Bartering For Business - Entrepreneurs & Freelancers, Stretch Every Dollar & Grow Your Business!

If you're a freelance writer, graphics designer, orActually, bartering has been around for centuries.
other small business professional, you probablyIt's nothing more than trading, so just think of
don't have a lot of money to spend onearly settlers trading blankets and other goods
advertising, marketing, or promoting your businesswith Native Americans for furs and food and
so you need to stretch every dollar.you've got the concept of bartering. A word of
But how DO you stretch your small budget as farwarning, though - I don't recommend going to
as possible?other small business owners and offering to
Well, one way is to barter your products andbarter for their products and services instead of
services with other small business owners whoseexpecting to pay for these items. Company
businesses are somewhat different from yours.owners may be put off by this. Instead, I suggest
Here's an example. As a writing instructor andyou look for groups of professionals who make it
coach, I often write e-books or short e-coursesknown they are open to bartering for business. If
that I sell online. These products need professionalyou can't find any groups, then start one yourself
covers designed and produced by a graphicsand solicit members who wish to trade products
designer, which is NOT my line of work. So Iand services with each other.
barter with a graphics designer for this type ofIf you start your own bartering group, it may
product. She provides me with a cover design fortake members a while to figure out a fair and
my e-book and I may write a press release,even exchange of products and services. But,
promotional copy for her company brochure, oronce they do, everyone in the group should
do some other type of writing for her. Soundsbenefit from bartering to build their businesses.
easy, right?