Broadly speaking, most matches go nowhere and that is normal rather than a failure — it took me longer than it should have to work that out. Patience is genuinely the differentiator, dull as that sounds — nobody tells you this at the start. What is the best dating app for guys who want serious relationships?
If it helps, consistency matters more than intensity here — others here may have had a different experience.
Having tried a few, a photo that looks like you on a normal day does more work than a staged one — nobody tells you this at the start.
From what I have seen, taking a break when it starts to feel like admin is sensible — that is the bit I would tell anyone signing up today.