Online Dating - How can I write a killer advert for my dating profile?
Dating is certainly a numbers game so how do you make your advert stand out from all the others? Here are some simple tips that apply to everyone considering online dating
Are you struggling or even have given up trying to write that killer advert that is going to get you lots of appropriate dating contacts? Don't worry - a bit of simple psychology and some good old-fashioned logic can get your ad to the top of the tree.Less is more or understatement beats boasting
You've seen the strong, silent type in the movies. He always gets to beat up some bully who's boasting about all the unpleasant things he's going to do to our hero right up until the moment he gets his come-uppance. What's the relevance? Well, if it wasn't appealing they wouldn't make so many films with that as the storyline. Use the knowledge that the hero doesn't need to make threats to impress, he acts. Likewise, don't say you are well-educated or intelligent - prove it by the way you write. Keep your ad free of spelling and grammar mistakes, add some humour, use a thesaurus to expand your vocabulary and vary your sentence length to make the advert more readable. This will speak far more about you than an attempt at including an academic CV.Originality attracts, conventionality repels
Try to think of something original in the way your ad is structured or written. For example, if (and only if) you are a reasonable poet, do it in rhyme (don't attempt this unless you have some talent otherwise it will have a huge cringe effect. Why not make up an advert using film titles, book titles, song lyrics or even clichés? Remember, humour is everything. Make someone smile and you are halfway towards winning their heart.What makes you tick?
Just about everyone likes good food, a decent film and travelling. Unless you're a food or film critic or make a living from travelling, there is no point saying these things - take it as read if you excuse the pun. No, say something specific about yourself - a particular hobby or, if you really must mention food, films and travel then talk about a specific type of food, particular film or actual location you enjoyed. What sort of dancing do you enjoy? Who is your favourite musician or group? What makes you laugh? Remember also that these words 'sell' you and are not there to screen out inappropriate contacts - let the other members screen themselves out and, those that don't, reject as they approach you.Remember it's an ad not a reading endurance test
Keep the advert reasonably short and help maintain the reader's interest by interspersing the main text with elements of humour or imaginative wording. Even though what you've written may be fascinating, if another member sees masses of text alongside your details, they may feel too daunted to read it - particularly if they have just struggled through half a dozen other ads, all of which were terminally boring.Say it as it is
If you introduce lies you are eventually going to get caught out, insulted and heart-broken. Although you should always put your best foot forward, there is sense whatsoever in pretending to be someone you are not. If you are short, don't pretend you are six-feet tall, if you are forty, don't claim you are twenty-five and so on. Likewise don't lay claim to hobbies and achievements that aren't yours. You will get caught out - maybe even after you are married - and it will not be pleasant. A judicial use of honesty is always the best policy.Always leave them wanting more
Pique the interest of the reader by outlining things about yourself without saying all the details (which would make the ad too long or too lopsided anyway). For example, if you have skydived for charity leave out the cause or where - it will be a good talking point if you and the reader decide to make contact. Even if your hobbies are what are traditionally branded 'boring' (eg 'trainspotting' or 'stamp-collecting') then hint at some of the funny (amusing or strange) things that you have seen over the years.Writing an effective dating ad is very much like composing a job application. You have a short time to grab the reader's attention, you have to sell yourself, it is not the place to say what you want (the interview is the place for that) and you need to make the interviewer's life easy by leaving them a few interesting and 'you-specific' questions to ask when you meet up.
Good luck writing your effective dating ad.