Who, What, When… Huh?

With Drinks on the Linx just around the corner, we’ve been getting a lot of inquiries about different aspects of the Linx process and experience. Amy and I thought it would be a good idea to share answers to some of those frequently asked questions, just in case some of you have been curious about the same issues. If you don’t see the answer you’re looking for below, feel free to contact us with any additional concerns and questions. We’re here to help!

What are the differences between being a Premium client, a VIP, and a Match Applicant?

A Premium client is someone who has hired us to find their ideal match. This person (of either gender) has signed up for a Silver, Platinum, or VIP membership, and is guaranteed an agreed upon number of introductions during the duration of their contract. For Silver and Platinum clients, these introductions involve people already within the (substantial) Linx database.

VIP clients, however, are a bit different; VIP clients are Premium clients who often have extremely specific criteria (these can be educational, ethnic, cultural, geographic, life-style focused, or any combination thereof) and so VIP clients have empowered us to search outside of our existing database and network to find their ideal match. It is not uncommon for a VIP search to be conducted in the San Francico Bay Area, as well as NYC, LA and beyond. Information about active VIP searches can be found here.

A Match Applicant is someone who has paid for an initial in-person consultation with Linx, and we have determined that they are highly matchable. A Match Applicant is someone we feel is truly looking for a relationship, has realistic expectations based on their own age, experience, education, desires, etc., and has a great attitude about the Linx process.

So paying $200 and meeting with Amy makes me a Match Applicant?

Simply put, no. The fee for an in-person consultation is strictly meant to compensate us for our professional time. It does not make you a member or client of Linx, nor does it guarantee you any introductions or invitations beyond the opportunity to get to know us better. We understand that some people think this is an unreasonable fee, but Linx is, at heart, a business. If $200 seems expensive to meet privately with professional matchmakers who might then introduce you to the mate of your dreams, then we encourage you to pursue other romantic avenues such as online dating.

I met with Linx, but didn’t hear from them after the meeting. Why not?

At the end of any initial consultation, we encourage you to take a few days to reflect on our conversation, and to reach out to us if you’d like to move forward. For Match Applicant candidates who are an obvious fit for one of our current Premium clients, we do often reach out within a few days of our meeting to explore the possibility of making an introduction. But in other cases we wait to hear from you. This process is not for everyone; some interviewees decide that they are not ready to use the services of a matchmaker, while others (those often newly out of a relationship) might realize that they aren’t in the right place to meet anyone at all. If you want to hear from Linx, contact us. We’ve probably been waiting to hear from you, too.

When do I get to see pictures of the person to whom I’m being introduced?

Believe it or not, you actually don’t get pictures before meeting your match (unless you are a VIP client.) Despite the very deliberate nature of our process, we still value the element of surprise. We want your first glimpse of your match to involve the thrill of discovery rather than the comfort of recognition. We don’t want to take all of the excitement out of a first date; if anything, we want to increase it by reassuring you that you’re meeting a high quality individual who shares a lot of your goals and values. What’s not exciting about that? Plus, we find people are simply too judgmental.

Is it true that you don’t work with women in their 40s?

No, this is not true. At Linx, we work with men and women of all ages (from twentysomethings to 70+) and we get excited by each and every opportunity to help someone find love. But we also know the limitations of our database, and we understand the dynamics of the local dating economy. Despite the rise of “cougar culture” we simply don’t encounter a lot of young men looking for older women (at least not for the purposes of starting a serious relationship) and so we do politely decline working with prospects whose expectations do not align with our experience of reality; even our female VIP clients are typically willing to date men up to 10 years older than they are, and we cannot successfully match other Premium clients or Match Applicants who are not willing to do the same. It just created very unrealistic expectations and could lead to failure and disappointment.

Is it true that you reject people that apply for membership?

Simply put, yes. We have a high rejection rate as we cannot work with everyone. Sometimes we encounter someone who is simply not a good culture fit, or perhaps is not comfortable with the Linx protocol and general mission of our business. Maybe someone is leading an unhealthy lifestyle, has zero balance in his/her life, or just is not trusting of our process. Over the years, we’ve even had people ask us in the initial screening phase when asked if he/she is “commitment-minded” how we define commitment. Enough said. 😉

I’m gay/lesbian/bisexual. Is Linx suitable for me?

Unfortunately, our database is limited in a way that allows us to focus on same-sex relationships at this time. That said, we do represent a small population of VIP bisexual clients who are interested in matches from both men and women. In the meantime, please do contact us if you’re interested (increased interest is what will help fuel opportunities to build an extended network for gay and lesbian clients) and be sure to attend our networking events, like Drinks on the Linx if you enjoy networking.

I’ve read a lot about Linx networking events. Is one of those coming up soon?

