Online Personal Ads - Talking to the Opposite Sex

I'm an Online Dating Coach, and many of the ads I see on the Internet are shocking! There are some (often written by guys looking for women) who write their ads like they're trying to sell used furniture in the classified section of their daily papers!

The women's ads are often just as bad - often containing very little substantial information - or the ads just come across as demanding.Take for example this ad, written by a 41-year-old woman --professional who enjoys open conversation - 41"I love to talk about books that have struck you bizarre or interesting.

I do want someone to hang out with, and must enjoy talking about politics, books, places and wine. Must love chocolate!"Communication is apparently high up on this woman's priority list (how nice!) Whether "talking about everything" is also nice would depend, I suppose, on what "everything" might include.

It's hard to say what she's referring to when she talks about "bizarre" books, although Stephen King novels come to mind for me.

I'm not sure how many guys love chocolate, but for the sake of maintaining positive relationships, I imagine a lot of guys would go along with that one - assuming, of course, that "bizarre" books don't stand in the way first!With an online dating ad like the ad above, I can only imagine the types of guys who'd reply!Or - take a look at this online personal ad, from a 29-year-old guy who describes himself as a "Tattoo Teddy Bear" --tattoo teddy bear - 29"i just want a good girl that knows how to treat a man with respect."This online dating ad gets right to the point, doesn't it.

So is it any wonder that so many single men and women are just like "two ships passing in the night?"One of the secrets to writing effective online personal ads is to write your ads just like you're having a real, live conversation with your reader.

In other words, here is a list of what to avoid:1. Don't write your Internet Dating Ads so they sound like magazine advertisements!2. Never condescend to your audience!3. Do not - under any circumstances - submit a 10 or 15-word ad for Online Dating!Here's what you SHOULD do:

1. In your online dating ads, talk about yourself in such a way as to create an image of yourself as a real person in the mind of your reader. You might want to include some of your personal interests and hobbies - and what you enjoy doing on a date.

2. Give your reader a sense of how they will feel when you two are together on a date. Put yourself in the shoes of your reader. Be empathic, be sensitive to their needs, and try to anticipate what they might be thinking and feeling while reading your online personal ad.

3. Mention some of your best inner qualities to motivate your readers to respond to your ad!

4. Why should your reader respond to your ad right now? Here's the place to motivate them!

5. Last but not least - use a spell-checker and make sure that both your spelling and your grammar are correct before your ad is published!By following these tips and guidelines, you'll be on your way to a successful online dating campaign!