I was interested to know if there is anyone here who uses the bartering system with clients. I have a couple of friends with startup businesses that wants a website but cannot yet afford to have one created. I am thinking of creating a simple 3 page site for them in exchange for contacts and marketing via their website and my business cards and brochures. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Personally I think it is a good idea. I tried the bartering and it paid off with a new client.

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Dawn Riley
A Virtual Assistant in Paradise
Our business is about making yours better

Thanks for the response

Hmm, sorry it's taken me so long to answer this thread - today was crazy busy...it's always like this for us right before the new year (lots of business resolutions )

As a general rule I feel like giving your work away for free isn't completely necessary - *but* if you're truly getting something out of it (and in this case you'd get an expanded portfolio and some nice promotion hopefully) and it feels like it weighs well for you then go for it.

I, personally, would prefer to be paid, even a discounted amount. Work is work.

Also, be sure you cover any future updates to the site, etc. in your agreement with these people - otherwise you're going to end up working for free for life and just because they may be friends or family doesn't mean these kinds of statutes aren't important. In some ways they become even more so simply because of the assumptions that may otherwise be made based on familiarity.

Whatever you decide to do - best of luck and have fun doing it!

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See....this is why I love this site. I had not thought of updates for the life of the site. I just saw another entrepreneurer in need of exposure and wanted to help the best way I could. Thanks for the advice.

Very good points Tess... I love this site too because of all of the awesome insight and advice!

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Dawn Riley
A Virtual Assistant in Paradise
Our business is about making yours better

I was thinking of doing the same too as extra income. I was also thinking of hosting a site for my dad, and still I was thinking of charging him, not much but at least to know that I'm not going to be working for free. Doing something like that for other people means that you need to update their page, and make sure your information (Advertising) is there, etc... If you have a hosting services where you can add more domains and you pay let's pick a number $3, you could even charge this person 1.5 or $2 and know that your hosting services is getting taken care of some how, but there has to be a contract involved, it doesn't matter if its family or a friend in need. What do you think Tess?

I will do some free service from time to time. I have done so much free stuff for people that I get calls from people I have done free stuff from wanting me to do more work for them and wanting to pay. When I offer my service for free I ask that they help promote my business and they usually agree.

I think I would do bartering to have someone help me with something that I might need or to help promote my business.

Originally Posted by vidatica

I was thinking of doing the same too as extra income. I was also thinking of hosting a site for my dad, and still I was thinking of charging him, not much but at least to know that I'm not going to be working for free. Doing something like that for other people means that you need to update their page, and make sure your information (Advertising) is there, etc... If you have a hosting services where you can add more domains and you pay let's pick a number $3, you could even charge this person 1.5 or $2 and know that your hosting services is getting taken care of some how, but there has to be a contract involved, it doesn't matter if its family or a friend in need. What do you think Tess?

I think those are all really good points! Well said
And yes, if you can find a way to cover business expenses (like hosting) in this way then more power to you!

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I tried to barter with some local graphic people and so far no one was interested. I need some touch ups on my website.