Dating apps can feel like an endless sea of profiles, making it difficult to get noticed. But Hinge’s Standouts feature aims to cut through the noise.
As a Hinge user myself, I was curious – what makes a Standout special and how can I become one?
After using the app and doing some research, I uncovered what Standouts are, why they matter, and actionable tips for becoming a Hinge VIP.
And it’s time to tell you these secrets. So let’s begin!
What Are Hinge Standouts?
Hinge describes Standouts as “members who are extremely relevant and popular among others.” In simple terms, Standouts are the hot Hinge users in your area that fit your preferences.
You can access your personal lineup of Standouts by tapping the bright yellow star icon at the bottom of the Hinge app. Your roster refreshes daily with new faces.
Standouts differ from your main feed because Hinge’s algorithm selectively picks users that:
- Get a high level of activity and engagement
- Share common interests and dealbreakers with you
- Recently logged in or updated their profile
So in theory, your Standouts should be prime candidates you’re more likely to hit it off with.
A Hot Coffee Shop Date Analogy
Imagine Hinge is like a lively coffee shop, crowded with people. Your Standouts are those who catch your eye across the room – the ones oozing with charisma that seem like your type. Hinge plays matchmaker, selectively pointing out those standout singles based on your preferences.
Your main feed shows all the other coffee shop goers. Fine options, but not necessarily the most relevant or popular matches for you personally.
Of course, physical appearance plays a role too. Since good looks draw more engagement on dating apps generally, your Standouts may tend to be conventionally attractive. But alignment in interests and dealbreakers is weighted heavily as well.
Why Do Standouts Matter?
Getting matchmaker Hinge on your side sounds pretty good. But why specifically should you care about who makes it into your Standouts?
Here are three key reasons:
1. Saves You Time
Your Standouts act like a daily batch of pre-screened prospects catered to your tastes. This saves you time endlessly swiping through profiles that may not be matches.
Instead, you can dive into a selection of the most compatible users who are more likely to respond. Efficiency for the win!
2. Gets You Noticed
Standouts get prime visibility and representation across the app. When you become a Standout yourself, you in turn appear more frequently in other users’ lineups.
So if you show up on someone’s Standouts roster multiple times, you’ll stick in their mind and prompt them to check you out.
3. Boosts Ego
Let’s be honest, making it into the VIP Standouts section feels good! It can be a nice little ego boost, whether you choose to connect with your admirers or not.
Think of it as a credibility signal too. Making Standouts implies you have wide appeal and strong activity on the app generally.
How Do Standouts Work?
Curious about the method behind the Standouts madness? Let’s break it down:
Who Sees Your Standout Profile
Standout status doesn’t make you visible to every Hinge user. You’ll only appear to matches who fit your preferences.
Likewise, the Standouts you see will closely align with the age range, location radius, and other preferences set in your Hinge account.
The algorithm also considers:
- Recent app activity level
- Number of likes/matches received
- Shared interests, goals, or dealbreakers
So in a sense, Standouts are Hinge’s version of “Most Compatible” prospects.
Connecting With Standouts
You can only directly reach out to Standouts in one way – by sending them a Rose.
What’s a Rose?
Roses are virtual flower gifts you can send to show extra interest. Hinge users get one free Rose per week, with the option to purchase more if wanted. Learn more about Roses on Hinge and how to use them effectively.
When you send a Standout a Rose, it will bypass their likes queue and land at the top with priority visibility. This captures their attention fast before your message gets buried.
Some debate whether using your precious weekly Rose on a Standout is “worth it” though. I’ll touch more on the effective Standout strategy later.
Standout Limitations
While Standouts aims to showcase “the best”, the system isn’t perfect. Here are a few limitations to note:
- Standouts likely experience high message volume already. So heavy competition if you want their attention.
- You may feel pressured to use your one free Rose per week on a Standout. But saving it for someone you’re really excited about could be a smarter strategy.
- Standouts eventually expire after 24 hours. So you can’t sit on the decision too long.
- You may see the same Standouts reappear. This likely means you share common interests, but some feel it’s odd or desperate to keep pursuing non-responders.
- Standout status doesn’t confirm relationship readiness. They get attention for their profiles, but could still flake out or unmatch for random reasons.
The takeaway here is to approach Standouts as suggested prospects to consider, not guaranteed soulmates. Gauge genuine connection rather than relying on their status alone.
