Men Seeking Women | Personals : Friends & Dating

Personal ads used to be thought of as being for lonely people that couldn't find a date, however things are rapidly changing. With so many people having increasingly busy lifestyles, it can be hard to know where to start to look for a date or companion. Placing a personal ad is now the norm for many single people or even those simply looking for a companion. Beauty is, they say, in the eye of the beholder. This subjectivity applies as much to text ads as to any other form of introduction and everyone's perceptions and priorities will differ. Hopefully there will be some useful advice below (written by a female incidentally!!) to get you started and end up with the right date!

Writing personal ads that will attract women
Writing a personal ad can be a tricky task; they have to be short, yet convey enough to grab a person's attention and make them want to contact you. It can be hard enough to describe yourself for the first time when talking to someone new, let alone condense it into a few sentences. People tend to reveal things about themselves that they would never mention to a new acquaintance and often overlook the important things that are relevant when choosing a partner. Look out for blunders such as "I am honest, creative and spontaneous" (surely we would all like to think this of ourselves), use of sexual innuendos, and rambling about favourite baseball teams and rock bands (while it is good to have some common interests these are not generally the most important ones). It's important to write a personal ad that gets the 'real you' across in the message and gives an insight into your personality. This will ensure that you get a response from the right kind of woman, making the whole process more worthwhile.

A well balanced personal add should have around 200-250 words with 150-200 of those words on yourself, and 50-100 words describing the person you are looking for. To ensure the right content imagine yourself meeting someone for the first time and think about the things you would tell them.

Career history and plans
Perhaps you could mention universities you have attended or jobs you have held (although make sure it doesn't come across too arrogantly -- unless, of course you are!) and career aspirations. Many women will be attracted to a man with ambition so it's a good thing to mention. Giving information about your job will also give hints as to salary and social status, which can be important for some. Keep things brief, it's not necessary to be too detailed -- think of it as a first conversation you would normally tell people what you did!

Children
Children can sometimes be a bit of a taboo when it comes to dating, but do try and mention them in the ads. They are an important part of your life and it's best to be honest right from the start. Mention their ages and whether or not they live with you. If you're really worried about doing this in the ad then at least be sure to mention it on your first meeting before things progress too far.

Travel
If you've travelled a lot, or lived in different parts of the world or even the country then mention that too. This will add interest and if the reader has associations with a particular place it could add a further dimension of interest. Also mention if you speak a foreign language or if you are new to a place. These will both attract attention and, even if nothing happens romantically, you could find yourself with a new companion to converse with or a new friend to show you around the city.

Humour
Talk about what you like to do in your spare time and use some (non-adult) humour. Use your imagination and mention your social circle do you have many friends and how much do you like to go out? What do you like to do when you are out? Also mention if you have any pets or if you like any animals (many ladies will love this).

Describing your Miss Perfect
When you mention the person you are looking for be clear about the requirements, but do be realistic! You won't get very many responses if you stipulate your date must look like Kylie -- or at least not too many honest ones! Think about the things that would make you absolutely NOT want to date someone and mention them perhaps children or smoking are complete no-nos. Alternatively, there may be things that are essential. The point is -- you shouldn't be afraid to talk about what you like and don't like -- after all everything that you say is an insight into who you are and that can only help readers determine whether you are right for them. That said, don't turn it into a Christmas wish list! It is also essential that you mention what type of relationship you are looking for.

Honesty
Finally be honest this may be a bit obvious, but bending the truth will ultimately get you nowhere. If you think you can lie in your ad and take the opportunity of meeting a stranger to invent a 'new you' -- don't. It will only end in disaster and humiliation -- women always have a way of finding these things out!