Making a real connection with someone on Bumble is an exciting prospect—but with so many potential matches at your fingertips, how can you give yourself the best chance of attracting the right person for you? We asked experts about how to meet new people you’ll click with. Here’s what they had to say. 

Fill out your profile 

One of the best ways to connect with people who you’ll want to chat with is by putting yourself out there first, and your Bumble profile is a great place to do just that. The more information you share about yourself on your profile, the higher the chance is that someone will see something that piques their interest. Use every picture slot, and fill out the Profile Prompts and Interests to show off your personality. For your bio, Michelle Davis, a professional life coach, suggests putting what’s most important to your lifestyle. “It could go something like, ‘Looking for a museum buddy,’ or ‘Would love to find someone I can share my cooking with,’” she says. “Not only are those great topics to start chatting about, but they could also inspire your first date.”

Let your personality shine through

Be sure to share your real self, both in your profile and any conversations you have with a match. “Be open about your values and interests, and give others a chance to get to know your personality,” says psychologist Isabelle Morley. You might both be a fan of old black and white movies or cheesy music, but if neither of you put those details out there, you won’t be able to bond over those shared interests. Own your quirks and show them off to potential matches!

Ask specific questions 

Everyone has received the “What’s up?” and “Got any weekend plans?” questions too many times. Go deeper than that. “Instead of, ‘How’s your week going?’ try something like, ‘If there were no barriers to stop you, what would you want your life to look like in five years?’” suggests Morley. “Try to find out their dreams, their life goals, what people may not know about them, and be ready to tell them the same.” And remember, this person needs to be a match for you, so strike up conversations about the things that you care about, which will help you gauge if they care about them, too.

Pretend you’re talking with a friend 

If you’re nervous to start the conversation after you match with someone, think about chatting with them like you would a new friend. “What would you want to get to know about a friend you were meeting for the first time?” asks psychotherapist Sharon Peykar. “You might want to know more about their values, like life outside of work and what they like to do to unwind, so you can determine if there is alignment.” You can also look at their profile for conversation starter inspiration: choose the thing you were most attracted to when you swiped right and ask them about it! For example, if they have a great hiking pic, try asking them where it was taken or if they’re a regular hiker.  

Have a sense of what you want 

It’s helpful to have an idea of what you want from a match so that you can narrow down who feels like a good fit for you and who doesn’t. “When you know what you’re looking for, you can more easily avoid what you know you don’t want,” says Holly Schiff, a clinical psychologist. “Being honest about what you want and who you are actually increases the likelihood that the people you end up talking to and meeting up with are people things might work out with.” So take a few minutes to think about what you’re looking for before you start swiping.  

Use Bumble’s features to find what you’re looking for

To really hone in on people you think you’ll get along with, you can use Bumble’s Advanced Filters (which are available with Bumble Premium). Not really feeling like dating a smoker? There’s a filter for that. Want someone who’s just as much of a fitness nut as you? There’s a filter for that, too! Though you may see fewer matches, the people you do match with will be closer to what you want. And if you really like the look of somebody’s profile, stand out from the crowd by giving their profile a SuperSwipe. This shows them that you’re confident, interested, and excited to get to know them. Once you make a match you’re excited about, you can also use Bumble’s Video Chat and Voice Call features to get a better sense of how well you click and to deepen the connection before meeting in person.

One of the best parts about online dating is that you can take charge of the connections you make, and with these tips, you’ll be even closer to meeting the person that’s right for you.