Now that you understand the Standout fundamentals let’s get to the good stuff – how to level up your profile into this coveted category…
7 Tips to Become a Hinge Standout
Standing out on a dating app may sound daunting. However, implementing a few pro tips could make a big difference in getting you VIP status.
Here are 7 research-backed ways to catch Hinge’s eye and transform into a Standout:
1. Lead With Your Best Photo
They say you only get one chance to make a first impression. On Hinge, that impression stems from your lead photo.
So what makes an ideal main profile picture?
Standout Profile Photo Tips
Choose a high-quality photo that shows your face clearly, captures your vibe, and makes you shine.
- Face forward toward the camera
- Warm, genuine smile
- Good lighting
- Recent and realistic
- Stylish, sharp appearance
- Engaging background/activity
This could be a crisp headshot, a hobby shot that reflects your lifestyle, or a travel snap from your last adventure.
2. Spotlight Your Interests & Personality
Your remaining photos offer precious profile real estate to display your interests, friends, travels, humor, and more uniquely you elements.
For inspiration, notice photo themes that tend to perform well:
- Pet pictures
- Outdoors lifestyle imagery
- Travel snaps
- Fun times with friends
- Candid smiling shots
Ultimately choose additional images that tell your story. Showcase passion projects and vibrant life moments beyond just selfies or group pics.
This helps prospective matches envision if they’d thrive in your world and share common interests.
3. Craft Clever & Relatable Hinge Prompts
Hinge prompts add context through questions like:
- “My mantra for living…”
- “The one thing I’ll never do again…”
- “My simple pleasure…”
Rather than generic comb-throughs, prompts let you flex creativity and humor. They essentially act like built-in conversation starters.
When crafting prompts, aim for:
- Cleverness
- Intrigue
- Relatability
- Conversation potential
This makes people more likely to engage.
For example, try adding lighthearted or even quirky life mottos versus cliche ones here.
These prompt responses spark initial common ground so prospects feel compelled to react or start chatting.
4. Show Don’t Tell Your Vibes
There’s an unwritten rule in writing – “show don’t tell”. This storytelling principle applies to profiles too.
Rather than saying you’re adventurous, funny, chill, or artsy…show it through prompted anecdotes, photos of hobbies or travels, and even song lyrics.
When you demonstrate versus tell your vibes, it comes across as more authentic. Prospects also envision themselves joining in on the fun!
5. Promote Two-Way Conversations
You could have an artfully crafted profile, but it needs to make matches want to connect.
The profiles that perform best invite engagement rather than just presenting info. Try weaving:
- Intriguing questions
- Thought starters
- Quirky facts people may reply to
- Light debates (i.e. pineapple on pizza – yay or nay?)
This sparks two-way discourse versus you seeming unapproachable or stiff. Even silly questions get conversations flowing! (For more tips on how to kickstart engaging conversations on Hinge, check out this guide on starting conversations.)
6. Update Activity & Photos
According to Hinge’s profile guidelines, activity level and recency can influence your Standout status.
So staying active with profile refreshes is key:
- Change up photos every few months
- Rotate prompts to keep content fresh
- Update life moments through stories
- Hop on regularly to exchange messages
Remind the app you’re still here and evolving! This keeps your profile bubbling to the top as “recent and relevant”.
7. Attract Lots of Engagement
Last but not least, the number of likes, comments, and matches you elicit impacts your visibility significantly.
So in addition to refreshing your own content, react to lots of profiles in your feed daily. Comment freely on photos/prompts if something strikes you.
The more sincere engagement and connections you put out into the Hinge universe, the more you’ll likely receive back in return.
Pro Tip: Follow The “Yes, And” Rule
Whenever you feel compelled to react to a profile, start the reply with “Yes, and” before your added insight.
Example:
Their prompt: My simple pleasure is fireside movie nights…
Your reply: Yes, and with a warm cup of tea and cozy blankets! Nothing better.
This small phrase continues the conversation flow versus just stating your two cents. It also makes you more approachable and fun!
Put your charming, authentic self out there regularly. In time, all that activity can catapult you into the Standouts big leagues.
5 Standout Profile Examples Analyzed
Now that we’ve covered the makings of an elite Hinge profile, let’s analyze examples.
What specifically makes these profiles stand out across first impressions, photos, prompts, and more?
Example 1: Outdoor Adventurer
[Profile introducing a smiling woman with curly red hair. She wears a camel coat while posing outdoors.]
