. “Einstein” puts it to the test together with the sociologist Gina Potarca and shows how good the dating apps, which have become even more popular since Corona, really are.
If the selection is only based on photos, then it's more about quick sex than about great love, right? A prejudice that the Geneva sociologist Gina Potarca was able to refute. In their study, dating app couples were just as satisfied with their relationship as those who met through an encounter. And the app couples were even more interested in moving in together. More about this in the following video…
Tinder founder Sean Rad's top tips for the perfect profile
Put on your shirt, put away your selfie stick and grab a cute animal. Former Tinder boss Sean Rad gave GQ readers exclusive advice on how to turn a left swipe into a right swipe.
Here I summarize his most important tips and most valuable advice for you:
8. Smile
“It’s pretty well known that smiling in photos helps you be perceived as friendlier.”
It may sound obvious, but Rad is right about it. You want your profile to be attractive and a pleasant facial expression is the best way to achieve this.
9. Keep your shirt on
"I've spoken to a lot of people about Tinder etiquette and the general consensus is that shirtless selfies at the gym are a huge 'no-no.' “You’re on Tinder to meet new people – the last thing you want those people to think is that you’re too self-centered or narcissistic to have a real conversation.”
10. Be authentic
"Be yourself! Your images should give others a sense of your personality, hobbies, and interests. If you like climbing or hiking, show it.”
This type of imagery is also key to a solid conversation starter. Ideally, use targeted photos to provoke a few questions and let the conversation flow from there.
11. Group photos are good – in moderation
“Group photos are great because they show that you are sociable and have a solid circle of friends. At the same time, you don't want all the photos to be in groups because they might have trouble finding you. Photos with sunglasses also fall into this category.”
OK – you have nine photo options on Tinder. Honestly, it's not advisable to upload more than five. Group photos should take up either two or three of these spaces.
12. Link Instagram
“There is also a small workaround for the photo limit - link your Instagram account to your Tinder profile. It’s a great way to give your potential matches a deeper insight into your personality, interests and filtering skills.”
13. Always write something
"Never skip the bio section—girls are 99 percent less likely to hit you straight up if you're not willing to share some basic information about yourself."
You've laid the foundation with photos - now it's time to support these images with a suitable description.
14. Stay focused
“Keep it short and sweet. Add a hobby or two, a quote from one of your favorite TV characters, what kind of people you'd like to meet, or a fun fact. It's not a bad idea to show off how creative you can be with emojis. While an obscure reference may confuse some, it could also help you find your perfect match.”
You should keep the bio consistent with the photos. Use the hobby reference as a caption for one of the images above, perhaps also suggesting a short and sweet question about it. This will spark curiosity and get Tinder users to ask about it in a chat.
15. Be open but not pushy
“If someone's reaction is to want to hit you without ever having met you (based on your bio), you're doing it wrong. If they don’t learn anything about you from your biography, you’re doing it wrong too.”
You would be surprised. Very often that is the impression that a biography conveys. There's a difference between confident and obnoxious, so be conscious of what you write.
16. Don't overdo it
“Tinder is fun – no one starts looking for a novel. We have a 500 character limit for a reason.”
And don’t try to approach that 500-character limit. Actually, you should probably stick to half. You want to tell a potential match a lot about yourself to keep them interested, but at the same time you don't want to reveal too much. Better to keep it short and sweet, as Rad previously suggested, and leave the rest to shared chats and conversations.
By the way, the detailed report with the interview between Sean Rad and GQ can be found here: Tinder founder Sean Rad's top tips for the perfect profile
