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Category Archives: Relationships
Executive Consultant, Matchmaker, and Dating Coach Kristi D. Price Offers Insights for Experts in the Industry – DatingNews
Over the last 20 years, Kristi D. Price has worked as a wealth manager, personal trainer, life coach, and even a nationally acclaimed equestrian trainer. She’s used to helping people reach their goals.
For the last six of those years, she’s been one of the top matchmakers in Philadelphia and has honed her craft to the point that other matchmakers can benefit from her experience.
Kristi D. Price offers her fellow matchmakers insights on trends in the dating industry.
While it can be challenging to start a new business in the growing matchmaking industry, Kristi offers advice to those who believe they have what it takes. First, she recommends that matchmakers view their new venture just like any other small business in the modern world. The key, she said, is to brand your service to capture the attention of your target audience while presenting yourself in the right way.
“What is your passion? And what type of client do you want to work with? You have to know your core values and branding. A lot of matchmakers jump into it, but they don’t have a marketing strategy to reach the type of client they want to work with,” she said.
For instance, Kristi said that if you market your services too broadly, it can be more difficult than working with a targeted clientele.
“I work with active, successful singles. That’s my niche,” she said. “My clients are positive-minded professionals. You need to know who you want to reach, so you can target your marketing effectively.”
That’s why Kristi works with other matchmakers and entrepreneurs to create brands, slogans, and value statements that make it clear why a client would choose them over another service.
As the matchmaking industry has changed through the years, those strategies have become necessary, and Kristi has seen that change in the industry, along with many others, firsthand through her years as a consultant.
More Millennials Turn to Matchmakers as Online Dating Becomes Increasingly Frustrating
A few years ago, the typical matchmaking client was over 40, Kristi said. They were often newly single after a divorce or the end of a long-term relationship and didn’t want to navigate the online dating world. But, since then, the matchmaking demographic has gotten younger.
“In the last year, I’ve seen a lot of millennials and younger professionals getting frustrated with online dating because they’re not getting the results they want. Time is money, and they’d rather spend their time on dates, so they’ll reach out to me as a matchmaker,” Kristi said. “Some also need coaching on how they can meet people organically in their lives rather than sitting online.”
The trend of more clients in their late 20s and early 30s seeking personal help in their dating lives has made many matchmakers rethink their business models to accommodate them.
“Many young singles often don’t know where to meet other singles or how to approach people. Online dating worked well in the past, but now it’s really hard. There is a perception of perfection with online dating. Some people think there is always someone better around the corner so relationships are hard to sustain because they jump out the first sign of imperfection.” — Kristi D. Price, Executive Consultant, Matchmaker, and Dating Coach
“I offer a junior level, so they can afford it. And I know it will be a trend for the future for people who want to meet someone else who’s interested in a monogamous relationship,” Kristi said.
Many of the millennials coming to matchmakers across the country are also showing up without the best communication skills, Kristi said.
That’s especially true for professional singles who spend most of their days and nights in front of the computer. For those in the technology fields, meeting someone in real life can be an intimidating idea. Add in the fact that online dating has become more challenging, and many young singles aren’t sure what to do, Kristi said.
“Many young singles often don’t know where to meet other singles or how to approach people. Online dating worked well in the past, but now it’s really hard,” she said. “There is a perception of perfection with online dating. Some people think there is always someone better around the corner so relationships are hard to sustain because they jump out the first sign of imperfection. The people are who are fed up with the online dating frenzy are now coming to me for date coaching and matchmaking.”
Partnering With Dating Coaches Can Provide More Value
Of course, it’s not just young professionals who are looking for advice on communicating with other people. These communication skills are necessary for anyone who wants to network — professionally or personally.
That’s why matchmakers should consider partnering with dating coaches to help singles with the communication aspects of dating. Coaching isn’t just for singles; it’s also for people who have recently come out of long-term relationships or marriages.
