Online Dating Do's and Don'ts: Essential Tips for Dating Apps
Setting Up the Perfect Profile: First Impressions Matter
Your profile is ground zero for your online dating adventure. Mess this up, and it’s like showing up to a first date in pajamas. Putting real effort into your profile pays off—not just because you get more matches, but because you attract people who actually want the real you. Most apps, like Bumble or Hinge, reward authenticity over perfection. Using filtered, outdated, or misleading pictures? Bad move. Only 15% of users admit to posting photos more than two years old, according to a Pew Research survey, but even those get spotted fast. Today’s singles spot a catfish a mile away—blurry photos, obvious selfies, and zero group shots scream, ‘I’m hiding something.’ Aim for three to six recent, clear photos, showing you with friends, doing something you like, and at least one full-body shot. Your pictures should tell your story faster than your bio ever will.
But it’s not just about the photos. Take a hard look at your bio. Rambling stories, awkward interviews with yourself, or empty quotes won’t get you anywhere. It’s better to keep it short, punchy, maybe a little funny, and definitely true. Mention a couple of things you actually do on weekends, a show you’re binging, or a quirky habit you won’t shake. But watch the clichés—yoga, travel lover, food enthusiast. Everybody’s swiping past those. Authenticity is your wildcard. If you’re brutally honest, sure, you might scare off some people. But those aren’t your people. If sarcasm is your thing, drop it in your profile. A study by the University of Michigan found that profiles high in uniqueness (distinct hobbies, offbeat humor, real flaws) got 35% more meaningful matches.
Skip the bragging. Don’t claim you climbed Mount Everest if your idea of adventure is opening a bag of chips upside down. You don’t have to be a superhero, but you do have to show up as yourself. Treat your profile like a handshake—you want it to be warm, confident, and real. Use your profile to invite conversation, not just broadcast facts. Ask a question in your bio (like ‘Best pizza in Chicago—prove me wrong?’). Suddenly, small talk gets a lot easier, and you’ll have something real to start with.
Messaging: How to Stand Out Without Being Weird
Let’s face it, nobody likes receiving generic ‘hey’ messages. The difference between landing a date and sitting in the friend zone usually comes down to how you start the conversation. The first message is your online version of walking up and saying hi at a party. If you open with something they’ve heard a thousand times, expect to get lost in the pile. Instead, read their profile and pick out something specific. Did they mention loving spicy food? Ask if their taste survives a ghost pepper challenge. If their dog is in the third picture, say something funny about the dog’s expression. Compliments get old unless they’re clever—‘Great smile’ won’t take you far, but ‘Your playlist made me Google three bands, so thanks for the music homework’ breaks the ice.
Timing is huge. Don’t sit on a match for days; send your first message within 24 hours, or it loses steam. Research says matches that start chatting on Day 1 are 70% more likely to meet in person. If you’re nervous, remember that nobody expects Shakespeare. Focus on being yourself, and don’t stress over getting it perfect. Avoid asking for personal info too early—it’s creepy and sets off red flags. No need to ask for a phone number or suggest meeting in the first five messages. Instead, build a mini-story in your chat by sharing a quick memory or joke related to something they said.
Avoid resume-style conversations. Nobody wants to be grilled about their entire life in the first five minutes. Think about how you’d talk to a stranger at a bar—chill, a little flirtatious, and not in a rush. Don’t get discouraged if someone doesn’t reply right away. Everybody’s juggling multiple conversations, and sometimes life just gets busy. If you feel a conversation going nowhere (short replies, no questions), it’s okay to let it go. Don’t spam them with follow-ups, and definitely don’t double-text if they haven’t answered yet. Desperation never looks good in the digital world, or the real one.
The Do's: What Actually Works in Online Dating
You’d be surprised how much basic etiquette and common sense put you ahead of the pack. First, always be honest about what you’re looking for. When you’re clear, you don’t waste your time—or theirs. If you just want to grab drinks and see what happens, say so. If you’re looking for a long-term thing, put that out there. Honesty doesn’t scare away the right person. It clears the field for genuine connections. Second, treat conversations like you’re actually getting to know a future friend, not auditioning someone for a job. Find common ground and give a little before expecting someone to open up. People using dating apps are tired of one-word messages that go nowhere. If they get a real response that sounds like a real person, you’ll make an impression.
It’s easy to get caught up in swiping culture. Don’t let it turn into a numbers game. Focus on quality, not quantity. A study from Stanford University in 2023 showed singles who sent fewer, more thoughtful messages got twice as many meaningful first dates as those firing off mass copy-pasted lines. If you’re serious about finding something real, take your time matching and messaging. Listen more than you talk. People remember when you pay attention to their stories, ask about that weird holiday tradition, or remember their favorite football team. If you’re not vibing, politely let someone down instead of ghosting. Turns out, ghosting happens in over 60% of online conversations, and almost everyone hates it. It hurts less to get a kind, honest message than to be left on read.
Stay safe. Always meet in public for that first date, and tell a friend where you’re going. Don’t share your address, work details, or private info with someone you just met online. If anyone pressures you about privacy or tries to rush the relationship, it’s a big red flag. Use the platform’s tools—block, report, or unmatch if something feels off. Regularly check your app’s safety settings for new features (some apps now let you share your live location with a friend during dates). Safety isn’t just about avoiding creeps, it’s about making sure you start things on confident, equal ground.
The Don'ts: Mistakes to Avoid and Red Flags to Watch
Here’s where most people trip up: being too picky or too pushy. If you’re swiping left on everyone who isn’t movie-star gorgeous, you’re just shrinking your chances. The most interesting, real conversations usually happen with people who don’t look exactly like their profile—maybe the photo is off, maybe it’s not the most flattering lighting, but their personality surprises you. Don’t rule someone out because of one awkward selfie. Judge with your gut, not just your eyes. Being too available is another classic mistake. Quickly replying to every text, oversharing, or dropping plans to meet someone you just matched with can signal desperation. People value a little mystery, some independence, and a life outside the app. Take breaks if you’re feeling burnt out. Most people swipe for 30 minutes or less a day—if you’re on all night, it starts to feel like work instead of fun.
Scores of users complain about matches who turn every conversation flirty or sexual too soon. It feels forced, and kills the vibe. Keep it PG in the early days—save your best lines for when you actually meet. If someone dodges every question about their real life, never wants to video chat, or avoids sharing their last name, be wary. These are classic catfish moves. Romance scams cost the average online dater $850 last year, according to the FTC. If anyone asks you for money, gifts, or help with a ‘family emergency,’ run the other way. And if someone asks to move the conversation off the app to WhatsApp, Snapchat, or direct text too soon, pump the brakes. Apps have safety measures that protect your identity until you know someone better.
Don’t take rejection personally. You’ll get unmatched, ignored, and ghosted. That’s the price of entry. It stings, but it means you’re actually in the game. The best way to handle it is a quick shrug and moving on. Online dating is scattershot; you never know what the next message brings. Don’t settle for lukewarm conversations just because you’re bored—ditch them and wait for a real connection. Keep your expectations realistic; nobody’s life looks as good as their profile, and chemistry is always unpredictable. If you approach it all with curiosity and a readiness for a laugh, you’ll not only survive the world of dating apps—you might just enjoy it.
Written by Eldridge Fairweather
View all posts by: Eldridge Fairweather