Written By: Jenne
So you finally decided to take the plunge and join a personals web site, good for you. Now if you’re like most people you’ll be sat there staring at the profile and ad form and wondering just what should you write. I know from experience that those profiles can be a bitch to write at worst, partly because many of us myself included have difficulty writing about ourselves. With that in mind below I’ve listed some tips and hints I wrote this rough guide to writing effective personal ads.
Selling yourself: Think about it when you write a personal ad selling yourself is exactly what you are doing. In order to do that you need to stand out from the crowd. I know how hard it can be to achieve that and I’ve spent many hours perfecting my profile on various sites in order to get the best results and more importantly the type of people I want to answer my ads to take notice of them.
Take a look at other profiles and find a few that grab your attention, then sit down and work out why and how they grabbed you and made you read more. Maybe they were funny, maybe it was the honesty you found good but whatever the reason they grabbed you and pulled you in. Try and identify that element that pulled you in and use it in your own ad.
The Basics
Be Honest: This maybe the Internet but you are looking to actually meet someone from this ad so be honest from the start. If you use a photo use a current one for example. If you’re 36 then say so, if you really are a brain surgeon then fine but if not don’t go there. You may think you’re life is boring and no one will want you but embellishing the truth or simply lying will get you nowhere.
Choosing A Handle Or Nick: Many web sites give you the opportunity to choose your own handle, nick/name. Think about your choice before you make it. Which of these sounds more enticing and gives the viewer the most information for example: Dave5900000 Kansas Toto Your Ad Title: Again this is something you should give some serious thought to as on many sites as you browse this is all people see before they click through to read your actual profile/ad. Make it simple, catchy but descriptive. For example if I lived in Kansas and was male I might title an ad:
Kansas Man looking for his Dorothy.
Or I could take it a step further and Use the nick Kansas Toto and make my title read: Lost in Kansas looking for my Dorothy. I’m sure you’re getting the idea by now. By choosing a nick that you can play with and incorporate into your title you are more likely to grab potential partners attention and that’s what the purpose of a good ad is. The Ad Itself:
Use a Spell checker!: Sounds simple when I write it but you’d be surprised at the amount of ads I’ve seen with basic spelling mistakes. Don’t forget the first thing I wrote about here this is about selling yourself. So you didn’t get an Yale education but that doesn’t mean you can’t spell. Impressions count and your ad is the first impression someone will have of you.
Never write in all caps: It’s annoying to read and in Internet speak it implies your shouting. That maybe fine in a crowded night club but in the world of personnel’s it’s annoying.
POST A PHOTO: Statistics show that an ad with a photo is 80% more likely to get a response. A photo that shows you relaxed and having fun, no matter what you look like, is even better. Don’t