by Jerome Espinosa Baladad

Created on: September 16, 2009   Last Updated: August 01, 2011

If you would like to create positive impression in publications that accept ads from gay people, you need to study more closely what you like to convey in your message. You also need an ad that sticks for a long time in the minds of the readers, which may compel them to type and send their replies now. The ad has to definitely pinpoint what sets you apart from competition

1) Examine first the image that you would like to project to your prospective readers.

'Check the commodity,' as marketing experts have always said before. Have someone look at yourself on a mirror, other than yourself. Ask someone you trust to take a closer look at you to help you highlight those traits that make you stand out from competition. Ask at least 3 trusted people for their opinions, and write down notes. Make use of these notes when you start writing drafts of the copy.

2) Study the readers' and users' overall-profile of the publication that you would like to use to post your ad on.

Call someone in the marketing department or someone who is doing promotions. Ask them more details about the background of readers and users so you will know better how to write a better copy of your ad. Keep in mind that each publication has a different targeted market that you need to focus on. Also, each publication has a certain niche that it has built or been building in the current market, which factors directly impacts the kind of ad you have. For example, gay personal ads published in the New York Times certainly attract a different niche market than those published in the Advocate, or even those found online in Craigslist.

3) Review the ads previously or currently posted for a period of 3 to 6 months in the publication you are targeting to have your own ad to be posted on.

Play the loving critic at least for the time being, and take down notes on what you have observed. Learn from the mistakes made by the other fellows who have posted their ads. And come up with a better version of an ad that features you as the most authentic, happy, unique person that you are who is now in active search of somebody embodied in your mind.

4) Draft a copy of the ad that you have in mind, re-read it, edit it, and rewrite it at least 5 times.

With this number, which is not absolute, you have better chances of coming up with a better ad. Also, consider asking at least three of your trusted and close friends about their thoughts and impressions about the copy. If majority agree, then proceed with sending the copy

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