Online dating tips:

Take enough time to write your ad.

Your ad has to give an impression to the people who read it which kind of person you are. (If you just write: enjoy sports and parties, that could be everyone - mention some detail that will make you stand out from the others!)

Describe yourself and be honest!

Write about yourself - your height and weight, ethnicity, hair style/colour, eye colour and age. Be honest with your description - latest when you actually meet somebody, it will turn out when you told lies about yourself. (Like, when you described yourself as an 23 year old junior manager looking like Brad Pitt, and you actually are a 55 years old and a little overweight).
If you don't tell the truth, you will disappoint your date, and you will disappoint yourself - and make a fool of yourself when it comes to a personal meeting!

Describe exactly what you want

Who should the person you want to meet be? Be specific what you are looking for.
What should the person look like? What should be his/her marital status? Should he/she be smoker/non-smoker? Like to party, or be more domestic? Should she/he have children or not? Are you looking for a date / romance / marriag

List what's most important to you

If you love sports, you probably won't be happy with a couch potatoe, and if you love your cats or dogs, somebody who hates them will not be right for you.

Keep your ad in good taste

It will give you better responses from people with serious interests.

List your hobbies and interests

If somebody does share interests with you, it's more likely he/she will respond to your ad.

Be creative!

Make your ad unique and outstanding with an original headline, memorable experiences or quotes, or by showing a good sense of humour

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Don't make a "shopping list"

Don't write lots and lots of criterias how your match should be - it's better to describe yourself in more detail and let the reader decide if he/she feels it's a match

Check for spelling and grammar

Before you press that "submit" button, check again if spelling and grammar is right. Don't write your ad in capital letters only LIKE THIS, it is regarded as very unpolite on the net.

Don't tell the history of your life

It's too early for that - it could bore people, and you do want to have something left to say when you meet your date!

For security, do not include a personal contact address in your ad (phone number, address, full name)

Use an anonymous e-mail account, or the contact possibility provided by the provider of the dating-service you are using.