‘The Message Game’ Summary: Chapters 12 and 13 - Are These Really The Best Photos You Have Of Yourself?

On dating apps, such as Tinder, your photos will often make or break a match.

Guys often swipe left or right on a girl's profile within a second based on their photo, and many girls will do the same thing.

So the question is, what types of photos should you put on your profile?

It seems obvious, but your photos must be of you!

Every single photo you put on your dating profile (and you should put as many as you are allowed) should have you in it.

Additionally, every photo must be close enough and clear enough so you can see your face.

Quality also matters, so use a good camera and choose photos that have good lighting.

Do not use selfies, especially mirror selfies. Instead, do fun things and capture the moments.

You can test photos on your other social media, such as Instagram or Facebook. If something you post gets a lot of likes, then you know it’s good.

Your photos should be time relevant. If it is so old that it doesn’t look like you anymore, it is no good.

You also want to showcase who you actually are. How you dress and what you are doing should be consistent with the real you. Close up photos of you doing things you are interested in, such as playing an instrument, are great.

Photos with pets are good, but make sure it is you with your pet, not just your pet. According to Tim Ferriss, kittens do especially well, as do topless photos, assuming you have the body for it.

You may want to post photos of you with other people. If it will be confusing about who you are, don’t do it.

It's not that photos with other people are necessarily bad. They convey social proof. A photo of you with a pretty girl can be good to show that you get along with women.

Additionally, small group photos can be good if it shows you are the center of attention.

Too many photos of ‘you and the boys’, however, are not a good idea.

If you are unsure whether the group photo is good or not, don’t use it.

The author didn’t go very deep about what to write on your profile, but there was one example.

Here is exactly what was written on someone’s profile, which he says performed well:

• Garlic bread enthusiast
• Can cook minute rice in 57 seconds
• Unbeaten monopoly champion since 2007
• Looking for someone to play hide and seek in ikea or go to legoland with

So what makes this a good profile?

It is simple, lighthearted and humorous. Additionally, it evokes your imagination. Did you imagine yourself in Ikea when you read it?

I did.

The short answer is no. At least, not instead of Facebook and Instagram.

The problem with Snapchat is that it doesn’t save history. There’s no social proof factor and everything disappears.

Also, its core users are mostly teenagers.

That doesn’t mean you have to delete Snapchat if you really love it. Just don’t use it as a follow-up contact instead of WhatsApp or Facebook.

Read the next chapter here.

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