So, you’ve just matched with someone on Badoo (hooray!) and you’re excited. But then panic sets in – they haven’t messaged first, so it’s up to you. How do you start the conversation?! As tempting as it is to go in with the classic “Hey! How are you?”, or “Hey beautiful,” these openers are unimaginative, and your match’s inbox is probably filled with similar messages.
You want to stand out, so what now? Some people prefer to use pick up lines to start a conversation, but using them is risky business – your match might see the funny side, but they might also roll their eyes. Of course, if you’re a fan of cheesy humour, use them at your leisure, but perhaps steer clear of the ones below:
I lost my number, can I have yours?
I’d love to be a contact lens...so you couldn’t take your eyes off me
Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by you again?
Are you lost? Because heaven’s a long way from here
Do you have a name? Or can I call you mine?
I’m sorry, were you talking to me? No? Would you like to?
If you and I were socks, we'd make a great pair.
The best way to come up with a good opening line on a dating app is to bring out your inner detective. You don’t need to put on a trenchcoat and dark sunglasses, you just need to pay attention to their profile. It’ll be filled with info about who they are and what they like – the perfect recipe for a great conversation starter. If you’re stuck for a good opener, then read on for our tips. We’ve got you.
Do some digging...
First stop on your mission to come up with a great opener is to check out your match’s profile pictures. Have a really good snoop. Have they included pictures in a cool location? Jackpot! If there’s a shot of them on a beach, at a famous monument, or with a foreign flag in the background, you could ask them about their trip. Everyone loves talking about their travels, so why not ask them when they visited or for some travel tips? Or, if your match is wearing a band T-shirt, a simple opener like “Cool T-shirt, I love that band! Have you seen them live?” is a great way to kick things off. Making your opening line personalised shows the other person that you’ve spent time on their profile, and not just mindlessly matched.
Bio-logy
Most people on dating apps will have filled out their profile bio with snippets of information about themselves. Their bio might include a snappy one-liner, which you could use to start a playful exchange, or their job, which you could ask more about. They might have also filled in one of Badoo’s handy prompts, so take a look at their answers and see if they spark inspiration. For example, if they’ve responded to the question ‘What makes you laugh?’ with ‘memes’ – why not ask them for their favourite and send them yours?
Find common ground
IRL, if you meet someone you like the look of, there are usually plenty of ways to strike up conversation. Say you’re both skateboarding, or at a music festival – you immediately know you have common ground. Chatting to someone you’ve just matched with on a dating app is difficult when you don’t know much about them, but that’s where Badoo’s interests section comes in. You already have so much information about what they love doing! Are they passionate about skydiving, wild swimming, drawing or hiking? Take a look at their interests and pick one that stands out to you – then use it to get the conversation going. If your match has listed something you’ve never done, ask them more about it, or if they’ve got a hobby that you love too, let them know!
The beauty of dating apps is that there are usually loads of helpful hints on your match’s profile to inspire a good opening line. There’s no need to stress or show off – after all, conversations are all about getting to know each other and seeing if you click. That being said, putting in a little bit of effort goes a long way, and shows your match that you’re actually excited to get to know them. And what’s more flattering than that?
