How to Write a Winning Personal Ad
This is fact. There's competition in online dating. A winning
personal ad is must if you hope to get the right guy or gal.
This article is not about revealing "secrets" of writing
personal ads as there's no such animal. But follow the following
tips and you will stand out of the crowd, which you must do to
get noticed.
First draft your ad on a separate piece of paper or type it on a
word-processing document such as Word, WordPad, and Notepad etc.
Here are 12 steps to writing a winning personal ad:
1. Be honest: If you're serious about finding that special
someone don't, repeat don't, lie. Nothing's as disappointing as
finding out the guy/gal who claimed in emails that he/she works
out regularly at the gym is 300ibs of adipose (fat) tissue.
2. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Most people
look at the photo before they even think of reading the ad. You
may email, upload or mail the photo for scanning, all free. But
please don't use a picture of yourself when you were twenty if
you are now 44! And oh yes, a smile helps too.
3. The top-rated dating sites allow you to upload a voice
message with your ad. Your voice as well as manner of speech
tells a lot about you. Use it the right way- no pretences
please- and your ad will get attention.
4. Don't just say what you think people want to hear. Example,
if you say you have a healthy sense of humor, yet your ad is
dull and boring... well, they just won't buy it.
5. Be realistic. Maybe you want to introduce some athletic genes
into your family tree, but you will have a hard time finding an
international Kenyan runner online.
6. Let your personality come through. Conversational style
writing works best. If you have a sense of humor, use it but in
good taste (don't tell a dirty joke in a non-adult website,
please). Ditto if you have a poetic touch- just don't baffle
them with Shakespearean talk.
7. Create an attention grabbing headline. Don't be just another
"DWM, 42, Seeking Love". Be different. A little homework will
help here. Study the personal headlines that grab your
attention. Use these as model. You can even steal a headline or
two, just don't say I told you so (wink).
8. Describe yourself. You do know yourself, don't you? Don't be
just another "Likes candle light dinners". Who are you? What's
important to you? Do you enjoy long drives while appreciating
nature's beauty? Do you like Bach or Mozart? List these down.
9. This is more of an extension of #8 above: Instead of rambling
on about the person you're looking for, write about you own
characteristics and personality. Put yourself in the other
person's shoes and ask yourself what you would like about YOU.
List these down. Please be honest. All the same, avoid cheap
modesty. If you have a special talent (example, you can play the
piano really well), let it be known. Just state it as fact and
not brag.
10. Be positive: You may be desperate and miserable, but please
don't let it show. Negativity repels. Likewise avoid "this is
me, whether you like it or not" mentality. Not only is it
obnoxious, it also reeks of insecurity and/arrogance. Be
yourself, positively.
11. Polish your ad: You wouldn't show up on your first date with
unkempt hair and dirty clothes, I trust? Then check your ad for
misspellings, bad sentences etc. Remove all the bits that might
not interest your potential date. Be brief without losing
essence: patience runs very thin online. Re-write till you're
completely satisfied- this might seem a pain in the rear, but
the payoff is worth it.
12. BE HONEST! This can never be overstated.
Finished? Now you can transfer (or copy and paste) your
extraordinary ad on to your favorite dating site and submit.