I joined a new on-line dating site and was excited at the prospect of seeing who would cross my path as a result.
Well, Dame Fortune sure did smile down on me. The first guy who contacted me sounded like a really electric choice—Lonely Guy 247. “Friends tell me I am such a nice guy and always want to know why I have not found someone special.” And, to make a great ad even better—he did not have a picture on his profile! Wow.
The ironic section of this posting is now complete.
I think personals are a great way to get things started and I know scores of people who have met their significant others on-line. But many take the mistakes they make in the real world and plunk them down on the page. Take Lonely Guy 247 (let’s call him LG). LG, you need to really reconsider that handle you chose for yourself. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy if ever one was heard. If you want some traffic, you have to give people a reason to come to you.
Lonely Guy? It sizzles when you read it—damn, I can’t stop being ironic. And I need to, because I want to help LG. Dude, pick out something in your personality that is interesting, intriguing or exciting. Highlight that over the fact you are lonely and you are a guy. Lonely is as unsexy an adjective as one can pick and it is unexceptional—many people are lonely. And there are tons of Guys out there. What do you love? What do you have that is special about you? Take that and make that your nom de plume. Regardless of if you like it or not, we are selling a product when we go onto the Web—we are selling you.
The next part of rebranding an ad like this is that opening sentence. Grab me with a strong line. I just cut and pasted this from another one of my matches
“Okay... sure you've heard this before, but I'm new to this.”
Yes, I have heard it before. And saying it in your ad does nothing for you or me. Choose these opening words carefully. People only read a few lines at best. And saying things that have been said again and again make my “next” button finger itchy.
And the pi
cture, or the lack of one….what can I say? Pictures sell things and sell people. I don’t know LG’s motivation for not having a picture but I promise you I am not imagining good things when I see an empty box where the image is supposed to be. It is the 21st century. Get a camera and get a friend, or hire a pro and get out there. What you may see as a weakness I may see as strength. So let me find out LG and if I am interested, I’ll get back to you.
Have a great Friday the 13th!
David Ezell is giving his annual Valentines workshop at the Jewish Community Center on the 23rd of February. Regardless of if you are a JCC member or not, or Jewish or not, this event is always fun and filled with singles. This year we will focus on creating an on-line personals ad using a volunteer’s pictures and copy in real time. Come join us!
© David Ezell 2009
All Rights Reserved
Well, Dame Fortune sure did smile down on me. The first guy who contacted me sounded like a really electric choice—Lonely Guy 247. “Friends tell me I am such a nice guy and always want to know why I have not found someone special.” And, to make a great ad even better—he did not have a picture on his profile! Wow.
The ironic section of this posting is now complete.
I think personals are a great way to get things started and I know scores of people who have met their significant others on-line. But many take the mistakes they make in the real world and plunk them down on the page. Take Lonely Guy 247 (let’s call him LG). LG, you need to really reconsider that handle you chose for yourself. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy if ever one was heard. If you want some traffic, you have to give people a reason to come to you.
Lonely Guy? It sizzles when you read it—damn, I can’t stop being ironic. And I need to, because I want to help LG. Dude, pick out something in your personality that is interesting, intriguing or exciting. Highlight that over the fact you are lonely and you are a guy. Lonely is as unsexy an adjective as one can pick and it is unexceptional—many people are lonely. And there are tons of Guys out there. What do you love? What do you have that is special about you? Take that and make that your nom de plume. Regardless of if you like it or not, we are selling a product when we go onto the Web—we are selling you.
The next part of rebranding an ad like this is that opening sentence. Grab me with a strong line. I just cut and pasted this from another one of my matches
“Okay... sure you've heard this before, but I'm new to this.”
Yes, I have heard it before. And saying it in your ad does nothing for you or me. Choose these opening words carefully. People only read a few lines at best. And saying things that have been said again and again make my “next” button finger itchy.
And the pi
cture, or the lack of one….what can I say? Pictures sell things and sell people. I don’t know LG’s motivation for not having a picture but I promise you I am not imagining good things when I see an empty box where the image is supposed to be. It is the 21st century. Get a camera and get a friend, or hire a pro and get out there. What you may see as a weakness I may see as strength. So let me find out LG and if I am interested, I’ll get back to you.Have a great Friday the 13th!
David Ezell is giving his annual Valentines workshop at the Jewish Community Center on the 23rd of February. Regardless of if you are a JCC member or not, or Jewish or not, this event is always fun and filled with singles. This year we will focus on creating an on-line personals ad using a volunteer’s pictures and copy in real time. Come join us!
© David Ezell 2009
All Rights Reserved
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