Between bots, catfish, and people who are looking for something less than a relationship, it is easy to feel like you may never find the one. But there are people out there, and there are things you can do to find them.
Here’s how to find people looking for a romantic relationship on Bumble.
1. Familiarize Yourself With the Bumble App
Bumble doesn’t work like every other dating app, so make sure you’re familiar with the basics of Bumble first. The most important difference is that only women can message first after you’ve matched (in heterosexual matches). Bumble also has many profile features for you to use, and has three modes—Date, BFF, and Bizz—so be sure you are in Date mode if you want to find a relationship.
2. Use the Profile Prompts to Assert What You’re Looking For
Profile prompts are great ways to spark a connection and communicate a message on your Bumble profile. After you’ve created your account, tap the profile icon on the bottom-left of the screen. Then tap Complete my profile right under your photo. Scroll down to Profile prompts and tap Add a question. Now you are ready to get started.
Send the message that you are looking for something real with the profile prompts Bumble has to offer. Use the Swipe right if… prompt on your profile and write “you’d like to go on a dinner date.” or something similar. This will help attract people in the same mindset as you and turn away those who aren’t.
You can also use the profile prompts to showcase your hobbies or interests to attract people who have things in common with you. Try the After work you can find me… prompt and say one of your hobbies. Some great examples would be cooking a new recipe, going for a run, or watching your favorite new show. You should write something that speaks to you and that you would want a potential partner to also enjoy with you. Sparking a genuine connection over a hobby is more likely to lead to a first date, with more dates to follow.
Avoid cliché answers to profile prompts, or answers that don’t say much about what you’re looking for. A classic cliché example is using a prompt to say you like pineapple on pizza. This has become so popular that people are begging for people to stop using this answer. You want to avoid answers like this especially when looking for a relationship because the answer doesn’t showcase your individual personality. It also doesn’t communicate anything about what you’re looking for on Bumble.
3. Think About What Pictures You Have on Your Profile
Use pictures that show your personality to create the perfect dating profile for yourself. Instead of just some selfies, try using pictures of yourself with friends at a restaurant or doing your favorite hobby. This will help attract people with similar interests and get people to swipe right on you because of a real connection you share, which could help lead to something more serious.
You should also be sure to use pictures that are clear, don’t have heavy filters, and show who you truly are. People seeking genuine connection will want to get a clear image of who you are from your profile. Blurry pictures or the use of heavy filters might give people the feeling that you are trying to hide something.
Bumble allows you to upload pictures from your Facebook Instagram accounts, or your camera roll. To change your photos, tap the profile icon on the bottom-left of the screen. Then tap Complete my profile right under your photo. Tap one of the plus signs (+) to add a photo, or tap a photo already on your profile to delete it.
The order in which you add photos is also important, so place your best one first. You can also hold down on uploaded photos and drag them to change the order they appear on your profile.
4. Don’t Overthink Your First Message
Whether you get to actually message your matches first on Bumble, or if you’re worrying about how to respond to that initial message, don’t overthink it. Remember, women message first in heterosexual matches. Anyone can message first in other matches. If you can message first, you have 24 hours to do so or the match will expire. If you are responding, you also have 24 hours to do so or the match will expire. 24 hours is plenty of time to create a nice simple first message!
Message how you would talk naturally. A simple, “Hey! Loved your profile,” is often just enough to get a conversation going. Trying to craft the perfect message can sound unnatural or leave you too stressed to focus on actually getting to know the person. Finding a relationship is about finding someone you can feel comfortable with and are excited to get to know. Making yourself stressed or anxious will hold you back from building a connection.
If you want to add a bit more to your first message, mention something you liked from their profile. Maybe you see something in their bio that you have in common that you can bring up in a first message. Try to pick something that you can talk for a while about or that you can eventually do together if you go on a date. This will help you stay on the path towards dating and finding a relationship.
One thing to avoid is moving too quickly. After all, there are ways to get more matches on Bumble, so you don’t need to rush into anything. Don’t ask someone to go on a date or meet up in your first message. Get to know them first! Doing this will help you spend your time on dates with people you already feel connected to, and they are more likely to want to go on a date with you too after getting to know you. Then you’ll need to get date planning!
Stay Optimistic When Matching on Bumble
It’s also important to remember to not get discouraged. Bumble has millions of users; not everyone is going to be a perfect match. It is important to keep your hopes up and put your best foot forward in every conversation. After all, it only takes one great match to find the person you’re looking for. Happy swiping!
