Personal ads have their own history. They have appeared in magazines and newspapers all over the world and many times people had a hard time finding a way to put out an accurate image of themselves in 20 words or less. It was almost like a competition for the best advertisement line.

Personal ads have evolved with the online dating. Modern websites have very detailed options for profiles, and often offer multiple choices with many answers to choose from.

But that doesn't always simplify things. Because you still have to be able to put out an image of yourself that would be at the same time appealing to others, and as accurate as possible.

A few tips for success:

Most important one: fill up your personal ad profile fully. No, not partially ! Fully! And accurately! There is nothing worse for a browsing member than spending their time opening your profile only to find your profile is full of Ask Me statements. We live in busy world, and people look more than anything for someone who can be trusted and they can communicate with. If you aren't able to communicate through your profile who you are, the image you put out is that you aren't even to the stage of understanding yourself.

Put up a photo or two. Members with photos in their personal ads are likely to get up to 30 times more replies than members without any photo image attached to their profile. Alright, you are not a top fashion model, but remember - most of the ones who are on a dating website aren't either - and people like to see who they are talking to.

Don't be aggressive, rude, over-witty or weird in personal ads in the hope it will be more attractive. You are not competing for a stage show, but are trying to find someone to spend a life-time with.

You may have had bad experiences in the past, but making a list of specific criteria a future partner must meet usually has the effect of making people look elsewhere, even if they fit the match perfectly. Don't transform the dating journey into a job interview - it removes every ounce of romance and passion from the beginning.

Don't use swear words. They are generally offensive and turn people off.

Make your personal ad truthful above all things, but also emphasize your best characteristics. Admitting that you are a loner who has no friends will not win you new friends usually. But emphasizing that you are a true individual with unique genuine properties, will.

If you really feel passionate about something say so, don't try and hide the things that are important to you. If you love partying say so, if your religion is important to you, say so. Be yourself.

Do not pretend that you are what you are not, and that you willing to fly half way round the world to meet someone if you are not. It's not fair on anyone including you. If you are really only looking for some one in your state or close to home then stick with that and make it clear. In the end, you will meet face to face, and wasting people's time will definitely NOT make them stick around.

Always try and reply to people's messages a reasonable amount of time, not weeks and months later. It shows you're not serious about dating.

And be patient, it takes time to find someone special using online dating. But it does work. Sometimes it can happen right away, sometimes you have to be patient and meet a few people until it "clicks". After all, you joined an online dating website because you already have spent some time looking for someone in the real life, right? Take your time to complete your personal ads, take your time to chat with many different people, and take your time to get to know someone well.

The best things in life may be free, but you have still got to go find them first, not wait for them to find you!