Comprehensive Hinge Profile Review For Guys
Do you need a Hinge profile review because you are getting no likes or matches? Below you will find breakdowns of photos, prompts, and more on the app.
Following my Hinge profile reviews below will help you identify, and fix, mistakes you may make on the app. You can jump to each review below.
- Photo #1 - Not smiling is a huge blunder.
- Photo #2 - Mirror selfies should be avoided.
- Photo #3 - Looking away from the camera is a mistake.
- Photo #4 - Don't wear sunglasses in your photos.
- Photo #5 - Avoid using bad group photos.
- Prompt #1 - I know the best spot in town for...
- Prompt #2 - Teach me something about...
- Prompt #3 - Together, we could...
- Prompt #4 - My simple pleasures...
- Don't ignore the voice prompt on Hinge.
- Check your profile settings.
- Don't use generic photo prompts on Hinge.
Photo #1 - Not smiling is a huge blunder.
A huge mistake men make on Hinge is not smiling in photos. According to one study, nearly 40% of men don't smile in pictures.
Not smiling in your pictures is a huge mistake.
You must smile in your photos, especially your primary one. Statistically speaking, the first thing women look at in men's photos is their smiles.
Hinge found smiling in photos will increase your right swipes by 14%. Why should you smile? A smile is welcoming, shows you're friendly, and makes a great first impression.
I can't stress this enough - you must smile in your pictures. You will fail to get matches if you don't smile.
Lastly, don't make excuses or justify why you don't smile. Guys often say, "It's not natural for me," or "It feels forced, and I can't do it."
Photo tip: If you find it hard to smile, I can help you overcome this obstacle. Follow these simple steps to smile:
Step 1. Stand in front of a mirror and look down at the floor.
Step 2. Think of something hysterically funny. It can be a show, a life event, friends, a YouTube video, a comedian, etc.
Step 3. As you start smiling, look up at the mirror. You'll see your natural smile, which you want in your photo.
Follow the 3 steps above as someone takes your picture. This will easily allow you to capture your natural smile.
Women love seeing a man's smile.
Photo #2 - Mirror selfies should be avoided.
Standing in front of a mirror is an automatic "no" for many women. Mirror selfies offer no insight into who you are.
Men typically take mirror selfies in a bathroom or bedroom. Even worse are public bathrooms, which make an awful first impression on women viewing the photo.
Hinge found selfies are 40% less likely to receive a "like," while a bathroom selfie is 90% less likely to receive a "like."
Below is an example of a typical selfie. Note how the guy isn't even looking at the camera (more on that later).
Mirror selfies are a no-no on Hinge.
You want in-the-moment photos, so it's best to get out of the house. Anything you do is fair game and should be used. Examples include:
- Hikes
- Playing an instrument
- At a concert
- Traveling somewhere
- Wine tasting
Photos like those above will connect with women and increase the likelihood of a match. Ditch the selfies, grab a friend, and snap a few photos.
Photo tip: If you don't have anyone to take your picture, grab a flexible tripod with a Bluetooth remote. This allows you to take a selfie that appears someone took the picture.
You can grab a flexible tripod on Amazon. They are cheap and worth the investment (see below).
A flexible tripod allows you to take great selfie photos.
Photo #3 - Looking away from the camera is a mistake.
A common photo men use on Hinge is looking away from the camera. I'm not sure why men do this, but it's a mistake.
Looking away from the camera is not beneficial.
The best way to make a connection with women is to look at the camera. Bumble found you are 20% more likely to be right-swiped when facing forward in your profile photo.
Looking away from the camera adds no value or benefit. Women aren't going to send a message asking, "Hey, what are you looking at in your picture?"
The only acceptable reason for looking away from the camera is if you're using an action shot. Playing a sport or surfing, for example.
I cannot stress this enough - always look at the camera. You'll connect with more women when looking at the camera, not away from it.
Photo #4 - Don't wear sunglasses in your photos.
