Not many savvy singles will believe something along the lines of "Harvard educated multimillionaire seeking somebody, anybody, to shower with gifts and attention." If you write such a personal ad you are setting yourself up for failure, as few will think of you as honest.

Think about it: honesty is one of the first traits that any single man or woman mentions when describing someone with whom they wish to share friendship, a deeper relationship, and long lasting love. So don't shoot yourself in the foot from the very start.

In your personal ad, write honestly about who you are, but just as importantly, write about the single woman or man you seek.

Include all those characteristics you value in a partner, as well as more pragmatic criteria, like geographic location, whether he or she smokes, has children, etc. In short, make it possible for those that fit your criteria to be able to say "that's me, and that's what I want too!" when they see your posted personal ad.

Do not set up any possible relationship for failure by lying from the beginning. Any self-respecting single will pack his or her digital bags and move on, sooner or later.

If you are going to invest time or money in using a matchmaking website, you should really pay some attention to writing a profile that will get you some responses.

People will not be interested in emailing you if you do not do something to make yourself stand out from the masses of people using personal ads.

Write an attention-grabbing headline stressing positive facts contained in your personal ad.

The first step in capturing someone's imagination lies in capturing their attention, and for this, you need a clear and concise statement setting yourself apart from the crowd.

Use wit here, and stress a quality which you believe singles would find most appealing. What can you say about yourself in a single sentence which makes you irresistible to the opposite sex?

Know your Competition! Among the best of all dating tips for men that I've ever heard is the universal principle of knowing who your competition is.

In business, knowing and understanding your competition will ensure that you're always at the cutting edge of your industry.

In online dating, you should be aware of your competitors and see what they have to offer. There is no harm in reading the profiles of other guys, remember you're not there to date them, you're there to get more dates THAN them.

While you should never steal someone else's thunder by plagiarizing their profile, I would recommend reviewing them for style cues and other tips on what a good profile should look and sound like.

Additionally, check out the photos of other guys and look for trends. If it looks like other guys have only included pictures with their group of drinking buddies, include a similar picture but make sure to one-up them with a great picture of you involved in a unique activity.

Other Dating Tips and Helpful Information

Another important factor to weigh when writing a good personal ad is the amount of of specific information you should include.

It is clearly best to avoid posting specific personal information about yourself like addresses, phone numbers etc., but usually other specifics, as to your occupation, hobbies, interests, and background, are not only ok, but will greatly increase your chance of piquing the curiosity of a like minded single man or woman.

Be Specifc about who YOU are and what YOU seek

Be specific about who you're looking for too: if you know your soulmate is a Buddhist, say so.

If you are adamant about remaining childless, convey that too. State your willingness to travel. The woman in Paris may not respond when she notes you live in Rio, if you fail to mention that geographic location is no barrier.

The man in White Plains may skip your personal ad if he thinks that you're only seeking a friend to chat online, when you're looking for more, but your ad doesn't say so.

What is your personal mantra ? Share it. The man or woman who understands and appreciates it best, is the one who will reply.

Just remember that it is best to explore personal ads sites before placing all of your eggs in one basket.

Singles chat is fun, safe and easy. Plus, it is a really great way to meet people online. You can learn a ton about people through just instant messaging each other back and forth.

Most of the top web dating sites offer singles chat services, which will help you connect with singles.

Plus, there are several really good sites that specialize only in chat and video online chat. The video component can really make an online conversation more intimate, or perhaps even a bit wild!

CONFIDENCE . It is sexy, attractive, and alluring to both men and women!
How a person carries and presents himself or herself is a time-tested aphrodisiac. It's also a quality that both sexes eagerly look for in a long-term partner. Confidence reflects self-acceptance and self-love.

1. Spend some time getting to know yourself.
Use your Advice for Me report from your TRUE Compatibility Test to do some thinking about what makes you "you." This doesn't necessarily mean hours of reflection (although some of that is good as well). You can also learn a lot more about who you are by getting out in the world and doing things. Meet people, take up hobbies, volunteer - you'll discover much about the world and reinforce your own sense of self at the same time. Get involved in your life!

2. Act on it!
When you're feeling insecure or doubting your abilities, don't hide away. Take a deep breath, get out there, and do the very things you're unsure about ... even if you have to start small. If, for example, you want to act in a play, but you're not sure you can do it, why not sign up for a very small part? You'll build your confidence.

