No matches on Coffee Meets Bagel

Short answer? Yes.

Not only are dating apps evolving, but dating app users are evolving too. That means it's important to keep up with the latest tips and strategies to make sure you're staying competitive in the online dating game. Especially on apps like CMB that focus on quality matches, and cater to people interested in a serious relationship, you need to bring your A game.

If you're not getting the results you're looking for, read on for why that might be happening, and how to change it.

#1: You're using the wrong pictures

A picture is worth a thousand words — we all know that. But our judgment about pictures of ourselves can be flawed. Maybe you think you look cool showing off at the gym, or playing your favorite sport, but the image might not have the result you're looking for. Maybe you look arrogant rather than sexy, or maybe it's just impossible to see your face.

Just remember, it's impossible to overstate the importance of good photos — quality photos lead to quality matches.

#2: Your bio isn't working

First, the bad news: a flawed bio can undermine your dating app success. The good news is that they're easy to update. If you're not getting the results you want, make a change. And keep changing things until you start getting results.

Online dating is like a science experiment, and you can keep tweaking variables until you find success. So make sure your Coffee Meets Bagel profile is setting you up for success, not holding you back.

#3: You're not checking your bagels every day

The way Coffee Meets Bagel works, you get a limited number of bagels each day. That means if you're serious about online dating success, you need to log on every day. If you miss out, there's no guarantee the same potential matches will come around — so don't miss out by skipping a day!

#4: Your preferences are too narrow

Most online dating sites start by asking you to set preferences, such as the age and gender you're open to dating, as well as the distance from your current location. And while online dating apps are great for filtering out who you do and don't want to date, it's also possible to be too picky. If you're not getting any matches, try opening up your preferences to a wider range of people.

#5: You're not picky enough

Sure, you don't want preferences so strict that no one makes the cut, put it's perfectly fine to pass on some profiles. In fact, it's essential. If you like everyone, the algorithm will have no idea who you actually like, and the quality of your potential matches will go down. This also means the right online daters for you are less likely to be offered your dating profile in their own queue.

#6: You're not taking advantage of free beans

Yes, it is possible to get dates on Coffee Meets Bagel while using the free version of the Bagel app. But that doesn't mean you should miss changes at premium features.

There are a variety of ways to earn free beans — including your initial signup bonus — and you should make sure you're spending them where they count. Beans are the Bagel app's in-app currency and you can use them for a variety of features including getting extra bagels or showing your dating profile to additional users.

#7: There aren't enough users in your city

Dating experts will tell you that most dating app problems come down to user error in some way, from problems with profile pictures to writing a lazy bio. But numbers matter, too. CMB doesn't have quite the same coverage as some other apps, so it's worth making sure it's popular enough in your area to be worthwhile. But even if things seem a little slow now, new users sign up every day. So try again every couple of months as those new users get added.

Internet forums are full of speculation about what gets you shadowbanned on dating apps, but the fact is — there's rarely solid proof that dating apps shadowban anyone. Usually, they just outright ban users who have misbehaved — and when that happens, you'll know it.

Listen, we know it's easier to imagine that you're not getting matches because no one is seeing your account, but it's very unlikely to be the real problem. Instead, there's probably something about your profile or your online dating technique that's turning potential matches off.

If you want to get matches on Coffee Meets Bagel, you need to make sure you're putting your best foot forward, choosing the right photos, and not slacking on your profile. And if you have no idea how to do those things, don't worry — we explain it all below.

#1: Spend time getting your first photo right

First impressions matter, especially on dating sites. And your first photo needs to work hard to sell you as a potential match. There are plenty of attractive guys on the Coffee Meets Bagel dating app, so it takes more than looks to stand out. Choose a photo that shows personality, confidence, and even hobbies and interests, too.

#2: Avoid group photos

We've said it before and we'll say it again — group photos are usually a bad idea. No matter how cool a pic it is, many users won't bother trying to figure out who you are in the pic and they'll just move on. A group shot is only worth including if it's totally obvious which person you are, and it's a genuinely amazing picture that does a job a solo shot can't do just as well.

#3: Don't copy and paste from other popular dating apps

Sure, most people are active on more than one dating app at a time. But if you reuse the same dating profile on every online dating site, you're missing a big opportunity. Maybe the match of your dreams swiped left on your Tinder profile, and now you're getting a second chance! If they see the same photo or bio they didn't like on the other app, they're not going to give you a chance. But if you showcase a different part of your personality on each app, you might get a second chance at the same audience.

#4: Take advantage of the Bagel icebreakers

When you're setting up your Bagel account, you'll be asked some icebreaker questions. You might be tempted to skip these because they don't appear as part of your profile — but they come in handy later. Once you start chatting you'll be glad you've put time into your icebreakers, because they can save the day right when things are getting awkward.

#5: Spring for a premium account

No one wants to spend money when they don't have to, but a premium subscription can end up making the difference between a good and bad experience on Coffee Meets Bagel, just like on other dating services. Many of the common app frustrations can be cured by the use of a premium feature, like getting more potential matches in your queue, bringing back an expired conversation, and adding read receipts to your chats. So before you give up on the app due to lack of matches, consider a premium membership.

#6: Don't be shy about deal breakers

One man's trash is another's treasure, and one person's deal breaker is another's perfect match. If you're trying to appeal to everyone you won't appeal to anyone. So don't hesitate to share what makes you unique, even if it's going to turn a few people off. The right people will be even more excited to get to know you.

#7: Put effort into a great first message

One of the great benefits of CMB is the ability to send a message with your "like." This is an amazing way to stand out from the crowd and get a conversation start chatting immediately. So if you want to turn a like into a match, send a note that will let the other person know you're fun to talk to, and that you liked their profile (and read the whole thing!) for a reason.