5 Big Mistakes Men Make on Their Dating Profiles
If you’re a guy struggling to get matches or wondering why conversations fizzle before they begin, your dating profile might be to blame. Men often unknowingly sabotage their chances with common mistakes that can easily be avoided. Whether you're on Hinge, Bumble, or Tinder, making these adjustments could be the difference between being swiped past—or swiped right into something meaningful.
1. Making the Entire Profile a Comedy Show
If you have ever swiped through a dating app, you will undoubtedly have noticed that a huge number of women will specify that they are looking for "someone who can make them laugh". So, you would be forgiven for trying to make your dating profile entertaining at every possible turn. Humour is great - it breaks the ice, shows confidence, and lets your personality shine.
But if your entire profile reads like a stand-up routine, you risk coming off as someone who doesn’t take dating seriously. Women aren’t looking for a clown; they’re looking for connection. You can be funny and intentional. Include at least one clear line about what you're actually hoping to find, whether it’s a relationship, meaningful connection, or shared values. Balance the laughs with sincerity.
My advice, keep the first prompt or paragraph of your profile funny (plus your first picture if it also is), but then use the other two to actually give women and insight into who you are and what you are actually after.
2. Not Having "Stand-Out" Photos
In every dating app Women are going to be swiping through a lot of profiles in a reasonably short amount of time. A good first picture that stands-out can change your profile from getting 0 interest to getting insane interest overnight!
Even if you’re adventurous in real life, your profile may not show it. Most men use the same formula: gym mirror selfie, group shot, a hiking photo, maybe one at a wedding. It all blends together. The more your profile can stand out against the norm, the more time a woman is going to spend on it, and the more likely they will be to "swipe right" on it. You may have one or two great photos that fall into the categories above, but the less the better. The best pictures have something that’s authentic, a little unusual, and makes someone curious. Your main photo should spark questions or intrigue.
Here is my first picture on my Hinge. It doesn't necessarily show my looks off in the best light, but it's a great mix of humour, showing off my personality, and creates intrigue - so many women messaged me first asking about my monkey! (no pun intended...)
3. Hiding Your Personality
Men often water themselves down in hopes of appealing to more matches - but this backfires. Generic interests don’t stand out, and vague descriptions don’t start conversations. You don’t need to pretend you like hiking if you actually prefer board games. Say you’re into chess, mini golf, or obscure sci-fi movies. That honesty makes you interesting as most men are afraid to put these on their profiles.
Be bold enough to say what you actually enjoy. It's better to attract someone who genuinely vibes with you than try to appeal to everyone. After all, do you really want to end up dating a woman that doesn't like mini golf???
4. Saying You're "Open to Something Casual"
It's fair to say that most men wouldn't turn down the option of a causal encounter through a dating app. But even if you're open to something casual, listing it signals one thing loud and clear to women: you’re probably looking for that. Women - many of whom have dealt with men who ghost or breadcrumb - are wary of vague intentions. Saying you're “looking for a relationship” doesn’t lock you in for life, but it does set you apart as someone who’s not just playing games.
Unless you only want something casual, skip that box and state you’re looking for a relationship. You'll immediately stand out - and reassure women you’re not here to waste their time.
5. Sharing Hot Takes and Dealbreakers
A tonne of men put a bold opinion in their bio or describe their “ideal woman” in detail. They do this because they believe that those who swipe right on them will agree with the bold opinion will therefore fit a certain type of woman. But this often does more harm than good. Relationships don’t depend on agreeing on every issue, and swiping apps aren’t the place for political rants or laundry lists of must-haves. Women are good judges of character, and the fact that you have put something that may be found offensive to others may be a put-off for her, even if she agrees. You might be disqualifying great matches before even meeting them.
It is much more effective to put a bold, uncontroversial opinion that both shows off your personality and will make a woman laugh.
For example: "the top bunk is better than the bottom and if you can convince me otherwise the cocktails are on me."
This is also a sneaky way of easily progressing to the first date once you get a match!
Skip the controversy and let your personality shine. Let your matches decide if you’re compatible—not your checklist.
Conclusion
Your dating profile is your first impression, and in a sea of sameness, it pays to be authentic, intentional, and a little creative. Stand out with clarity, honesty, and a little bit of flair. Swipe culture might be fast, but genuine connection never goes out of style.