3. Conquer fear: take risks.
Sometimes life requires a small "leap of faith." You'll feel good that you took some risks, even if they don't always work out as well as you hope. At least you can say you tried!

4. Stand up for yourself.
Low self-esteem often leads to lack of assertiveness; and when we don't voice what we want and need, we end up feeling worse about who we are. Build your assertiveness skills, and it will get easier in time.

5. Set personal goals.
Decide where you'd like to go, and make a reasonable, yet challenging, plan to get there. Set deadlines and a system of rewards to keep you going. (A goal, by the way, doesn't have to be a huge life decision, like "become a doctor". It can be anything you want to have in your life, like "Make one new friend" or "Learn to make jam.")

6. Learn from - but let go of - mistakes.
Absolutely everyone, no matter how perfect they may seem, messes up from time to time. This is how we learn - like the process of learning to walk as children. If we don't stumble, we don't learn how to keep our balance. Keep this in mind as you venture out into the world. Be gentle with yourself.

7. Do things on your own - don't rely on others to make you feel good.
One potential trap of a shaky self-esteem is dependency on others. The real truth is, if you feel a void inside, no one can fill it but you. While healthy relationships are important for happiness, more important is the relationship we have with ourselves.

8. Don't compare yourself to others.
You may look at someone and think they have something you don't, but the fact is they may be looking at you and thinking the very same thing. Someone may be better than you are at tennis, for example, but you can tell a much better joke. Judge yourself by your own standards, for you are unique!

9. Associate with people who affirm who you are.
Do you have toxic relationships with people who criticize you or make you feel small? Take a good look at the people you surround yourself with and how they affect your self-esteem.

10. Learn to say "no."
You will be surprised how much simpler it is than you think. When you really can't or don't want to do something, say so. (In, of course, a polite and non-aggressive manner.)

11. Practice truthfulness.
Avoid white lies. We often fib because we think we are sparing feelings or making things easier, but dishonesty only ends up making us feel bad about ourselves. Don't present a false face.

12. Practice positive affirmations.
Write down 5 or 10 things you really like about yourself. And next time a negative thought pops into your mind, replace it with something positive.

13. Find things you enjoy.
Whether it's sewing, drawing, swimming or karate, hobbies are a big self-esteem booster. Even if we are not experts, doing something for the pleasure and challenge builds our sense of who we are.

14. Use visualization techniques.
If you're anxious or doubtful about your ability to do something (ask your boss for a raise or compete in a marathon, for example), practice visualizing that moment in detail. Imagine yourself pulling it off smoothly. It'll lower your fear and boost your confidence.

15. Enhance your ability to cope with stress.
It's not so easy to believe in yourself if you're stressed out. Develop a repertoire of strategies for calming your spirit and incorporate them into your life as much as possible (like reading a good book, talking to friends, riding a horse or taking a bubble bath).

16. Shun perfectionism.
Interestingly, there is a high correlation between perfectionism and low self-esteem. The more you strive to be perfect, the more frustrated you become when you realize it's impossible! Be aware of any perfectionist tendencies you have and keep them in check.

17. Make a list of your accomplishments.
Include anything that made you feel good about yourself, without thinking about whether it is technically an "accomplishment" or not. (Your ability to relate to children, your chess talent, the amazing cookies you make, the great short story you wrote.) Refer to it whenever you need a boost.

18. Live in the moment.
The more time you spend dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, the more of the present you are wasting. Life is NOW, and you should get out there and embrace it.

19. Do nice things for others.
It's easy to get wrapped up in your own little world and forget that there are people out there who are in need. Give to others (your time, company, whatever you have to share) and you'll find yourself feeling better about yourself.

20. Take care of yourself physically.
Eat well, get enough sleep, kick nasty habits and get some exercise. Treat your body like it deserves to be treated!

Finally, do not underestimate the power of a good first impression: write your personal ad so that it is easy to understand, articulate, and to the point; avoid making grmmar and spelling mistakes: didn't you just wince when you saw that one?

That is how most people react, and it does not speak well of the writer. Remember, be honest, be specifc, be positive; these three qualities will make your personal ad a solid one, and a bit of imagination will make it a great one!

So... let your personality be shown in a tasteful way, take the time to do a good job, and have a good photo. Those things alone will put you far ahead of the misspelled anonymous pack. Best of luck!