Yes, in fact, there is a Link & Drink event just around the corner! Join us at the Stanford Golf Course on the evening of July 17th for a warm summer night of Drinks on the Linx! Tickets are selling quickly, and we will not be able to sell tickets at the door, so buy yours here. Attendance will be capped at 400, and having fun is mandatory, so we hope to see you there!

Remember that our events are NOT limited to clients. So invite your friends, the more the merrier!

What’s Happening in Silicon Valley & Beyond

Silicon Valley and the world is buzzing with last week’s FB acquisition of WhatsApp for 19BB! That’s right, 19BB – each founder is walking away with approximately 4BB. Talk about a nice payday.

WhatsApp has been around 5 years and is the most popular messaging app for smartphones. It is believed that the WhatsApp acquisition will secure Facebook’s already leading position in the crowded messaging world.

Last week I had the pleasure of being treated to an amazing night at the exclusive and chic Battery in San Francisco by three amazing, awe-inspiring male clients. These guys all referred one another into Linx, were co-founders of a tech company together, and have had great experiences with Linx, choosing it as another strategic option in their arsenal of dating resources.

They commiserated about how the scene is tough for guys, that filtering online profiles is extremely time consuming, and how they are committed to making 2014 “their year” to each find the woman of his dreams. These good solid guys are late 20’s to early 30’s, each super fascinating.

I ran into a ton of familiar faces at The Battery – former and current clients, friends, and new connections. Definitely a who’s-who sort of establishment – folks having dinner, people drinking late into the night upstairs, playing cards, and encouraged not to talk about work…in fact, no photos are allowed (that’s right, not even “selfies”…man, I loathe that expression!), and the membership is curated to bring together like-minded influencers from all sorts of unique backgrounds – many not in tech. Computer use and business talk is discouraged in favor of discussions about the arts, current affairs, culture, and travel. Photo: Ken Fulk, Inc.

The five-level, 58,000-square-foot club at 717 Battery Street is a very unique one-of-a-kind elite club-designed by Ken Fulk and with the most spectacular interior filled with modern art, sculptures, terraces, restaurants, a wine cellar, and much more. This impressive establishment is the creation of Michael and Xochi Birch. This cool couple sold the social networking site Bebo to AOL for $850 million in 2008 and later were inspired by the private social clubs of London as they conceptualized The Battery. I encourage you to tap your network of friends to see “who” might be members and ask a friend to check it out….

This Week in Perspective

It’s been extremely busy at Linx HQ. I am still blown away that January is officially over. Have you noticed how some people still have Christmas trees in their windows and lights still decorating their homes? Did they not get the memo that the holidays are over? Hilarious. There is a home in my neighborhood that is still all lit up at night…right out of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

This past week was filled with tons of client meetings over breakfast at the Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel, coffee in SOMA, and in the privacy of our historic offices. We admitted new members this week…a quick snapshot includes a handsome 32-year old 6’0″ guy who is passionate about surfing in his free time, a witty 33-year old male with a devilish smile and wildly impressive career (who has been a vegetarian his whole life), and a 50-something real estate professional who loves travel, his kids, and Bay Area living. We also had a lovely visit with a young mid 20’s MD female member who was so sweet to bring us the most decadent homemade cupcakes (flourless chocolate w sea salt and carmel and a coconut tropical unbelievably fabulous concoction!) As you can see we hated them. 😉

We spent a few hours conducting an in-home closet consultation for a vibrant, mature, and gorgeous 24-year old female. She hired us to edit her wardrobe, help her create looks (looks for work, work into dates, weekend wear, dressy styles etc). The great thing is that our client already has such an impressive wardrobe and everything she pretty much needs…it was just a matter of figuring out what works with what and helping her streamline things. Also her request and wish was to get her wearing color…not so much black all the time.

In working with our client, we also removed items that she has had since high school (yes high school..including her old prom dress…ok ok, she is only 24 years young!) and will be donating four huge garbage bags to Goodwill as a result. We put tons of looks together she already had in her closet (black 7 skinny jeans, silk Joie tank, paired with a tight Vince leather jacket zipped up accentuating her TINY waist and model physique, punchy colorful pashmina, black patent leather Louboutin pumps, and a great tote to top off her modern and very versatile look (so easy to transition from day to night). She was so impressed by our hard work, she’s hired us to come back this coming week for more wardrobe work. The famous, highly coveted red CL soles…

My assistant (who is a very skilled photographer among many of her talents) has been snapping pics of our client in her various ensembles and will be creating a beautiful look book to keep in her boudoir for when getting ready. Vince leather jacket on a model

It’s been busy with creative projects as well….speaking to lots of media folks from all around the globe…including entertaining folks up from LA and showing them the Silicon Valley life. Beyond this, lots of matchmaking and presenting clients with our match ideas. This week alone we’ve done a ton of really good matches and are excited to hear how those first dates go. I’ve learned so much from my clients this past month- fascinating trends we are seeing in Silicon Valley and lots of interesting stories.

