Dos and Don'ts of online dating apps: Your chance to meet a perfect Valentine's day date

The concept of online dating is no longer unknown to millennials. Infact people from all age groups use these online dating apps and services and often end up meeting their perfect date and in some cases true love. And now that Valentine's day is upon us and in case you are among those without a date or a Valentine, online dating app OkCupid shares some tips on how you can up your dating game this Valentine's day. However, tips mentioned in this article could apply to other dating apps out there such as Match and Tinder.

1. Keep your profile updated

"An estimated 1 in 3 dating app users don’t update their dating app profile once they put it up."

It is imperative that you keep your profile up to date. According to insights, dating apps usually show users more profiles if they are frequently updated with some new information. In fact, that is how their algorithms are designed to work. So more time you spend with the app, more the chances you get a match!

2. Upload more pictures

"Here’s the secret - you want to make it easy for that other person out there to reach out about the photo and say “I went to New Zealand last month too and loved it! Did you go to Wellington?”

Profile pictures play a significant role - not just for dating apps but any social network in general. Photos that include animals are thrice as likely to get attention. Only uploading selfies might ruin your chances of getting a perfect match. OkCupid encourages users to upload photos wherein they are seen volunteering, running marathons or hanging out with friends.

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3. Answer more questions

Unlike Tinder, OkCupid determines the relevance depending on what you answer. While creating a profile, the app advises users to answer as many questions as possible so that you can increase your chances of matching with more like-minded people.

4. Effectively talk about your interests

"Instead of describing yourself with a long list of adjectives, talk about the things you love and enjoy doing."

It is essential to describe yourself with the help of things that interest rather than adjectives. For example, if you love dogs, you can describe how happy you are when you take them for a walk in the park. If you want to portray yourself as funny, describe the time when you made everyone laugh with your silly jokes.

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5. Don't stick up for "Hi" and "Hey"

"Saying “hey” in a first message is almost equivalent to saying nothing — this greeting has an 84% chance of being completely ignored."

How do you initiate your conversation with strangers on dating apps is very important. Experts say women are two and a half times more likely to get a response than men if they initiate the conversation. For a conversation starter, you can talk about the person's photo or questions they have answered.