Since I've started my life coaching business, I've run into the occasional scenario where I meet someone who is interested in trading my services for their services. I have to admit, I always weigh these offers very carefully, because such a relationship can quickly go sour if either or both parties feels that they aren't getting adequately compensated by the service being rendered. In fact, I'm more likely to consider exchanging service for service only if there is a delineation offered on when service might turn into monetary payments. In situations where it appears that there will only be an exchange of service for service, I usually turn down the offer. While the service might be useful, I also have to consider the time I'm investing in that person and whether or not I'm really getting compensated in a way that is going to benefit me.
However, there are times when exchanging services can be beneficial, if handled in the right way. The right way involves determining how much of a service both parties are willing to exchange before monetary payment needs to start and also determining how much you need that particular service.
I have a client right now who is taking several courses I'm offering. She's paying me for one of the courses, and for the other course she is offering me some services that I happen to find useful. She is helping me create professional certificates and a brochure and a sign for some of the expos I travel to. In return she gets to take my class and learn what I can offer. It's a good exchange for me, because I can use her professional skills to improve my marketing and promotion, which can result in more clients down the line. At the same time, she is paying me for one class, which still brings in some income I can put toward other projects.
In another situation, a potential client has asked me if I'd be willing to exchange my life coaching service for her service as a professional photographer. This is something I'm willing to entertain because having a professional photo will certainly help me. I still, however, have to figure out how much of my own services I'm willing to offer before, I would expect to be paid, as I know that the services I offer involve a significant time commitment on my part. I determine this by estimating how many hours it takes for the other person to accomplish his or service work for me and then measure that against the hours I can give in return. Once those hours are exceeded, I then charge for the time and services rendered.
If you know what services you need and you also know that someone offering those services is willing to barter with you, then take advantage of that opportunity. That barter can help you get a particular service as well as help you learn more about that person's business, so that you can refer them. Likewise since that person will have worked with you, s/he can refer potential clients to you with an added bonus of speaking confidently about your services.
Barter for services can be a useful economic model, when used wisely. At this point, it's unrealistic to always barter your services for other services, simply because the amount of time you would have to do that would ultimately prove unprofitable and time consuming. The medium of money demands that we be realistic in how much we barter for services. Know when to offer your services for barter, but also recognize that you are in this to make a living, and doing so necessarily requires charging money for your services. Balance how much you're willing to barter, with how much you need to make. If you do this, you can get some services for free or at a discounted price and also continue to grow your business.
Taylor Ellwood
I connect Businesses to Great Clients and Get Writers Published
http://www.imagineyourreality.com
This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.
