Personal Ad Writing for Women

While Internet dating has exploded into an online frenzy, there are still those who prefer the written word when looking for a mate. This written word often takes the form of the personal ad. Granted, the opportunities for such written ads are becoming few and further between, but for the newspapers that still print them, there is quite a market of interested singles.

In a very real way this medium lends itself for use by women who are always considered to have a certain way with words. Men are generally not required to be very wordy, and often are able to hide behind the façade of the strong silent type in order to get away with ads that read more like telegrams than an exclamation of availability.

If you have ever created an online profile for yourself at a dating site, you will also discover that there is something noticeably absent when contemplating a personal ad that will appear in print: the computer's prompts! Online you will be prompted to describe yourself with preprogrammed responses that simply require a few clicks from you. In print, you will need to make up the prompts yourself while at the same time keeping it pithy.

As a woman you also have the added burden of ensuring that your ad is worded in such a way as to not attract weirdos and creeps, while at the same time inviting like-minded bachelors to contact you. Here are some tips for women who have decided to write a personal ad:

1.Take a look at how other ads are worded. Obviously, you do not want to cut and paste. Yet at the same time it is important to understand that each medium has its own lingo, and learning the proper way of wording your ad will help you in attracting those you wish to draw near.

2.Stay away from too many details. For example, if you do not want to indulge overweight men, religious men, or widowers, you will be able to sort this out once you receive the responses to your ad. A little hint that speaks of "unencumbered, free spirited and fit men" goes a long ways to heading off long lists of negatives.

3.Trade in clichés for honest descriptions of who you are. If you are a bit on the pudgy side or perhaps have a quirky sense of humor, there is a positive way of putting this in an ad. You may wish to speak of "quick witted lady who knows her way around the kitchen."