“No matter what age group — whether they’re young, newly single or just got out of a 20-year marriage — they are unsure how to navigate today’s world of dating”, Kristi said. “Are they healed, open and ready for a new relationship, or are they just filling a void? A matchmaker should know that before taking a client on. We need to do our due diligence to make sure the client is ready and not blocking themselves from new relationships by holding onto the hurt from past relationships.”
Dating coaches can help millennials gain the confidence to get out and date again as well as teach them the basics of dating. Some young professional women have found success in the corporate world, but they struggle in the dating world because they’ve shut off their feminine side, Kristi said. That, in effect, can emasculate some of the men who may pursue them. A coach can guide them on how to embrace their feminine side and find more romantic success.
“It’s really what each one needs. Everyone benefits from coaching in addition to matchmaking,” Kristi said. “I think of myself as a personal coach and executive consultant. Tapping into both can help clients receive the information better.”
Kristi Encourages Collaboration Rather Than Competition
In the past, some matchmakers would keep their databases of singles under lock and key, but Kristi said that might not provide the best service for your client. It doesn’t matter how good your database is if you’re unable to make a connection for someone.
“I’ve seen a lot more collaboration in the last couple of years compared to when I started seven years ago. Some matchmakers believed they should only use their own database to make introductions or they felt threatened by other matchmakers possibly so they wouldn’t collaborate,” she said. “I believe in the law of abundance. If you’re doing the right thing for your clients, then you’re going to use all the resources available to find good introductions for them. This includes working with other matchmakers who may have good matches for your clients too. ”
Kristi’s services range from business and image consulting to photo shoots.
That’s why it’s the new trend for members of the matchmaking industry to create a network of professionals with different databases. If a client comes to a matchmaker, but he or she is not within their niche, it would be a service to refer the client to a matchmaker with a more appropriate database, Kristi said.
“I think new matchmakers who want to succeed should attend matchmaking seminars to meet other matchmakers to collaborate and take business classes to learn how to market, brand themselves and get out and effectively network,” she said. “The Matchmaking Alliance and Matchmaking Institute have good getaways and seminars, and those are effective ways to meet other matchmakers and pick their brains. That’s often more valuable than the certifications. Instead of a certification, the first step should be finding a matchmaking mentor and taking classes on how to build a business and learn how to brand yourself to reach your target audience. For matchmakers on a budget, SCORE is a free national organization to support new business owners.”
She also said that matchmakers and dating coaches should focus on growing their client bases and leave other specialized tasks— including website building, graphic design, bookkeeping — that they’re not good at, to the professionals. That way, they can focus on what they do best.
“It’s important to know what your strengths and weaknesses are. Focus on your strengths and delegate areas where you aren’t strong. Spreading yourself too thin can detract from giving your existing clients great service, recruiting new clients and building business relationships,” Kristi said.
Getting f*cked around while dating, bad breath, shifting a mate and being noticed in a group – it's Dear Fifi – DailyEdge.ie
Greetings from Siem Reap in Cambodia, the home of Angkor Wat and also your dearest darling Fifi for the next few days. It’s unspeakably hot. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… Sort of, I guess.
This can be a really challenging time of year for many people. You’re not alone. Got something you’d like to get off your chest? Get at me right here.
I slept with a friend last year but I moved away for a year. Now I’m back and they told me they had feelings for me a few months ago. I reciprocated, which was fine – we saw each other a few times. Then he bailed every time I asked if he wanted to meet up for the last month and a half but I was like OK they’re very busy between various jobs etc and there’s also a slight distance issue.
However, they do this thing where they say they MIGHT be around and would MAYBE meet me but never come through, which is more annoying than saying no. Then they finally asked me to meet them – but it was a 3am drunk message! And even though I said yes (I know) they fell asleep and didn’t answer the door which is humiliating. They apologized but I’m so tired of it.
This person is jerking you around – and you’re letting them. Have a think and decide what you want, then ask for it and stand your ground. Ask yourself this: What about this relationship is enjoyable for you at the moment?
By that I mean, are you really interested in this person? Are you both just an idle option for one another? You don’t mention feeling one way or another about them whatsoever, just list out the drama that’s been going down. That’s not a great sign. Give yourself an honest appraisal here. Is this worth pursuing? It may not be, and that’s fine. Just don’t let it drag out in that case.
