| The entire goal of a personal ad is to attract | | | | 3. You must 'fess up that you had help with the ad. |
| someone's attention, and keep it long enough for | | | | Look? it's not that big a deal. Even Einstein was a |
| them to want to learn more about you. You cannot | | | | really crummy speller. In fact, they thought he was |
| do this if your ad is full of spelling errors; if you come | | | | retarded for a long time. So you can't spell - it's only |
| on too strong; if you don't sound natural; if you're | | | | a big deal if you make it one. But they're gonna |
| offensive, even without meaning to be; or if you're | | | | know, the first time you ever send a follow-up e-mail. |
| just too over-the-top in any way. | | | | So when they ask, "Did you get help with your |
| Are you really serious about meeting someone? Do | | | | personal ad?" tell the truth. If any of that last |
| you want a personal ad that's guranteed to get | | | | sentence confuses you, please see #1: You cannot lie |
| attention? Then consider hiring someone to rewrite | | | | - about anything. |
| your personal ad for you. | | | | 4. You may not steal anyone else's ad and try to |
| Before you fork out any money to have someone | | | | pass it off as your own. Again, if any of this |
| write this hypnotic story that will captivate the | | | | confuses you, please revisit #1: You cannot lie - |
| attention of myriad admirers, you must have a firm | | | | about anything. |
| grasp of the rules. | | | | 5. You must let the personal ad doctor you hire |
| THE RULES | | | | know about your successes with your ad. They |
| 1. You cannot lie - about anything. They always find | | | | wouldn't be doing it if they hadn't had great success |
| out, and then you're screwed. Or maybe not | | | | with their ads - so they're in this with you. Let them |
| screwed, as the case may be. OK - in trouble. Suffice | | | | know how you do. Maybe invite them to the |
| it to say, lying's bad. Don't do it. Say you're a guy and | | | | wedding? At the very least, when anyone asks how |
| you're 5'7" - if you ever meet her in person, she is | | | | you came up with your very clever ad, remember to |
| going to know you are not 6 feet tall. OK? If you're | | | | give a great referral! |
| a gal and you're built like a Mimi from The Drew | | | | YOUR INVESTMENT |
| Carey Show, you cannot describe yourself as having | | | | The cost to have someone rework your ad into a |
| an athletic build. Not even close. Use your common | | | | gem that promises to attract attention ranges from |
| sense. They're not going to fall in love with you over | | | | a few bucks to several hundred. Make sure you ask |
| the phone and forgive you later for your "little white | | | | to see samples so that you can be assured the |
| lie." They're going to think you're the lying jerk that | | | | writer has a good track record. Personal ad writing |
| you are - and you will continue to perpetuate all the | | | | services range from profile reviews to photo |
| ugly myths out there that no one "real" ever posts | | | | services. |
| on those dating sites. | | | | With the busy world in which we live, personal ads |
| 2. You must be willing to be original. Believe it - original | | | | are a very viable option for meeting that special |
| works! Don't try to copy all the other guys and gals | | | | someone. If you've been struggling to figure out just |
| out there. Figure out what makes you different, and | | | | what to say or how to say it, think about hiring your |
| play that up. Not only will it make you stand out as | | | | own personal ad doctor. You deserve someone |
| unique, it also will go a long way toward attracting | | | | special in your life. Take that one additional step |
| someone who likes you for you - and that's what | | | | today, and you may finally meet the guy or gal of |
| this is really all about, isn't it? | | | | your dreams. Happy dating! |