Some of you may remember Hot or Not, one of the earliest mobile dating "games", as they call it. Sign in, upload a pic and with the touch of a "hot" to "not" button you can rank an endless series of profiles that appear on your phone. The game served little purpose other than a quick pass of time or to see who's ranked the hottest in your area.

Tinder, a mobile matchmaking app for IPhone and Android, is similar in style, but more practical in its motivations.

Tinder connects with Facebook and syncs user pictures for others to view. Using GPS technologies, you as well as other guys are located in a specific radius. With one gesture, you have to option to match with anyone in the area. A swipe down and to the left (or a press of an 'x') and the user displayed is passed over for another that immediately appears on the screen.

A swipe right and up (or a press of a green heart icon) and the play intensifies. Another guy appears on the screen, but Tinder hasn't ignored your request to match with the the previous swipe. If the other guys likes you as well, the app will connect you using push notification. Then it's up to the both of you to make the move. If the guy you like doesn't swipe you back, then Tinder skips the fanfare and simply ignores your request. 

Tinder isn't for everyone. Some claim it's a shallow entry into the gay dating app scene by allowing user's to easily swipe others away based on a few pictures and limited profile text, like the old Hot or Not rankings.

Others applaud Tinder for easily identifying shared interests (based on your Facebooks), which provide instant conversation starters. Also, for those that are not too keen on rejection (and who is?), Tinder simply doesn't match you unless you both show interest.

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For those curious to try Tinder or for the veteran user looking to increase their success, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of Tinder:

Not So Fast

One of the advantages of Tinder is allowing users to swipe through prospective matches quickly. This is great for those that have specific types in mind and can easily become a habit. Have a few minutes to spare, why not swipe through a couple of dozen pics? The fault here is in the ease of use. While it may seem like what you see is what you get when a user appears on screen, their profile with About Me text and shared interest is only visible when you choose the small 'i' icon to see their full profile. If you swipe too fast, you may miss out on what may be a better match than what at first meets the eye.

The Devil Is In The Details

Tinder is designed for quick matchmaking, so there isn't much time for a first impression. Therefore your profile pics should be as dynamic and interesting as possible. It's best not to assume every guy on Tinder is looking for quick fun. Many are looking for dates, potential relationships and steady chats. While your pics won't be to the likings of all (again, who's is?), they do tell a story about what type of person you are. Choose wisely and let your best attributes shine. After all, this is a first impression. Once you match, you'll have plenty of time to get to know each other a little better.

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Don't Sell Yourself Short

Again, Tinder forces users not to waste time on static profile text. The app wants you to get right down to the conversations that lead to real connections. You'll have a few lines at most to express yourself on your profile text. Make them count! Single gay men often tell me that they want a guy to like them for them and not a nude or shallow preference. A key thing to remember is the types of pics that you display and how you describe yourself in your profile text is a representation of you. Once you're matched, you can ask as many questions as you like via private chat. However, before that happens, show him a side of you that will capture his interest and stimulate further conversation. Tinder allows you to change your profile text at any time, so experiment with different sides of your personality (the witty side, the intellectual side, the athletic side, the gamer side, whichever) and see what types of matches you're making. Most importantly, however, make you profile text shine!

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Start Making Your Interests Known

Game of Thrones fan? Follow George Takei on Twitter? Love Laura Mvula or Sam Smith? Another plus for Tinder is that it clearly displays your interests and those of others within your radius. Tinder syncs with Facebook and automatically loads your liked fan pages. The Tinder algorithm then shows you which of your interests match those of each user. A shared interest is a great conversation started, so keep your list of favorite bands, television series, movies and celebrities fresh on Facebook. The more you list, the better chance there is you'll match the interests of others.

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