The more you say about yourself, the better your responses will be

Are you someone who looks at the personal ad sections of newspapers and magazines, or browses online, but isn't convinced that this form of dating is for you? Perhaps the whole personal ad world looks too impersonal to youbut these ads have worked for thousands of people and if you use them properly, they could work for you too.

Both online and traditional personal ads are used be a wide variety of people to find a new partner or just a new friend. You can't do this successfully without telling people a little about yourself, but you can do it without making yourself vulnerable to others. Try these simple tactics when you're preparing your personal ad:

Anonymous, not impersonal

Safety concerns mean that personal ads are best left anonymous until you decide that you want to tell someone who you are. This doesn't mean that you can't be personal when you're compiling your ad, however. In fact, the more you tell people about yourself, the more likely you are to get responses from people you want to meet. Don't give out phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses or full names, but do make your personal ad positive and attractive.

What about you?

People are reading the personal ads to find someone that they might be compatible with. In order to have a chance to attract your ideal partner, you need to tell them what you're like and the things that interest you. Give as much detail as you like, because a personal ad that differs from the norm is the one that will stand out to readers. Summing yourself up in 30 words sounds hard, but if you start with a list of all your positive points, you'll be surprised how easy it is to focus on the ones that you think might get a good response. You want your readers to come away with a mental picture of you and your lifestyle.

The photo

If you can, post a good photograph of yourself. There are some rules to posting photos, which you'll find more information about on the a good dating website. In general, though, choose a photograph that just shows you, in a relaxed, informal pose. Don't get pictures taken speciallyjust use a good holiday photo, and don't use one that's suggestiveit will just get you the wrong type of response.

Personal ads aren't impersonal; they're just another great way of linking up with people you wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to meet. Use them wisely, and you'll see exactly how they can enhance your dating experiences.