Introduce yourself to fellow love seekers by learning how to write an personal ad that stands out from the rest.
About Personal Ads
An interesting personal ad will make readers curious about you, giving you plenty of new connections to investigate for a possible match. Personal ads, in some form or fashion have existed since newspapers have been around. Today, entire websites are dedicated to making love connections. Dating websites, like newspapers, require their members to fill out a personal ad when they join. Whether looking for a long-term relationship or just a playful friendship, personal ads are a fun way to meet new people and make new friends. Learn how to write an interesting personal ad and get the most attention for your money.
Learn How to Write an Interesting Personal Ad
From beginning to end, your personal ad needs to grab the attention of potential responders. Depending on where you post your ad, you may only have three to five lines total. Apply the three-second rule to your ad. Studies show that readers decide if they are interested or not in the first three seconds. Break down your personal ad by writing it in specific parts.
The Headline
The headline of your ad will be the first thing that readers see. Like the headline of a newspaper article, your ad headline should make you want to read more. Avoid using acronyms in your headline. It may be good practice to write your headline after you have filled out your personal ad. Summarize something unique about yourself in the title. You have one sentence, two at most to create a brilliant attention grabber. Implement your personal interest into the headline. For example, a writer might say, "Pen the next great romance novel with me." Make your post pose a question like "Is This What You Were Looking For?"
Natural Flow
The best way to convey who you are in the context of an ad is to write as if you were speaking. If you focus too much on sounding professional and polished you may end up sounding like you are too stuffy or too upper crust. Read and reread the body of your personal ad before posting it.
Be Humorous
You are allowed to laugh in your personal ad; this is not a resume. Make light of life and show that you do have a good sense of humor. However, remember that self-deprecating humor does have its limits. Don't talk down about yourself.
What Not to Do
Knowing the wrong way to write an ad is just as important as getting it right. Sometimes the wrong nuance or wording will make you appear needy or too complicated. Avoid these behaviors when writing your ad.
- Do not use all capital letters. In the writing world, this means you are yelling. This behavior is not attractive to men or women.
- Do not tell lies. Embellishing your life story may stir up some interest but eventually your lies will come back to haunt you. Stick to the truth.
- Do not be an open book. Telling too much, too soon may make you come off as being overly chatty or needy.
- Avoid being negative about yourself or your life.
- Do not be too generic. You don't want the whole world to answer your ad, just a specific group.
An interesting personal ad may be the springboard to a happy new relationship. Take your time and write an ad you are proud to put your name to.
