Browse through other people’s personals to get an idea of what tickles your fancy. Read them and take note: what made you want to read past the first sentence? Don’t overlook even the boring ones … figure out what makes them boring so you’ll know what to avoid when writing your own. But be careful not to plagiarize; they’re called “personal” ads for a reason, people!
Unleash Some Urgency
You know how vendors of just about every product use words and phrases like, “Rare,” “One day only,” and “While supplies last?” There’s a good reason behind it: those phrases give potential buyers a sense of urgency – they feel the need to snatch up the product while they still have the chance. You can do exactly the same when you write your personal ad. Propose a date to the reader, one that’s time-sensitive (“How about catching the Fall Music Festival with me next weekend?”), and pat yourself on the back for your superior marketing skills as the interested parties fill your inbox with acceptances.