What's In a Headline?
An interesting headline will make your ad jump off of the page, catching the reader's eye. It should be short and creative, encouraging people to read your ad. Be original; don't use cliches such as "Honest and Sincere". It may be helpful to write the body of your ad first and then think of a headline that sums up what you have said.

Your Ad
Your ad is the first impression people will have of you, so make it interesting! Have fun writing your ad, and project a positive image of yourself. You don't want to sound too demanding or too self-centered. Include a few sentences about yourself, and a few about whom you are hoping to meet. You should also mention what type of relationship you are looking for.

• Know What You Want To Say
  Before you enter your ad, you'll probably want to decide exactly what to say. You don't want to sound unsure of yourself, or ramble. Some people find it helps to write down what they're going to say beforehand. Don't worry, you can always add to or change your ad at any time.
  
  
• Themes
  Some people like using themes in their ads. This is a great way to catch people's attention and show off your wit. Remember, having a clever ad is bound to get you more responses than just listing your attributes. 
  
  
• Be Clear
  You don't have to talk like a TV evangelist, but make sure you clearly state what you are looking for. You want people who browse your ad to know all about you and what you're looking for!
  
  
• Who Are You?
  The text of your ad  should include some of your interests. What do you do in your free time? What kind of music do you listen to? Be more specific than saying that you like to dine out. Don't we all? Saying that you like Mexican food is much more informative and doesn't take up much more of your ad space. You could mention an age range of the person you are seeking.  You could mention your political, religious, moral and social values if those things are important to you.  Your profile will contain your religious affiliation, your age and some information about your physical description (height, hair/eye color, race) so you don't have to mention it in your ad.
  
  
• Whom Are You Looking For?
  Who are you hoping to meet through your ad? It's important to clearly state what type of relationship you are looking for, whether it be friendship or a long-term romance. If issues like smoking/drinking or children are important to you, you should say so. Are you looking for someone of a certain race or age range? Don't turn your ad into a list of demands, but include things that really are important to you. Some of your traits are listed in your profile, but mentioning them in your ad may stress how important these things are.
  
  
• Never Tell a Lie
  While it's important to write a clever and interesting ad, make sure you are honest about who you are and who you're looking for. The point isn't to just get a lot of responses; you want responses from people you have things in common with. It's better to get a few responses from people you like than a lot of responses from people who aren't compatible with you.
  
  
• Be creative
  Don't be shy.  ClassifiedMate is all about meeting new people and having fun. So be yourself.
  
  
• Be considerate
  You are looking to attract as much attention as possible. Just remember,. You'll attract a lot more bees with honey than you will with vinegar. Try and sound as inviting as possible.

All This Information in So Few Words?
Don't worry about cramming all of your likes, dislikes, physical attributes and criteria for a mate into one small ad. Just get the basics down in print.  Once you are contacted by someone who's interested in your ad you can answer questions or discuss your criteria in detail.

Can I Use Abbreviations?
Abbreviations may be used to indicate race, sex, marital status and smoking/drinking preferences. Again, a lot of this info can be covered in your profile, so it's up to you if you want to include them in your ad.  Using abbreviations for this information allows you more room to talk about your other interests. Try not to use too many abbreviations, though; many people find reading them confusing. For a complete listing of abbreviations that are allowed, see " Abbreviations."

After You Place Your Ad
It will take about a week for your ad to appear online. The next section -- "I've Placed My Ad. What's Next? -- explains what to do once you've placed your ad.

You can change your ad at any time
If you're not happy with your ad, change it. Find out what works for you, what feels comfortable. Also, depending on what mood you are in, you can add or change categories. We have all types of categories to serve all types of desires. So, now is your chance. You don't know who you are missing.

Your Privacy
ClassifiedMate is entirely committed to your confidentiality and privacy. We do not share any of your information with any outside firms or mailing lists. Please review our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use.