Swapping Marbles: How to Get a Top-Notch Site Without Paying a
Dime
My father is a lawyer, and a good number of his clients are
plumbers, plasterers and car mechanics. When they get in
trouble, they call my father, because they know that he will
rescue them in their hour of need-and they won't have to pony up
their rent money for legal fees. My father trades his legal
services for drywall, wiring and car repair, and with a nearly
200 year-old- house and a car that's not far behind, he puts
that labor to good use.
Though "barter and trade" sounds like a medieval concept, it's
actually a very common occurrence, even in big corporations.
Huge dot-coms often swap ad banners with restaurants and sports
promoters, who supply them with event sites, gift certificates,
and "shwag" for contest giveaways. Most of the small business
owners I know have been a little squeamish about dipping into
the barter and trade pool, unless they're massage therapists,
naturopaths or Reiki practitioners (until insurance companies
cover alternative healthcare modalities, these friends will be
forced to get creative with their compensation, whether they
want to or not).
So what does this have to do with websites? Plenty. I know many
webmasters and mistresses who have swapped their services for
hypnotherapy sessions, vintage clothes, horseback riding lessons
and housecleaning. What holds most of us back from hiring a
professional web designer is cost. However, there's nothing
saying that money has to even come into the picture, if you have
something your designer needs (or even better, just wants!). Put
ads on bulletin boards, the local paper, or ask around; maybe
one of your best friends has a kid in college who's studying web
design, and could use your site as an opportunity to start
building his or her portfolio. You can also trade for
instruction on how to update or re-design your site yourself, or
a tutorial on how to use the latest, cutting-edge software. If
you feel a little reticent, don't. It's just like marbles when
you're a kid. Your friend wants your green marble, and you want
his orange marble, so you trade 'em across the table. It's as
simple as that.
Take it from a second-generation barterer rader: when I've
traded writing or editing for carpet-cleaning or a haircut, not
only was I able to eat off my floor, or drive without having to
peer through a curtain of hair, but I felt all the closer to my
hairdresser or my housecleaner afterwards. Trading is not only a
cost-effective way of doing business, but you'll be
strengthening your ties to other small businesspeople-and your
entire community.