The Good:
- Warm, genuine smile and direct eye contact
- Natural lighting outdoors
- Neutral tones complement hair color
- Active background fits her prompts
Prompt replies highlight:
- Her adventurous spirit
- Love of the outdoors
- Laidback personality
Visuals and words align to tell a coherent story. This gives potential matches a strong sense of her lifestyle and values upfront.
Example 2: Quirky Career Woman
[Profile introducing a smiling woman with blonde hair. She wears a black blazer and poses with her puppy on a rooftop.]
The Good:
- Stylish professional look
- Cute puppy tugs heartstrings
- Good scenery
- Warm expression
Prompt replies highlight:
- Her multifaceted identity
- Unique job situation
- Witty humor
- Passion for animals
She reveals just enough intriguing details to spark great icebreaker conversations for matches.
Example 3: Foodie Fanatic
[Profile introducing a smiling man with short brown hair. He wears an apron and poses with pizza dough at a restaurant.]
The Good:
- Apron and setting backs up his chef status
- Genuine smile
- Good lighting
- Food positioning adds context
His prompt replies highlight:
- Passion for cooking
- His silly side
- Potential date ideas
The visually aligned photo and cooking details provide built-in chat inspiration around a shared interest.
Example 4: World Traveler
[Profile introducing a smiling woman with long brown hair. She wears a white shirt and poses with a surfboard on a beach.]
The Good:
- Clear shot of her face
- Interesting background
- Good lighting
Her prompt replies highlight:
- Jetsetter lifestyle
- Adaptability nature
- Chill personality
Her globetrotting photos and prompts pique the travel bug in fellow adventurers. It also reveals characteristics like adaptability that could indicate relationship readiness.
Example 5: Dog Dad
[Profile introducing a smiling man with short brown hair and glasses. He wears a casual blue shirt and poses outdoors with his dog.]
The Good:
- Clear photo highlighting interests
- Dog showcases his caring side
- Warm, friendly expression
His prompt replies highlight:
- His responsible provider instincts
- Nurturing dog dad status
- Goofy humor
The sweet pup positioning combined with silly jokes balances his maturity with playfulness. This is a catnip for dog lovers seeking a caring, laughter-oriented partner.
Do any common positive traits jump out across these diverse profiles? Here’s what I noticed:
5 Standout Profile Traits
- Clarity: Photos highlight faces clearly. Expression and body language look warm and approachable.
- Authenticity: Prompts reveal just enough about their lifestyle, humor, interests, values, and spirit.
- Intrigue: Profiles leave breadcrumbs for matches to learn more through organic conversation flow.
- Relatability: Even if niche interests, user shows vulnerable or silly sides balancing out serious shots.
- Consistency: Visual aesthetics, prompts, and expressed vibes align to tell one cohesive story.
While uniqueness shines through, these underlying elements create a welcoming vibe to matches. Prospects feel compelled to related and react.
Key Takeaways
- Lead with a clear headshot displaying your vibes
- Photos and prompts should unveil lifestyle, interests, humor
- Spotlight passions that can kickstart conversations
- Refresh content routinely to stay “active and relevant”
- Engage frequently and sincerely with others’ profiles
Check those boxes and you’ll be on your way to landing among the Standout elite soon enough!
Standout Strategy – Making Connections That Count
Just because someone earns Standout status doesn’t mean they’re primed for relationship success. Below are a few best practices regardless of profile status:
- Look beyond the label: Don’t fixate solely on Standout badges, dig deeper into authentic compatibility.
- Pace Rose usage: Consider saving your weekly Rose for someone you’ve already established mutual chat chemistry with rather than firing it off hastily just because you can.
- Focus on two-way interest: Just because you’re pursuing a Standout doesn’t mean attraction is mutual. Prioritize back-and-forth engagement in your connections above all else.
- Spot red flags: If a Standout seems sketchy, noncommittal, or ghosts you, take the hint. All the Standout label indicates is their profile gets attention, not that they’re partnership material.
Ultimately, strong profiles capture notice, but offline rapport is what counts. So stand by your standards when evaluating matches, whether chatting up Standouts or otherwise.
Parting Advice
Yes, Standout status provides a nice visibility boost and ego stroke. But focus more on fostering genuine bonds versus getting hung up on labels.
At the end of the day, we all want to feel seen for who we are beyond mere algorithms. So lean into highlighting your authentic self, quirks, and all.