Shakespeare once said, "The eyes are the window to your soul." Women want to see your eyes, so stop hiding them behind sunglasses.
Guys who show their eyes get better results on dating apps. Hinge analyzed which photos get the most likes and found photos with sunglasses scored lowly.
Sunglasses hide one of your best assets - your eyes.
So many guys wear sunglasses in pictures that women mention it in prompts (see below). It's a huge pet peeve with women and is a mistake you want to avoid.
Women are frustrated seeing sunglasses in men's photos.
Photo #5 - Avoid using bad group photos.
A common complaint of women is seeing poor group photos. Women don't have time to figure out who you are, so it's important to position yourself smack dab center in the picture.
It should be obvious who you are in a group photo.
Adding a group photo is beneficial because it shows you're not a loner. After all, a guy can't be too bad if surrounded by a couple of friends.
Your group photo must stand out. Here are tips for a good group photo on Hinge:
- Position yourself in the center of the picture - it's where we naturally focus when looking at these types of photos.
- Be presentable - You and your friends will be judged by your appearance, so clean yourselves up. Casual is always better than tuxedos or suits.
- Don't be the shortest person in the photo - Makes sure you're as tall as everyone else in the picture. Ideally, you want to be the tallest.
- Make sure you're in a good location - Avoid pictures at clubs and bars.
- No shirtless photos - Women will judge all of you by your physiques.
- One group photo is all you need in your portfolio - Women want to see you, not your legion of friends.
Prompt #1 - I know the best spot in town for...
Women want to see an effort in prompts on Hinge. Often, men take the easy way out and write short answers, as the guy does below.
One-word prompt answers don't work.
The guy's answer above needs to be longer. I can't imagine a flood of women wanting to know where a good calzone is.
Solution - A good tip is to ask a woman to tell you the best spot for something and offer something in return. It's as simple as this, You tell me the best spot in town for (ABC), and I'll show you the best spot in town for (DEF).
(ABC) and (DEF) are things, activities, or places women typically enjoy. Examples include:
- Sushi
- Margaritas
- Happy hour
- Live music
- Best hike in town
Below is an example of a different prompt - I ask for the best sushi spot in san Diego and offer to tell where the best margaritas are located. The trick works as a woman answers my question.
Offer something in return for answering your question.
Prompt #2 - Teach me something about...
Most men use one-sided prompts, offering nothing in return. Below is an example of a guy asking for help cooking in the prompt. He also wants women to teach him hobbies.
This prompt answer looks like women have to do all the work.
The prompt above will not get women excited to meet the guy. It looks like they have to do all the work.
Solution - A better option for this prompt is to offer something in exchange, similar to prompt #1 on this post. In the prompt below, I ask women to teach me something about wine and offer a great meal in return.
Offer something fun in return for a woman's help.
My answer connects with many women because so many enjoy wine. And women LOVE men who cook, so I'm focusing on things women enjoy.
Prompt #3 - Together, we could...
Together we could is one of my favorite prompts on Hinge. It allows you to describe what dating you is like to women reading it.
When the prompt is done right, you will get several matches. If done wrong, you'll fare poorly, such as the prompt below.
Women aren't likely to react positively to boring prompts.
The answer above isn't engaging. Few women will think, "Wow, we can rank late-night snacks? Count me in!"
Solution - A better approach is stuffing as many fun things as possible in your prompt. Below is my prompt, which gets a response.
Making your prompt answer fun connects with more women.
When answering this prompt, list things women enjoy so you can connect with as many women as possible. Examples include:
- Wine-tasting
- Dancing
- Spontaneous road trips
- Finding the best sushi spots in town
- Kayaking
When you add fun activities, women are more likely to match with you. The key to success on Hinge is showing women you're a fun guy with varied interests, and when done correctly, this prompt does it.
Prompt #4 - My simple pleasures...
Including a few of your passions, interests, and hobbies in at least one prompt is a good idea. These help women learn more about you beyond your photos.
