Dating App Tips That Will Save Your Client Relationships

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Alison, will you be my Valentine?

It’s officially here, Valentine’s Day! Some of us look forward to the holiday, anticipating being adorned with lavish gifts, fancy balloons and chocolate galore, and some of us dread it, just planning to simply survive the season of Cupid’s arrows, Hinge swipes and Tinder matches (I know which camp I’m in…).

Regardless of our personal feelings towards the upcoming date, there’s one thing we can all agree on: relationships take work! 

As Customer Success Manager at Alison.ai, I can share with you something interesting I’ve noticed. It appears the keys to a successful romantic relationship and a successful customer relationship are shockingly similar. 

From setting clear expectations (hello, communication!), to celebrating the little wins (because who doesn’t love a surprise?), it seems like the art of building strong, long-lasting connections follows the same principles. It’s no wonder we refer to both our business and romantic relationships as ‘partners’.

So this Valentine’s Day, I’ve decided to take a page from our customer success playbook and apply the same strategies to keep the love alive—whether it’s with my significant other, friends, or, of course, my favorite clients. Here’s a few top tips I swear by to keep relationships with my partners strong.

We all know the first rule – Communication is key.

Successful relationships blossom when communication is transparent and direct, so always be open about your feelings and needs, and make sure your partner feels that way too. If your partner is upset, make sure to let them know you are there to work through things together. If there’s an issue, address it right away so your partner doesn’t feel left in the dark, or worse, left on “read”… Just like checking in with your romantic partner about their day or emotions, regular, open communication with your business partner helps avoid misunderstandings and fosters closeness.

Set expectations early – “So, what are you looking for here?”

As soon as you know what you want, it’s best to let your partner know exactly what you expect of them, and define what they can expect from you. It’s like setting the “terms and conditions” of your relationship. When both of you are aligned and moving toward a shared goal, you’re more likely to thrive together. It should come as no surprise to know that this is often cited as one of the key reasons for success in relationships that start on dating apps. Setting clear goals at the beginning of our relationship with my partners is of utmost importance to me, as I feel it assures we are aligned and know what we are aiming to work towards together. 

Bar 3am “You up?” texts – Be there when they need you

Support and loyalty are fundamental. Unless it’s 3 a.m, when your partner calls, (or texts) answer the phone. There’s no need to play games and have your partner wait around for answers, responsiveness creates trust and shows you’re interested and invested! As a rule of thumb, your partner will appreciate your quick response… even if it’s very early in the morning, so try to respond quickly to your business partners and clients queries and proactively offer support when needed. Besides email, I often open personal Slack channels with my partners, so that even if we are on the other side of the world, we can communicate as often as my partner wants. 

“Are you even listening?” – Demonstrate empathy and active listening

Show that you care by listening attentively when your partner talks. Keep eye contact, ask questions, and don’t interrupt. Make sure you actually listen to your partner and understand what is important to them, what excites them, and what is hurting them. Your job as their partner is to then step in, empathize, and offer the right support. Listen carefully to your business partners and clients needs, ask clarifying questions, and show empathy for their challenges…before they start sending passive-aggressive emoji texts, or start dismissing and ignoring your emails.

Continue to develop together – “In a good relationship, both people grow.”

Personal growth is so important in a healthy relationship, it’s my worst nightmare to be in a relationship where we’re stuck in the same place, never challenging or developing each other. That’s why it’s so important to invest in personal growth and of course to keep improving, learning, and growing together. So make sure you don’t get comfortable in habits – always look for new ways to add more value to your partner. It’s crucial to make sure to stay ahead of the game and trends, and to continuously offer opportunities for your clients and partners to grow and improve with you and your product or service. At Alison we are able to create unique features per our clients’ needs and requests, so I make sure before the launch of my partners’ new product to align on whatever new features or tagging they’d like us to develop.

We can’t underestimate it – It’s all about the timing.

Timing can make or break a relationship. Knowing when to approach and talk, or alternatively give space is key. Also, knowing to stay in sync with your partner in what they need and want, whether its attention, action or support is crucial. Understanding the right moments to act and listen creates balance and trust. Nail it, and you’re both winners, get it wrong, and well… it’s like sending an “I’m sorry” message two days late – forget it. Make sure to really go all out for your partner, and demonstrate dedication to your partnership success, especially during key moments like product launches and other business milestones.

Simply put, actions speak louder than words.

Don’t just say you’re going to deliver, and leave your partner hanging on unmet expectations, actively show you are there for your partner and deliver on your promises. If your partner has been looking forward to that fab date, or alternatively to that new feature you promised them, make sure to deliver – on time and with precision. In short, show up, follow through, and show your partner that their success is your priority. Continue to make your partner feel valued, heard and respected, and you’ll be able to ensure a long-lasting partnership; whether a romantic or business partnership. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!