Stumped?
Here are some ideas to help...cruise the ads and find interesting
examples to spark your creativity!
Show
don't tell. For example,
it is much more effective to use humor in your personal
ad rather than just saying "I have a sense of humor". Show
that you are an educated and intelligent person through interesting
word choice, clear ad structure, and colorful and creative
descriptions.
Creativity
counts. A personal ad can
take many forms. A poem, perhaps. One amazing ad consisted
entirely of titles -- one right after another -- of popular
motion pictures, carefully chosen and arranged to describe
the ad placer.
Show
them what YOU would want to know.
Make a list of the most important things that you would like
to know about a person before responding to an ad. Chances
are, others would like to know the same about you. If you
work, in what field? Have you ever been married before? Do
you have children? Are you looking to make some new friends,
or do you want find one special person to settle down with
for a lifetime? Keep in mind that common goals are often
more important in a relationship than individual interests.
Age
isn't everything, but...
It is where a lot of people start. Be sure to include your
age in the ad; if you do not want to give your exact age,
narrow the range: "early twenties" or "mid forties" for example.
If you are fifty but feel thirty, say so? If you are looking
for someone outside your age range, give a range for the person
you seek as well. Keep in mind that some people will be suspicious
of a range that seems too wide -- such as "twenty to sixty",
and this may limit responses. Likewise, a range too narrow
(one to two years) also seems odd. Even those who fall in
the narrow range might be hesitant to respond. Stating your
age, and avoiding ranges altogether, is generally the best
approach.
Describe
yourself first.
Be careful to avoid creating a personal ad that is simply
a mile-long list of characteristics you seek in another, without
saying much about yourself. It is better to let the person
reading the ad decide if they might be a match. This does
not mean that you should say nothing about what you seek,
just don't overdo it. You do not want to be too picky.
Details,
details.
How many times have you read a personal ad that states: "I
enjoy movies, music, and going out."? This sentence describes
millions of people! The idea is to make yourself stand out
from the rest! Instead, name a recent movie that you enjoyed.
List some of your favorite music styles, song titles, or artists.
If you enjoy going out to Italian restaurants, or line-dancing
at a country bar on Saturday nights, say so! Ironically,
it is the very details that are often overlooked as being
insignificant or boring which in fact add the color and depth
necessary for a personal ad to be truly effective.
Honesty
is the best policy. Above
all, be honest when describing yourself. No matter who you
are, or what kind of person you are seeking, you have a better
chance of finding that person -- and with less disappointment
along the way -- if you are honest from the beginning.
Click
here and place your free
personal ad today...
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