However if you decide it’s worth something, at least, then send a clear and firm message outlining how you feel. I would keep it as simple as possible – frankly, messaging you at 3am and not answering the door when you arrive is more than enough justification to send a message asking what the story is between you. Just be honest. Say you like them. Ask what is going on. Ask for honesty. Stand your ground if they try and worm out of it. Cut through their bullshit. And if they resist that, you’ve got your answer already.
At the end of the day, if you can’t communicate with this person and they go back to wiggly half-nothings and cancelled plans, they’re not worth your mental energy or your time. Every moment you spend mooning after someone who is fundamentally giving you the runaround, you are one step further away from meeting someone genuinely nice who will treat you with respect.
Frankly though, after that 3am bullshit, I would be running for the hills unless they grovelled and made a sincere attempt to make it up to you. I mean, the audacity.
Seeing someone at the moment but sometimes when she comes over she has bad breath, and sometimes worse. Is there a polite way to bring this up? If it’s not something someone takes care of now, will they ever? How do you meet someone without being sure about hygiene?
What do you mean “sometimes worse”? Intriguing. Anyway look, let’s break it down.
Bad breath isn’t necessarily some moral failure. There are lots of reasons someone might have bad breath and all of us have had it at one point in our lives. You’ve got bad breath in the morning, for example. Yes, you, and everyone reading this. Bodies are gross and getting intimate with someone else’s is part of a relationship. But yes, I admit, consistent bad breath is not a good look and it’s not appealing for the early rose-tinted days of a romantic entanglement.
If this was a friend or someone else, it’d be different. But telling a woman she’s got honking breath in the early doors of a shack-up sitch is a potential grenade. Later in a relationship, you’d probably have enough built-up good will with the person to be like “go brush your teeth, you stink” in a cutesy way without it being offensive or embarrassing.
But that’s not the case in the beginning and if it was, you wouldn’t be asking for advice. Your options here are to chew gum yourself and offer it to her. If she stays over, buy her a toothbrush as a nice little gesture so she has her own in yours. Refer to your own breath as being bad and pop a mint, to open the conversation and also offer her one. Basically, creep around the situation and attack it from behind. (This is one of the few times you’ll find me recommending this.)
If it really bothers you, figure out if it’s a deal-breaker and act accordingly.
There’s a guy friend I like and we almost shifted on a night out but circumstances intervened. He’s been acting really weird since, stand-offish and cancelling plans etc. What can I do to figure this out or at least get things back to normal when we were just friends?
To go back to just friends? I’m afraid time and space are the only option here. Any message to try and either fix or figure out the situation could have the unintended effect of pushing them further away. Don’t worry. The awkwardness will naturally pass. Just wait it out and things’ll return to normal on their own as the memory fades.
To progress the potential romance? Well, if you do really like him, then you should send him a message to that effect – but based on his skittishness so far, you may have to prepare for an answer you don’t want. That may not be worth it. However, if you really do feel strongly about him and don’t mind potentially jeopardising the friendship, it might be worth being honest. Just be aware of the risk. Let him know how you feel with no expectation in a breezy text and see what happens. Good luck.
I’ve got something to get off my chest. Whenever I find myself in some circle, I feel like I’m just “that guy who’s just there” and my presence, god forbid I sound egotistical here, isn’t acknowledged or appreciated. I want to be one of those guys that everyone likes to be around and talk to, and to ultimately be seen as a leader of sorts in friend circles. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong, or if I’m just being entitled and egotistical.
Why do you want to be perceived as a leader? What about that role, nebulous in a social setting as it is, appeals to you? It might be worth investigating your own set of insecurities in that regard. There are better things in life – far, far better things – than being in charge.
You’re confusing being likeable with being a leader. People who try and fake an authoritative position within a group tend to come off boorish and over-dominant. A better way to have your “presence acknowledged or appreciated” is to become genuinely interested in other people. Cultivate consideration. Ask people about themselves, care about the answers and then remember the details. Do that consistently and people will notice.
