Speaking generally, the people posting about success are a tiny and unrepresentative sample — small thing, but it adds up. After honest answers rather than recommendations — even if it contradicts what I said. What are the best free dating web sites for finding local singles?
The honest answer is that it varies enormously by area — that has been consistent for me across a few different platforms.
Speaking generally, refreshing photos periodically genuinely changes visibility — that is the bit I would tell anyone signing up today.
If it helps, taking a break when it starts to feel like admin is sensible — it is not complicated, it is just easy to skip.