What Should You Do After Matching on Hinge
After matching with a woman on Hinge the best thing you should do is craft an engaging icebreaker that grabs a woman's attention and helps you stand out. If you let a woman sit in your queue or send lame messages, "hi" or "How are you?", she'll ignore you or, even worse - unmatch.
This post shares 5 tips men should follow after matching with a girl on the Hinge dating app. Following the simple tips below will keep her focus on you and may result in you getting a date.
1. Start with a compliment.
When matching on Hinge, a compliment is a great way to break the ice with women. It must be a genuine compliment and not another generic one most men use.
Most men compliment women's looks, which is a huge blunder. Avoid this approach as it's going to cause the woman to ignore your message - focus on the non-physical.
Things that you can compliment a woman include hobbies, her energy or vibe, prompts, or anything you find interesting in her profile. Focusing on the non-physical shows women you're interested in them beyond their looks which helps you stand out.
In the example below to Jenny, I start by saying that I love that she's active. I transition to a question about something she mentions in her prompt, her love of hiking.
Complimenting a woman's active lifestyle is a great conversation starter.
You see above that Jenny responds to my icebreaker and is very engaged. She even tells me we need to chat, which is a positive indicator.
Focus on something unique in the woman's profile. Complimenting a prompt shows that you're paying attention and are genuinely interested in her.
What if there's nothing in a woman's prompts to start a conversation? Complimenting her photo is a great alternative, but avoid anything that references her physical appearance.
Compliment the photo, not the woman's looks.
In the photo above, I compliment the picture and show curiosity about it. This is a great way to kickstart a conversation.
Remember, never compliment women's appearance in your first message. That's a surefire way to be immediately ignored because women are bombarded with messages telling them how attractive they are.
A thoughtful compliment flatters women and opens the door for a conversation. Plus, it helps you stand out from the crowd of generic openers they may receive.
2. Find common ground.
A great tip is to scan a woman's prompts and photos for interests that you share. When you find something in common, a hobby for example, use that in your icebreaker to start a conversation.
Shared interests and experiences will open a lot of doors. When you notice something in a woman's profile that aligns with your interests - whether it's a favorite restaurant, a love of wine, pets, or an outdoor activity - use it as a starting point for conversation.
For example, if she enjoys hiking, you could ask, "I noticed you're into hiking too! What's your favorite trail?" This approach helps the conversation feel more natural and less like a formal interview.
PRO TIP: Your message shouldn't be one-sided - share something about yourself regarding the topic you use in your opener. It helps establish commonality and build rapport early in the conversation.
Below is a prompt on Hazel's prompt. She mentions a love of wine and I decide to focus on that in my opening message.
Anything a woman shares in a prompt can start a conversation.
Wine is a tried and true approach for starting conversations. So many men fumble the opener using a one-sided approach, "What's your favorite wine?"
Instead of a non-engaging, one-sided opener, I share something about myself to get the ball rolling. You see below that Hazel is immediately engaged with my approach.
Wine is an excellent choice for an icebreaker.
Mentioning a common interest shows you're taking the time to read the woman's profile and engage beyond the superficial. Plus, it gives both of you something to discuss beyond the generic openers most men use; "how are you today?"
3. Make the woman laugh.
Showcasing humor commenting on a woman's profile is a great way to break the ice. A good laugh will quickly start a conversation and build an instant connection.
A funny observation about something in the woman's profile or photos can make you stand out and show that you're paying attention. Below is an example of Julie's photo where she's sitting in an oversized chair at a bar.
My goal is simple - make the woman laugh with a friendly opener. I make a funny observation, and the woman responds to my message, and I'm off to a good start.
Showcasing your humor can start a conversation.
I've probably started more conversations using humor than any other approach - it helps lower the tension of first conversations and makes the woman feel more relaxed. A shared laugh sets a positive tone and opens the door for an engaging and enjoyable conversation.
Just keep your humor playful and avoid anything too forced or sarcastic. Some jokes don't translate well on paper, so it's good to choose jokes that are clear and won't get lost in translation.
Making a woman laugh can open doors.
4. Be playful.
Being lighthearted and playful in your opening message makes a great first impression and can spark an instant connection. Playfulness breaks the ice and shows you're easygoing, confident, and fun to talk to.
One way to do this is by asking for something unexpected or quirky. For example: "What's the most random fun fact about you?" This invites her to share something surprising, setting the stage for a lively and unique conversation
PRO TIP: If a woman has a dog ask her, "What's something only your dog knows about you?" This question invites her to share something surprising.
The skies the limit with being playful. Here are examples of other icebreakers:
- "What's the weirdest food combo you secretly love?"
- "What's your guilty pleasure TV show or movie?"
- "What's the weirdest or most random hobby you've ever tried?"
Fun openers can reveal interesting details about the woman's personality or sense of humor, sparking a conversation that feels more personal.
Remember, share something about yourself regarding whichever question you ask - If you ask about her weird food combo, tell her yours, too! Conversations should never be one-sided because it's less engaging, and women are less likely to respond back to you.
Playful banter helps break down barriers on Hinge, making it easier to open doors. Plus, it shows that you’re easygoing and approachable, which can make you more memorable and stand out.
5. Ask about her day or night (the right way).
Asking a woman about her day or night is a great conversation starter. It's a simple but effective approach after matching on Hinge.
PRO TIP: If you send a message during the day, ask the woman about her typical day. When sending a message in the evening, ask about her night. It's that easy!
A big blunder for most men is writing, "How's your evening going?" and nothing else. The problem is this approach is one-sided and not effective.
Below is an example to Lex where I use a little humor in my icebreaker. I don't like asking, "What's your typical night like" without adding flavor because it's just too boring.
Asking a woman about her typical night can open doors.
In the message above, Lex responds with a laugh and responds in kind. Note it's a simple response - not very engaging - but I don't care; I got a response, and the conversation is where I get her more engaged.
A good trick for getting a response with this approach is sharing something about yourself in the message. An icebreaker is more engaging when you share a personal experience related to the question.
In the message below to Dawn, I ask about her Sunday and share something about myself. I finish the message asking for her thoughts about my dilemma.
Sharing something about yourself boosts the likelihood of a response.
If you pay attention, you'll notice I asked Dawn two questions; the first is about her typical Sunday, and the second is about her choice of options for food. I don't care which question she answers because I only need her to answer one to start a conversation - which Dawn does.
Asking a woman about her typical day or evening is a versatile way to start a conversation. It's very effective to get the ball rolling when matching with a woman on Hinge.
Bonus - End with a hook.
Wrap up your opener in a way that encourages women to respond. For example, after asking a question, you could say, "I'm curious to hear your answer."
Ending with a hook invites engagement. It signals that you're eager to continue the conversation and value the woman's input while subtly flattering her by showing interest in her thoughts.
Final Thoughts
There are a variety of approaches you can use after matching with a woman on Hinge. Use the examples in this post as a reference to start conversations.
This post aims to give you ideas to kickstart your icebreakers. Copy, modify, or use them for inspiration to generate your approaches.
For more tips on Hinge, visit my one-stop resource for your profile and conversation starters: The Ultimate Hinge Resource Page.