Here’s to an exciting February ahead for everyone. Stay focused on your New Years resolutions and don’t start slipping now. I have just completed my annual health “cleanse” I do every Jan for 31 days (major cardio, super green diet, no diary, no bad carbs, no alcohol) and I feel GREAT. Even though I am looking forward to a glass of wine (or two!) tonight with friends in San Francisco, I am making sure to set strict rules for myself to stay focused and very disciplined as I enter February. Healthy living is a LIFESTYLE and in order to be at my best in my life, I know I have to do certain things (sufficient sleep, lot of good clean eating, restricting my so called vices (e.g, drinking ,sugar, cheese) working out with my trainer multiple times a week, and taking time off from the daily grind to reset).

If you want more information about my cleanse ping me. This is my 7th year doing it…and I’m hooked! I’m not the only one either- when I interviewed a young CEO on Thursday, he is doing a 90 day cleanse. He said he sleeps better, has total mental clarity, is happier, and much more balanced.

Fun and funky old school workout song for you to load onto the trusty ipod.

The Pros and Cons of Online Dating

I‘m often asked if my clients should continue with online dating when they start their Linx memberships. If yes, what I feel is the biggest drawback to trying to find love on the Internet?

The biggest challenges are twofold – (1) the labor and time involved sifting through thousands of profiles; and (2) unverified information.

At the end of the day it is exhausting to have to sort through all of these profiles and to deal with the long, drawn out communication process of winks, emails, nudges, pokes, etc. But I think the bigger challenge is the fabrication of information on the site – you might be entering the online market with honest intentions of wanting to couple up and reach monogamy for the long term but you have no idea who is really on the other side.

It can be extremely disappointing not having the data and true insights into the person with whom you are communicating online and potentially to then meet in person. Is he/she as commitment minded as you or is he/she on the site to just “hook up” and be “super causal” where “sex is so easy” to get?

Online has helped create awareness for an offline, old world business like Linx but, on the other hand, it has caused people a lot of stress from the labor involved, fabrication of user profiles, no authenticating “who is who”, and often feeling online chemistry but offline when you meet is a whole other story.

At Linx, I personally get to know every new client and sit down with each member really delving deep so I can best help him/her…..at this stage in the game I’ve met thousands of people.

This week alone I have interviewed fascinating men and women (a venerable Silicon Valley techie, CEOs, and many other hard working dynamic types- in fact I am hoping to do a new blog entry about the SV legend asap). Something online cannot necessarily predict is chemistry. I understand human behavior and what makes two people mesh. Clients who have been doing a lot of high volume driven matchmaking online find the Linx approach and methodology particularly appealing and extremely personalized. This is after all about SLOWING DOWN and focusing on one extremely solid match at a time. I emphasize slowing down!

With the obvious perils into the world of online, I WOULD encourage you to keep your profiles up BUT the absolute key is to evaluate IF you have been getting the traction you desire. Are the “right” types for you landing in your inbox and if not, you should strongly consider doing a massive profile rewire to reboot yourself towards success.

We offer a lot of assistant as one of our many auxiliary services for clients at Linx to provide powerful insights into online dating. What will attract the man of your dreams and how do you hook them? What is a turn-off to women and a turn-on with profiles? Once you discover lots of emails in your inbox, what next? How to bridge online into real-life dating?

Amy Webb did a hilarious Ted Talk about hacking OK Cupid. The takeaway from her TED talk is that there is an algorithm for love, in fact it is something you write yourself. All you really have to do is figure out your ‘own’ framework and play by your own rules. Enjoy her talk below…insightful, funny, and provocative.

New Linx Testimonial ! 30-something exec female, Ivy League educated marries incredible man!

“I originally was introduced to Amy in Summer 2010 and heard about Linx from friends who had met and worked with Amy and were very impressed with her and the quality of Linx matches. Living in San Francisco I found it difficult to find the right match who was looking for the same long-term goals as myself. I had had long term relationships with great guys but ultimately the common theme was there were missing pieces for discussions of marriage or they simply where not in the right place to contemplate getting really serious.

I met Amy in June 2010 and the experience was surprisingly great. Her approach is straight forward, honest and she seemed to really get me. I knew this was a leap of faith and I felt in trusted hands and that she could increase my odds and what could I lose in doing this? If anything meet some nice new guys and make a few new friends. Linx placed me across from a few great guys that I would not have met otherwise. Even in the brief amount of time Amy spent me with in her office, she really hit the nail on the head of identifying good guys for me who shared the same goals, background, etc and I would never have met these guys in my normal course of life.

