Best Tinder Openers

Dating is hard. It requires lots of bravery and some luck, as you can never really tell right away if the person you’ve found is the right one for you. It takes quite a bit of small talk, humor, openness, and romance. But, before all that, you actually need to approach the person the right way before anything else could happen.

Starting with Tinder, online dating apps have made all this easier. However, just like with real-life dating, starting a conversation on Tinder, although a completely different ballgame, can still be very challenging. The techniques differ, but the goal is still the same – getting and keeping their attention. Read on to see how to increase the chances of getting a reply.

What Not to Do

The science of landing a reply with a good opener doesn’t just come down to knowing what to write. Knowing how not to initiate a conversation helps just as much. The thing is that there’s a very thin line between what works and what don’t, even if the goal is the same.

Asking the Wrong Questions

As we’ll explain later, asking questions is the key. Getting him or her to answer the first one and ask you questions in return is a good way to land a date. However, this doesn’t mean that you should just ask a person what’s he or she is doing at the moment.

The reason why they don’t respond to such questions is that they’ve read them one too many times already. The same goes for many other types of messages.

(Potentially) Coming off as Creepy

Giving a compliment to someone right away might put you in the no-reply zone. So many people probably already told her she’s beautiful, she already knows it. Additionally, overdoing the compliments may also make you look creepy, which is something that you should avoid like plague.

Not to mention using the other person’s first name, or especially becoming sexual within the first few messages. Don’t. Just don’t.

Not Actually Interacting

Another way not to get a person to reply is by just saying “hi,” “hey,” or basically anything along those lines. You’re not making them interact in any fun or meaningful way which is sure to turn them off. This is all the more true if you’re a guy that’s trying to text a girl. Girls happen to be drawn to guys that tickle their imagination, so you might want to work on making your openers a bit more engaging.

Having Bad Grammar

Grammar is undeniably important. Making typos in the first few messages is a good way to make you seem uninterested, especially if you misspell a person’s first name. Double-check your messages, at least in the beginning, because not unlike in real life, a good first impression is very important in online dating.

Starting It off the Right Way

Right off the bat, it’s important to know that besides giving the person a good reason to reply, looking at their profile is the most important thing to do. The owner of the profile might even specify what he or she loves and hates, which might greatly increase or reduce your chances from the get go.

If there’s anything the two of you have in common, you can use it as the conversation starter. Make sure to ask a question regarding the interest, but make it engaging to increase the chance of a reply.

Speaking of Questions…

Asking questions drastically increases your chances of going on a date. This even means that if you don’t exactly know what to ask the person about (e.g. because of an empty profile), you can be bold and ask them something completely random.

Some good examples include what’s the worst movie the other person’s ever seen, how many times they’ve been scammed by a Nigerian prince, and which vegetable they find the ugliest.

The Tested Formula

If you’ve found these too random and are reluctant about using them, you can ask the person about cravings that are mostly universal. Most people love food and/or traveling, so those two are closer to safe ground.

Asking your chat partner about their favorite travel destination, for example, can easily start a conversation, or even a discussion. You can also take this to another level and ask the person where they would go if they won the lottery, or perhaps just what they would do.

The same goes for food. Even if you’re not the most creative person, it’s probably still going to be quite easy for you to come up with a good food-related question. Letting them choose between a few options might also make them think hard, making the conversation more interesting.

GIFs to the Rescue

Believe it or not, GIFs seem to rank among the best possible Tinder openers. It’s been reported that they increase the chance of a first reply by about thirty percent. GIFs just happen to have it all – they’re funny, they show that you’re funny, and they’re also a good way to add some spice to your text messages.

Call the Person by Their Name

If you still feel the urge to use your potential date’s first name, do it with style. A witty remark regarding their name, such as a pun, is a good example of what a good and funny opener looks like. If you’re confident about it, you can even take a shot at a funny comment that connects their name with that of a celebrity.

Increasing Your Chances

While a good opener could make all the difference when it comes to your success rate on Tinder, it still isn’t an absolute guarantee that you’ll get a date every time you get a reply. Not all conversations end up with a date, and Tinder is another proof of that.

You shouldn’t give up too fast, but if you’re certain that nothing will happen between the two of you, carry on and save both yours and your chat partner’s time.

Which of the tips provided here have you found the most helpful? What’s the best opener you’ve ever received? Let us know in the comments below.