Most listings are forgettable. They use the same words, the same vague promises, the same generic photos. If you want to stand out and attract people who are actually worth meeting, you need to write a listing that sounds like a real person wrote it. The good news is that this is easier than it sounds, because the bar is low.
Start with honest photos. Not the most flattering ones you can find, the most honest ones. A clear face shot, a full-body shot, a couple of photos that show your style and personality. Taken recently, in real lighting, by a real person. The goal isn't to look perfect. It's to look like yourself, so that when someone meets you, they feel like they're meeting the person from the listing. That consistency builds trust from the first second.
Write like you talk. The biggest mistake people make in listings is adopting a voice that isn't theirs. They write what they think a listing should sound like, and it comes out stiff, generic, and forgettable. Write the way you'd describe yourself to a friend who's setting you up with someone. Use your actual vocabulary, your actual sense of humor, your actual personality. If you're funny, be funny. If you're direct, be direct. If you're not sure what your voice sounds like, record yourself talking about yourself for two minutes and then write that down.
Be specific. 'I like music and having fun' applies to everyone who's ever lived. 'I'm usually at the jazz bars on Frenchmen Street on weekends and I'm looking for someone who can keep up with a late night' tells someone exactly who you are and whether they'd fit with you. Specificity is what makes a listing feel real. It also filters out people who aren't a match before you waste time messaging, which is a kindness to everyone.
Say what you're looking for. Not in a demanding way, in a clear way. 'I'm looking for a casual, ongoing connection with someone who's also busy and doesn't need constant contact' is more useful than 'looking for a good time.' The more clearly you state what you want, the more likely you are to attract people who want the same thing, and the less time you spend filtering out people who don't.
Keep it short. A paragraph or two. Enough to give a sense of who you are and what you're after, not so much that it reads like a memoir. People scan listings. If yours is a wall of text, they'll skip it. Give them the highlights and let the rest come out in conversation.
Proofread. Typos and bad grammar signal carelessness, and carelessness is not attractive. You don't need to be a writer, but you do need to read your listing once before you post it. If it doesn't sound like something you'd say out loud, rewrite it until it does.