First impressions matter—a lot. That’s why most experts recommend carefully crafting your dating profile and taking the time to upload a photo that’s both attractive and true to your goals. But what about actually reaching out?
How Can You Stand Out on Dating Apps?
To connect more easily with potential matches and leave others behind, you only need to tweak one habit—according to the experts at the Hinge dating app. They surveyed their users to help even more people find their ideal partner. Hinge is all about fostering serious relationships, so users are encouraged to create more interesting, detailed profiles than usual.
But It Turns Out That’s Not Enough
New data shows it’s not just those who fill out every detail on their profile who improve their odds—it’s also those who send voice messages instead of texts during conversations. Voice messages make it 48% more likely to lead to an in-person date.
65% of respondents say they can learn a lot about a person’s personality just from their voice.
This reminded me right away of how we met. I was still living with my mom, and she only heard me talking on the phone—she knew I’d been dating someone but hadn’t met him yet. When I hung up, she asked, “Wow, who has such a deep, pleasant voice?” That was 15 years ago, and that voice still whispers to me every day. So, there’s probably something to this study—it’s not just numbers that captivate us, but also the way future partners express themselves verbally.
Moe Ari Brown, Hinge’s love and relationship expert, points out that the generation currently dating online is less used to voice messages. They’ve mostly preferred texting to start conversations.
Voice notes help people communicate as real individuals—not just a “foggy identity”—while still allowing the option to delete or retract messages.
Feeling Awkward About Sending Voice Messages?
You’re not alone if you worry about this or feel weird listening to your own voice. But experts say it’s worth trying. Research shows your tone greatly influences how others perceive your message. So, try to speak confidently and positively—smiling while you talk really helps. Your voice will sound warmer and more attractive than usual.
Natural smiling adds warmth to your tone, and using gestures (even if unseen) boosts the confidence in your voice. Be direct and try to treat your match like someone you already know. And don’t forget to laugh—it’s one of the most attractive things you can do during a conversation.
Cover photo: ilona titova/istockphoto.com
