On this page 5 sections
Photos
Photos are what people look at first, so they're worth getting right.
- Lead with a clear photo of your face. Just you, good light, no sunglasses. People want to know who they're talking to.
- Add variety. One full-length photo, one doing something you enjoy, and one that shows a bit of your life, like your dog, your favourite beach or a trip.
- Keep them recent. If your photos are from five years ago, the first date starts with a surprise, and not a good one.
- Group photos are fine, but not first. Nobody should have to guess which one is you.
- Go easy on filters. A natural photo builds more trust than a polished one.
On Matcha, the more photos you add, the more of other people's photos you can see. Adding a few good ones helps both ways.
Your bio
The biggest mistake is being generic. "I love travelling, food and having a laugh" describes nearly everyone. Specific details are what make someone reply.
Love the outdoors, good food and my friends. Looking for someone fun.
Weekends are usually a tramp in the Waitākeres or a long brunch in Kingsland. Currently losing at a 300-day Duolingo streak in Spanish. Looking for someone to share the good café finds with.
The second one gives at least three things to ask about. A few more tips:
- Say what you're looking for. Something serious, something casual or still working it out. Being upfront saves time.
- Keep it short. Two to four sentences is plenty. On Matcha, free bios fit 200 characters, which is a good length anyway.
- Be positive. A list of what you don't want reads as negative, even when it's fair.
Prompts
Prompts are short questions you answer on your profile. They're the easiest place to start a conversation, so answer them with something people can reply to.
A flat white before anyone else is awake, and the first swim of summer at Takapuna.
Recommend me a book you think I'll hate, and then be right that I love it.
Skip one-word answers and in-jokes only your friends will get. On Matcha you can pick up to three prompts from a list, and they appear on your Discover card and your full profile.
The basics
Filling in details like height, work, education and what you're looking for answers the questions people would otherwise ask in the first five messages. It also helps the right people find you, and the wrong ones skip past.
- Height
- Work
- Education
- Looking for
Your first message
- Mention something from their profile. It shows you actually read it.
- Ask a question they can answer easily and enjoy answering.
- Skip "hey". It puts all the work on the other person.
Okay, I need to know which café in Kingsland wins brunch. I'm a Mount Eden loyalist.
On Matcha, when a man and a woman match, the woman sends the first message. If that's you, the same tips apply. Here's how women message first works.