Read these next few sentences out loud, exactly as they’re written: “I am a nice woman who seeks a nice man for friendship and enjoyable company. I take pleasure in cooking and reading, am an avid gardener, and have two dogs who are my constant companions.”
You’re probably thinking, “What’s wrong with that?” And the answer is … nothing is wrong with it. Not if you speak like that in real life – but most people don’t. When was the last time you said “I am” instead of “I’m” … “do not” instead of “don’t?” How often do you say “I seek” as opposed to “I’m looking for?” It’s often hard to “hear” people’s true voices in their writing if they don’t write the way they speak. If your words reflect how you talk, the real you will shine through and make your ad stand out. The subject of the few sentences above sounds rather librarian-esque; you get the impression that she’s a prim and proper lady, a real buttoned-up kind of gal, and – excuse me while I yawn – even a little bit on the boring side. To make sure that your ad sounds like you and has a conversational tone to it, read it aloud to yourself when you’re finished writing it. Don’t take the casual tone so far that you “go ignorin’ them basic rules’a grammar ‘n’ spelling” (and stay away from profanity, at least for now, even if you cuss like a sailor) … but write like you talk. An ad with a relaxed and chatty quality will make a great first impression.
Have Fun
Injecting some humor into your personal ad can work wonders. If you have fun writing it, then people will most likely have fun reading it. Writing a personal is different than writing an “About Me” section of a job application. You’re not trying to impress someone with your professionalism – you’re trying to find someone to have fun with, so write with that in mind. And think of it this way: whatever type your sense of humor is, the people responding to your ad are the ones that get it – the ones that share your opinion of what’s funny. Even self-deprecating humor can really warm up an otherwise bland personal ad, but don’t go overboard. “I have a slightly out-of-control obsession with shoes” is acceptable; “My teeth are so yellow I could butter a loaf of bread” is not.