Unfortunately, most men take the easy way out and include a handful of things. The guy below includes three things that are unlikely to connect with many women.
This is a bad prompt because it shares very little about the guy.
Solution - List as many things as possible in your answer. The more cool stuff you cram into a prompt, the more likely you'll get matches with women.
Below is an example of my answer to the prompt. The things I include are relatable to women, fun, and share a little of what makes me unique.
Cram as many things about yourself in a prompt.
The answer above isn't deep - it's not supposed to be. I share the little things that make me happy, which is the approach you should also use.
Prompt # 5 - You should leave a comment if...
I can't tell you how many guys use the "You should leave a comment if" prompt on Hinge. It's an excellent option for your profile - unfortunately, most men blow it with their answers.
Bland answers to a prompt won't get matches on Hinge. Below is an example where the guy is attempting humor, but it falls flat.
This type of answer isn't very engaging.
Solution - The best way to answer the prompt is to list the fun and exciting things you want in a partner. Keep the answer light - this isn't the time to talk about "settling down and starting a family" or taking up some social cause.
You'll get more matches by painting a picture of what dating you is like. What do you want to do with a partner? Road trips? Dancing? Outdoor adventures?
Get women excited about dating you by showing you're a fun guy. Below is an example that is very light yet connects with many women.
Fun answers will connect with more women on Hinge.
Don't ignore the voice prompt on Hinge.
Hinge offers a unique profile feature - You can record your voice in a prompt. I recommend adding a voice prompt because women want to hear your voice.
The voice prompt is displayed directly under your main picture, so women will listen. You can answer any of the voice prompts available; be sure you put effort into it and pick one that balances out your written prompts.
Below is an example of a voice prompt in action. I say, "You're not really drinking alone if your dog is home," which gets a comment.
The voice prompt can boost your results on Hinge.
For more tips for the voice prompt, go here: How To Answer Hinge Voice Prompts In 5 Easy Steps.
Check your profile settings.
When men ask for a Hinge profile review, they almost always ignore the profile traits section. It's the most overlooked section on the app and consists of three sections:
- My Vitals
- My Virtues
- My Vices
Each of these sections impacts your results. Pay attention to your answers because they may determine if a woman connects with you or bypasses you.
Below is an example of a blunder on Hinge. The guy puts he's looking for something short-term and is open to a long-term relationship.
Selecting multiple relationship options is a mistake.
Most women on Hinge seek a relationship, so this is an instant "no" for many women. Always put you're seeking a relationship on Hinge - if you want something casual, join Tinder.
Your relationship goal isn't the only setting that impacts results. Other settings that you should be aware of include the following:
- Height
- Children
- Family plans
- School
- Education
- Religious Beliefs
- Politics
- Relationship type
- Drinking
- Smoking
- Marijuana
Answer each of the questions above in your profile. It helps weed out women who aren't a match.
Don't use generic photo prompts on Hinge.
Hinge allows you to add prompts to your pictures. I strongly recommend adding a prompt to photos because they allow your personality to shine beyond your three prompts.
The problem is that guys use the default ones instead of writing their own. Below is an example.
Every guy uses the generic photo prompts.
It's as if almost every guy uses the default prompts on Hinge. Women are tired of seeing "As seen on my Mom's fridge" on prompts.
The generic prompts are basically a cliché now. You may as well write, "I have nothing original to write about this photo."
You can make your photos pop by writing unique photo prompts. Get creative, show humor, and create curiosity.
Women want to see effort across the board in your profiles. Creating your own photo prompts makes your profile stand out further.
Final Thoughts
Men constantly ask me to give them a Hinge profile review. Typically, men make the same mistakes.
If you are curious why you get bad results on Hinge, it's probably due to your profile. The good news is everything is fixable.
Going through each Hinge profile review in this post will help improve your results. Check your profile against the tips above.
If you need more help, visit my one-stop resource for the best tips for photos, prompts, messages, and more on Hinge.