Personal Ads
New Zealand Personal Ads
Joining the thousands of Kiwis finding love online? If you're new to the Internet dating scene (or not having much luck!), follow our guide on how to write a good personal ad that will show off the best of you.
Are you searching for the love of your life, looking for a date for the weekend, or just trying to find a like-minded companion? Today, there are countless dating sites featuring New Zealand personal ads and dating profiles. But that hasn't made the art of matchmaking any easier. With so many punters out there, you'll only get noticed if you write an effective, interesting and unique New Zealand personal ad to hook your potential love interest from the first word.
- Spend some time writing your personal ad: think of it as an investment in your future and the key to meeting your special someone. Spend time thinking about what you want to include, then write two or three drafts, each with a slightly different emphasis. As a guide, write 40% about yourself, 40% about what you're looking for in someone else and 20% on what kind of relationship you're seeking. Remember, this snippet about you will be a first impression, so make it a good one.
- Market yourself well: think about your points of difference and the things that make you who you are. Try to see your ad as others will see it: What kind of person do you want to attract? What kind of person do others want to meet? Try to make your ad have personality and punch!
- Include a photo of yourself: sure, you'll be putting your mug out there on the Web for everyone to see, but a face will add character, personality and impact to your ad. Personal ads with photographs get a much greater number of replies, compared with those using text only.
- Have a good opener: your opening line should be the synopsis of your ad, so make it a true representation of 'you' and create a line with some pizzazz. Instead of 'Single girl seeks male in Auckland', try 'Single girl searching for fun guy with personality and style.' Your username should be enticing too. Kate395 has no personality, so go for something that tells the reader about you: KarateKate, KuddlyKate or KookieKatie.
- Impress with stunning syntax: write in full sentences and check that your spelling and grammar are correct. For a great ad, avoid too many exclamation marks, avoid writing in all capital letters and steer clear of 'txt speak' like 'u r my #1.'
- Be yourself: if you lie in your personal ad, you're fooling your potential love interest and yourself. Be true to your personality in your ad: if you're honest about your likes, dislikes and relationship expectations, you're far more likely to find a good match. And if you're one of those people who lie about being married or in a relationship – get a grip on reality!
- Have realistic expectations: for those who want a serious, committed relationship, be aware that you're never going to change someone with the username Lookin4hotchicks. Be aware of what those who read your ad will see. Put key requirements in your ad – if you want a casual date, long term relationship or a summer fling, then make sure your ad reflects what you're seeking.
- Remember there's more to you than meets the eye: many personal ads include a physical description – hair colour, eye colour, physical build and so on – but there's more to you than that. Include personality clues in your ad, such as your interests, favourite music and movies, pets and interesting tidbits about you. Don't give them your life story, but make sure your ad is more than just the physical facts.
- Be positive: rather than listing all the things you don't want in a partner, list the things which appeal to you or are requirements. This will help reduce the number of 'dead end' replies you receive. If you're a workaholic, paint yourself as a career driven individual; if you're scared that your children will frighten off potential suitors, state in your ad that you love spending time with your family.
- Don't get too personal: always avoid including your last name, phone number or street address. Most people who meet people on dating sites are harmless, but some are not.
Good luck finding your Mr or Miss Right! There are many couples who have met over the Internet and have gone on to lead happy lives together. These people come from all walks of life and from every part of the world, but one thing is for sure – they all had interesting, eyecatching personal ads!
Looking for more information? Find New Zealand personal ads in the NZS.com directory.
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Lifestyle images from Flickr: Online Dating, Yoga and Wine.
