It's no secret that dating platforms use different algorithms for connecting people. From OK Cupid to eHarmony to Tinder, the focus can change depending on the info you provide when you sign up. Are dating apps worth their weight in swipes? The results you get often boil down to how well you've set up your profile. "Their [online dating services] diagnostic tests seem to key in on the fundamental essence of our personalities, ensuring that we'll be paired with the one person in the world whose fundamental essence will resonate to ours," writes Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., on Psychology Today. Whitbourne points out a few other great reasons to try online dating: "Access- opportunities to meet more people than you could in person; 2: Communication- ways to connect you to people in an online environment; 3: Matching- use of mathematical formulas (algorithms) to pair you with a partner." Here are a few ways to improve your chances of getting lucky on the web.
Get your profile photo right
According to Cosmopolitan, it's important to choose a photo where you're making eye contact with the camera. Don't post a picture with more than one person, or use a fuzzy or distorted image. OkCupid's blog makes a point of discouraging the use of flashes, saying that it can add seven years to one's appearance. And, of course, since the eyes are the windows to the soul, skip the sunglasses!
Add captions
OkCupid researchers found that captioning photos increases your chances for a like by a whopping 30 percent. One reason why is that it gives searchers another opportunity to see if they have things in common with you. If you want to begin chatting with someone, captions can be a key to starting a conversation. For example, if someone posts a cute picture with their pet and you're an animal lover, you can bring that up in a conversation.
Write your bio
According toPopular Science, these are some important things not to have in your bio: Generic openers; too much boasting; attempts at awkward humor. Even though this sounds like common sense, it's easy to fall into the trap of writing bad copy when you're crafting your bio. Keep your profile short and direct! Viewers have short attention spans, so they probably won't read your whole life story in one sitting. It's also not a bad idea to put it away for a day or two and read it after you have a chance to get a new perspective on it. Spelling and grammatical errors can be a real turn off too, so don't forget the grammar check.
Date-- a lot
It's true that there's a lot of fish in the sea, but the sea's pretty vast! It makes sense that if you want to meet someone great, you have to treat it like anything else that takes time and energy to reap rewards: an exercise regiment; healthy eating habits; heck, even brushing your teeth! When you steadily chip away at something, you'll see results. Try going out on a date or two a week and see if the dating tides don't begin to turn. Whatever you do-- whether you have a bad date or a dozen bad dates-- don't give up! The engine of online dating churns out love stories hour after hour, day after day. "By giving people the chance to find happiness in a relationship in ways that modern society doesn't readily permit through real-world interactions," writes Whitbourne, "online dating sites can help people find partners in an efficient manner."