I truly believe that people who naturally demonstrate this kindness and people-person vibe are much more charismatic than those who hijack the group conversation to tell yet another long, loud story. Think about it.
Want to talk?
Tips for retaining clients and growing recurring revenue – ClickZ
A healthy long-term relationship requires trust, open communication, and a willingness to commit from both parties. Unfortunately, in the dating world and the business world, finding the perfect match can be difficult. For agencies hoping new clients will outsource marketing and creative services on a recurring revenue basis, getting clients to commit to mutually beneficial retainer relationships can be a lot like dating: finding the right give-and-take is crucial.
Of course, it’s easy to see why retainer relationships would make sense from the agency side, since for recurring revenue businesses, 70-90% of revenue comes from renewals and upselling to existing accounts. However, clients who are often overwhelmed by choice and constantly inundated with offers to try new services might not immediately see the value in making a long-term commitment.
Here are a few ways to prove the value of recurring retainers to your clients.
Content produced in collaboration with SharpSpring.
Understand your client’s needs
If your client paid for your services but isn’t using all of them, it could be time for a serious relationship talk. According to Metasaas, 31% of software as a service (SaaS) products just sit around unused. If you’re not thinking carefully about how clients might use your products, such as marketing automation tools, and services to solve their unique problems, chances are they’re not thinking too much about it either. Sit down and make a plan for engagement that will actually deliver a tangible outcome rather than just billed hours.
But don’t over-promise
The sales process is kind of like those first couple of dates, where everyone is trying to present themselves in the best light possible. It can be tempting to say “yes” to solving all a new clients’ problems. But in dating as well as sales, honesty is what most people are looking for, and being upfront about the problems you can and cannot solve will help to avoid painful breakups later.
Small engagements build trust
Solving a few small problems is a great way to show a new client you’re in it for the long haul. For example, when 454 Creative, a digital marketing agency in Orange County, CA, wants to prove value, the company starts with a discovery phase that serves as a road-mapping process and includes a competitive analysis for lead generation or inbound engagement and a brand positioning audit for a marketing retainer. These fixed-fee, fixed-timeline engagements not only demonstrate that the company is comprised of experts in the field but also serve to prove that team members will listen to a new client’s needs and meet expectations on time and budget.
These beginning stages are also a great time to introduce the concept of marketing automation to clients who might not be familiar with the process or even those clients who already license a system on their own. Taking over the management of these platforms provides an excellent opportunity to provide value-added services and report on results.
Work together to create long-term goals
In today’s competitive environment, there’s really no such thing as a “set it and forget it” mentality. Relationships take work, and setting actionable deadlines for mutually agreed-upon goals proves to clients that you’re able to deliver on those early promises. After you complete those early-stage engagements, launch into a three-month trial to prove you can make good on the outcomes you initially promised.
To deliver on their own commitments to clients, 454 Creative relies on SharpSpring’s automation tools to provide quantifiable value by tracking the number of leads, opportunities and sales they were able to influence without needing access to the client’s CRM or accounting software.
SharpSpring’s advanced analytics and marketing attribution reports put the agency in the middle of their clients’ value conversations, not to mention delivering results almost immediately from the beginning of the engagement.
Watch out for these red flags:
Sometimes even the most promising new relationships turn sour. Here are the warning signs that indicate your partnership is in trouble.
- Clients aren’t paying their bills on time.
- The client doesn’t seem to value your expertise.
- The client isn’t taking action on your insights.
- They don’t seem happy with the relationship.
To learn more, check out SharpSpring’s white paper, “Growing Your Agency with Marketing Automation.”
To Gift Or Not To Gift? Every Christmas Dating Question, Answered – Refinery29
How you prioritise your social calendar during this time should depend on how long you’ve been together. If you’ve been dating for a couple of weeks, I suggest thinking of one or two activities you might be able to do that don’t need booking in advance. Go ice skating, perhaps, see a movie somewhere, or head to a Christmas market on a free afternoon. That way, if either of you does have to cancel due to an epic hangover, it’s not a big deal.
