Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. — Oscar Wilde
Now that you have your chosen dating service(s), it's time for the important part: how you set it up so that people match with you.
You can download all the dating apps worldwide, but you won't get any matches unless your profile is built for success. Per definition, a profile built for success attracts those you are interested in and keeps your match count rising.
After combing through the inter-webs, several databases, and the beta-testers’ results, there are a few things you need to keep in mind while creating your profile. Namely, how you choose your photos and how you write your biography:
Don't look down on these eight online dating tricks. Each one alone might not do much, but together, they can increase your number of matches by a huge margin!
Actionable profile pics
Now let’s break down these into more descriptive, actionable steps. Since dating apps and websites usually start by picking profile pictures, we'll start there.
Don't wear glasses or hats
This rule applies to anything that obstructs your face. People associate covered faces with distrust, so keep your face open to the camera [1].
If you don't know where to start with your pictures, it helps to look at profiles that have done well. There are countless examples of people who have reached their online dating goals—12% of them end up in committed relationships [1]. Take what they've learned and apply it to your profile. Here are a few examples:
More examples of good male dating profile pictures can be found here and here. Additional examples of good female dating profile pictures can be found here and there. If you need even more tips and tricks, check out the 
Picture Perfect page, and then come back here.
Writing your bio
Now, onto the fun part of writing your bio! A good biography increases someone's like count [research below], and the beta-testers proved that a few types of bios work better than others. We've narrowed down what all good profiles do to four things:
Write less than 100 words
Profiles with less than 100 words usually get more likes [1, 2]. Any more than 100 words and you risk losing people's attention.
Limiting yourself to 100 words ensures that you're only adding what matters to you.
Be clear about your intentions
Specifying exactly what you're looking for lets others know what to expect and could increase your like count [1].
Be clear if you're looking for a one-night stand and not a relationship. Include that in your bio if you are searching for a serious relationship.
If you're looking for a certain type of person, write down the attributes you want to see.
Highlight your best attributes
If you are an astronaut, let them know! If you like working with kids, include that. Intuitively, you know what people want to see in a mate—you are looking for these exact same attributes in someone else.
Highlight what makes you, you. What makes you stand out from the masses? Why should someone match with you instead of someone else?
Show, don't tell
If you have a dog, show that in your pictures instead of writing it out. If you like hiking, add a picture of your hike. If you like X, add a picture of you doing X.
Pictures are said to be worth 1000 words for a reason. If you don't have a picture of you doing X, write it down only then.
Now for some bio optimization. According to a recent study, here are the top 10 words that both women and men should include in their biographies:
These 20 words were found in the most popular dating profiles on Badoo, a service with millions of users [1].
As always, choose the 100 words or fewer in your bio wisely.
If you're not a man who's 6", don't say that you are. If you are a woman who doesn't enjoy beer, don't say that you do.
It is more important to be honest than to be found attractive [no research needed].
If you're struggling, the beta testers found this dating profile generator to work well. The only downside is that it generates a bio over the 100-word limit! Take the things that you like from it and discard the rest.
As a last piece of advice, have your friends review your profile before publishing it for the whole world. Another pair of eyes—especially an honest pair—will be able to point out how you can improve your profile pictures and bio.
2. The Prep Stage
4. The Algorithm