Skip the dating app and go to running club. If you don't meet someone, at least you got something out of it.
Should you ignore my advice:
Messages are more likely to get a reply than just a like, tailored messages more than just copy and paste - but how long do you want to spend. It takes about 500 messages for average Joe to get a conversation. About half of those conversations fizzle out in a day. For someone intelligent without any antisocial traits, for every 20 conversations, 10 will go for a few days - and about 1 will lead to a date. You are looking at 10,000 first messages for every date. It will probably take about 10 first dates before you find someone compatible for a relationship - if your strategy isn't just shoot for anyone who moves - 100k messages. Most simply don't succeed as there are not 100k women in your area on the app.
The only thing worse than a dating app is something like r4r, where women who can't get messages on the dating apps go. They still are just as selective, but they are the subset of people no one wants to message.
Basically - as an average man you are wasting your time and money on these apps. Go to running club. Try speed dating. Hell, join a d&d group.