Barter: Its Not Just for Doctors Anymore
Time was, in the country, the local "doc" was as likely to get paid with a couple of chickens as a couple of dollars. Doctors these days won't stand for that, of course, but while some people have moved completely away from barter and stayed there, others have embraced it wholeheartedly.
Today I worked on a barter deal with a web designer to do search engine optimization on my web site in exchange for some articles. I HATE doing SEO, and I LOVE writing articles. This person needs articles written and is good at SEO. It's a good match.
Later in the day I put together a mailing designed to entice a massage therapist into bartering for my coaching services. I have a lot of pain in my back and shoulders, and a massage would do me good, but I really can't afford monthly massages. If this works out, I will work an extra three hours a month in exchange for massages, hopefully every two weeks.
Barter isn't for everyone or every situation, but it does have some advantages for the home-based business. You can usually get something you need, you can save your cash for other things, which you also need, and you get a "customer" who's willing to give you referrals and testimonials.
How do you know if you should barter? If you have a skill or product people want, if you have the time or extra product to spare, and if you are willing to put in the effort looking for people to barter with, it might be a good idea for you.
Where do you find people to barter with? Check Google for barter directories and barter sites. Many Work at Home Mom sites have barter sections. If you don't find what you're looking for, go find someone who does or has what you need, and offer a barter deal. Sometimes they'll go for it, sometimes not. My SEO deal came through a barter site. My massage therapy plan is strictly my own. But I'm betting out of 60 massage therapists in my city, one will be interested.
If you don't have time or extra product, or if you're uncomfortable trading your products or services for other people's, then barter might not be right for you at this time. Keep it in mind for the future, though.
If you can get it, barter's a good deal. You often get more than you could afford to buy or would put money into, and you expand your business as well.
About The Author
Angie Dixon helps small business owners get their acts together. She is a personal development coach specializing in helping people integrate their home and work lives so they feel less stretched and more balanced. Get her FREE EBOOK on balance at http://www.discoveringtruenorth.com. For questions or to discover how coaching can change your life, contact Angie at mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com.
You are free to use this article in ezines, web sites and print publications. If you do use it, please send a quick email to mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com. Thank you.
Latest News
 BorderFire Report | Ready for the Great Negotiation? You better be BorderFire Report, TX - He has a great negotiation ahead of him to unite the country. As a negotiation coach working with hundreds of million of dollars in negotiations every day ... |
 CBS News | Boeing Averts Another Strike Aviation International News, NJ - “These were the toughest negotiations I’ve been involved with,” said professional negotiation team chair and three-time negotiator Dave Patzwald. ... SPEEA Engineers, Technical Workers Ratify Boeing Contracts |
Metalworks negotiation talks may resume Ludington Daily News, MI - ... Vice President of Operations Scott Lakari Monday and they agreed to set another meeting between the negotiation committees for the union and company. ... |
This Season, Some Tempers Simmer Wall Street Journal - For many, it means deep cuts into holiday budgets for things like gifts, travel and special meals out -- but also extra helpings of guilt, negotiation and ... |
 Seatradeasia-online | Steelmakers see gains from failed BHP bid China Daily, China - "The reason Rio Tinto demanded a price hike of 96.5 percent for iron ore supplies in 2008 negotiation was that it wanted to set hurdles for BHP's takeover ... BHP, Rio May Have to Cut Coking Coal Prices 33%, Analysts Say |
Negotiating skills for IT consultants TechRepublic, KY - Have you ever won over a potential client with a perfect presentation but lost them at the negotiation table? Rick Freedman describes what can go wrong and ... |
Assemblyman slams Yankee Stadium deal Lower Hudson Journal news, NY - "This negotiation was taking place at a time when the Yankees were dramatically raising ticket prices, while the state and the city were giving essentially ... |
Montealegre refutes political negotiation in Nicaragua Tico Times, Costa Rica - By Tim Rogers Managua mayoral hopeful Eduardo Montealegre stood his ground yesterday, saying his opposition contingent – Vamos Con Eduardo, the “We're Going ... |
Board, union agree on contract Monadnock Ledger Transcript, NH - By JOSH BOND PETERBOROUGH -- The ConVal Education Association has agreed to suspend its work to contract job action after a seven-hour negotiation meeting ... |
Training for Iraq, Virtually Media Newswire (press release), NY - new game-based training application recently was adopted by the US Army to enhance negotiation skills and cultural understanding of soldiers overseas with ... |