On match 7th, I met my husband. We shared our first date in San Francisco and I felt that he was interesting, cute and really easy to spend time with it just felt easy. We starting spending large amounts of time together very early on and it felt like things evolved very naturally without any stress or different goals he really seemed to understand me and loved me for me quirks and all.

He proposed on a ski trip, the site of our third date on our one year anniversary! He feigned exhaustion one night to stay at the hotel, he had shipped the ring to Colorado (without insurance, thank you FEDEX!) and was in a panic trying to hide it and conceal the surprise. I came back from the spa and the room was decorated with rose petals and my favorite food. When I asked why I was such a lucky girl he said it was to mark our one year anniversary together and then he proposed and ended up putting the ring on the wrong hand. So cute. It was amazing!!!

We married in summer 2013 and lived happily ever after (just kidding this is a true story!)

Linx is great as it opened up my horizons to meet people I would never normally have met, Amy is very professional intuitive and a joy to work with. I highly recommend her service!”

Announcing our latest VIP

Linx is excited to announce another VIP search.

Our client is an adventurous and intellectually curious gentleman in his early 50’s.

He is Caucasian, 6’0″, fit, attractive, stylish, and with a contagious smile.

Our client is new to the Bay Area, having just moved to the Bay Area from across the United States.

He’s an independent spirit who is searching for the love of his life and has retained Linx to help him find her.

He’s a successful executive, very driven, a leader in his field and well educated.

Yet when he’s not working…you’d never know he’s a tough guy at work.

He has a capability to dial it back, reveal a fun and playful side to him, and create a glorious work-life balance in his down time.

He is a unique blend of many traits — kind, serious, irreverent, quiet, but never at a loss for words, thoughtful, yet quick to make decisions,patient but not one who suffers fools gladly, if at all.

His playlist runs from U2, to Beethoven, from Lucinda Williams to Verdi. He is a good listener and an astute observer of people. He has an inquisitive mind and loves to learn about new things.

His passions outside of the scope of work are wide ranging but a short list includes: his big dogs, his adult son, NBA basketball, photography, travel, his new home he built, wine, and keeping active. Another significant hobby for our client is flying.

He’d love for his dream match to be comfortable flying with him in his airplane.

Our VIP desires Sexy, Smart, Stable, and with a Great Sense of Humor! She is between the ages of 35-45, Caucasian, 5’6″ plus, stylish, fit, and naturally attractive. His match is witty, easy to be around, fun, comfortable with herself, adventurous, and doesn’t take herself too seriously!

She’s looking for a true gentleman through and through and will embrace a man who is chivalrous. After a long work week, she’d love to
have a quiet night in by the outdoor fire grilling and sipping a glass of wine as she would be jetting off to Santa Barbara or Tahoe with
her match.

If you or anyone you know might qualify to meet this extraordinary client of ours, please contact amy ASAP. amy@linxdating.com

Announcing our latest VIP search

Linx is excited to announce a new search for a 31 year old Caucasian female residing in San Francisco. Perhaps you are eligible, searching, or if you are attached, know someone who might make the perfect match for our client. 

Physically, she is 5’6″, feminine with sexy curves, and keeps active with intense gym workouts. On the surface people might judge her as a whip smart, successful female in tech. For those in her inner sanctum, IQ meets EQ. Our client has a magnetism about her, coupled with being extremely down-to-earth, warm-hearted, open-minded, and funny too.

Although young, our client is ready for love now and wants to be able to connect emotionally with her match and build a life and family together one day. We’re not going to fabricate things, she works a lot. That said, she is ready to dial it back (some) and create a strong foundation with you built on monogamy, trust, and passion. Outside of work, she’s a true foodie and super knowledgeable about wine as well. Perhaps you would indulge her and share in this passion with her?  

Our client seeks a match who is between the ages of 25-45 of any ethnicity. You keep active, healthy, and balanced in your life. You’ve got a full life, amazing passions and creative hobbies that keep you stimulated and have so much to offer someone. Maybe you’ve done the online dating thing and perhaps have had a couple of serious relationships.

 

Like our client, this is “your time” to get serious. When you visualize your future, you can picture a true partnership on equal footing. You want kids, in fact…maybe you already have one at home (but would love another). You’re a non-conformist-type who has the courage to do what YOU want versus what society or family dictates. You lead your life with integrity, have a burning fire in your belly to excel at whatever you do professionally, are deep and not afraid of a philosophical debate, intellectual, and friends would say emphatic and caring. 

 

If you or anyone you know is interested in this very unique opportunity to see if you qualify to meet our client, please email me ASAP at amy@linxdating.com. There are zero fees involved. 

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